doe can't seem to dry off

[marcir]

Has anyone had a doe with a congested udder that can't dry off? I've searched under every heading I can think of and unable to find an answer:

My one-year-old LaMancha doe was bred last November and apparently aborted in February (blood on her tail and suddenly bagged up tremendously, never found a fetus.) I started milking her and all was fine until a month later in March I actually felt a head butt or a kick on her lower left abdomen while I was milking her. When I palpated it moved away from my hand. YIKES! There must be another kid or perhaps she didn't abort after all. Now only 30 days until her due date, I started drying her off. Milked once a day for 4 days, then stopped. Milked out small amount 3 times just to ease her udder.

It's been 2 weeks now, her udder is still huge. I have tried washing twice a day with warm water and applying udder balm. Despite this she developed a medium-sized scab on each teat which I am treating with olive oil. Mastitis test is negative. No temp elevation, but she is definitely uncomfortable and reluctant to lie down. Eats OK. Am giving her an anti-inflammatory and Benadryl for the pain.

I say p***-poor husbandry and bad management to boot. Can anyone help my baby Sally?

[Corky]

Why are you trying to dry her up?

Couldn't you just milk till close to her due date and then stop except for relieveing her a little, say a cup or two only if she really needs it and watch for colostrum forming.
If it starts to get thick and yellow stop and leave her alone.

I have one I thought I was going to have to do that with but now I don't think she is pregnant after all. She just comes into milk because it is Spring and time to do that.

[steff bugielski]

That ahppened to one of mine. The vet told me to just keep relieving the pressure and milk her out when she kids. She will refill with some colostrum. At very least she will pass on the antibodies in the regular milk.