Removing the udder?

**mygoat** · #21 02/10/12, 10:56 AM

We get in partially thawed/thawed milk samples all the time at MSU's DCPAH where I work.

If you pack with a ice pack or two, in a styrofoam shipper, it should be fine. It's gotta thaw to be cultured anyways... So arriving partially thawed is not going to be a problem.

Overnight shipping might cost a lot, but the mastectomy will be much more expensive.

Creamers · #22 02/10/12, 12:51 PM

Oh no, it wasn't that -

It was that when I talked to him in the summer, he said they were arriving warm and
they toss them out. He said because they provide the service free, they wouldn't waste their time on samples that likely wouldn't culture properly. Then when I told him they were in serum tubes, he said it wasn't likely to be accurate, so I didn't ship because it seemed useless - I do still have the milk frozen, but the vet said it wouldn't be culture-able now because of how long it was in a deep freeze - if that isn't true, I will send it now, for sure.

I cannot get a sample now because of the infusion that was in the udder when I did try to milk it out from a few months ago when we dried her off - if I wait the 10 days to get her system clear to get another sample - though it isn't milk, it is just a tiny bit of clear fluid in there. . .I think her condition will get so bad that it would be hopeless. . .
it seems like a darned if I don't and danged if I do situation

The vet said since biomycin, pen g, all the different infusions and naxxcel did not treat it - try Baytril, if it does work, put her down. . .

**mygoat** · #23 02/10/12, 02:22 PM

I'm confused - if all she has is clear fluid, she is dry and it sounds like normal udder fluid. What about her udder makes you think mastitis is still a problem here? Lumps? Swelling? Pain? If she's acting ill but otherwise has a normal udder I'd be looking elsewhere for the reason for the problem...

You can re-do the udder infusion, as well, to 'refresh' the antibiotics there. I'd milk out the old.

The lumps that form due to Staph aureus will just stay in the udder until the burst naturally or are lanced. They won't cause a problem, that I've found. I bought a doe from Emily Dixon (Ozark Jewels) that had these udder lumps from a known case of mastitis. She had her lump cultured for my peace of mind before I bought her, sure enough it showed the lump was S. aureus.

That was a BOER doe, and she raised her daughter just fine this past year for me, and her lump has gone away in the time I've had her with no additional help from me. I'm not sure if internal udder lumps of this nature would be bad if you were consuming milk...

Anywho, I'd say if she makes it through next year, breed her and keep daughters out of her if that is your wish. I would not use her colostrum on her kids nor her milk. You can culture colostrum too, but the downside would be that the udder infusion is still in her... I'd wait at least a week to 2+ weeks before sending a sample. Be sure to request susceptibility (we only do it if requested at MSU) and you should also note any antibiotics she is on, possibly any she WAS on as well.

Creamers · #24 02/10/12, 03:15 PM

Quote:

I'm confused - if all she has is clear fluid, she is dry and it sounds like normal udder fluid. What about her udder makes you think mastitis is still a problem here? Lumps? Swelling? Pain?

It is hot on that side, has more fluid than would be normal (unlike the normal, dry side) making it somewhat hard -

Creamers · #25 02/10/12, 03:16 PM

also, more lumps are in that side now than before -

On the original mastitis case, those lumps, they got much smaller over time when she was still in milk and has no obvious signs of the mastitis remaining - through the summer and early fall - I think we probably had the mastitis dealt with. . .which is why I didn't send out the milk in the late summer and fall.

copperpennykids · #26 02/10/12, 03:38 PM

By the way, if she cultures positive for Staph Aureus, there is no cure.

The mastitis can get walled off so that the antibiotics (which it is susceptible to) can not reach the staph aureus. It is also very infectious and could put your whole herd at risk.

It would be good to know what it is/was, even if you have to put her down. But yep, you need a culture.

Mastitis is just awful! Sorry for you both.

southerngurl · #27 02/10/12, 05:16 PM

Also, you can do a colloidal silver infusion.

I've never seen the garlic not work.

Creamers · #28 02/10/12, 07:29 PM

Quote:

It is also very infectious and could put your whole herd at risk.

Would it have, if it was Staph Aureus, cleared up for months and then flared up again?
I've worried that was what it was on and off.

I'll try to garlic, for sure. . .

Perhaps do that and pull the antibiotic so I can get a sample that is clean.

Oat Bucket Farm · #29 02/10/12, 08:28 PM

Have you tried using a little piece of dry ice and one of the little styrofoam containers, to send the milk sample in?

Creamers · #30 02/10/12, 09:13 PM

I had it in a styrofoam container back in the early summer - didn't have dry ice, had ice packs.

At this point, my fear is if I pull her off antibiotics, she will not make it the 10 days to get a clean sample.

southerngurl · #31 02/12/12, 06:51 AM

If your not seeing improvement within a day or two, increase the frequency of the dose. If the goat won't eat it, give granulated, dry garlic mixed with water and honey or something for taste. About a tablespoon of granules at a time. Mixed with water you can dose with a feeding syringe.

Cannon_Farms · #32 02/12/12, 07:50 AM

I have not read the whole post but UGA does free testing for Ga residence so, mason jar, packing peanuts and a short overnight shipping and we could call it our goat.

Creamers · #33 02/12/12, 01:00 PM

Thank you - I might do that!

She is actually acting fine - no banamine in over 48 hours - udder isn't as hot. . .

The roller coaster is driving me nuts!