Mastitis?

[Saffy]

Gwen just had her baby this friday. She was so full of milk I had to milk her so the baby could eat. When milking her one side of the udder was more tender. Normal looking milk came out but also a white cloggish milk also, it came out like a long thread type clot. She does not want to feed her baby, so I am bottle feeding him. I only give him the milk from the non infected side of her udder. I picked up plain old penicilian at the feed store and have given her a shot. Is this mastitis? How should I treat her? Is it okay to give the non infected side of the milk to baby? Also she is tender on the bad side, but does let me milk her, the side that is affected is also larger than the other side. Please help.

[Alice In TX/MO]

They sometimes have some sort of semi dry milk in the first couple of days. Looks like thick Elmer's Glue.

I wouldn't just assume mastitis. Also, shots don't work well on mastitis.

Call your vet, get a bacteria culture done before you start sticking needles in your goat.

[Saffy]

Yes, that's what it looked like! Thick Elmers glue, but now it is back to normal but there feels like something in her udder (bumpy). What and how do they do a bacteria culture? Can I bring a sample of the milk in? She is eating fine now, and she were temp is back to normal.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'd milk the bumpy side out several (maybe four?) times per day for a while. Strain that milk separately so you can check for lumps, blood, etc.

Go to the vet's office and get a sterile milk sample bag and the instructions for collection. That way, you'll know it's done right, and you won't have any stray bacteria in it.

It's possible it's just the early milk clumps, but I'd sure keep a close eye on it.

Her fever is gone, correct?

[Saffy]

Yes. she has no fever, and is her normal bratty self! The bad side is milking better now but it is still a little sore. I have been milking her 3 x a day, once in the morning and once in the early afternoon then around 8 pm.

** How much milk should a Saanen Boer cross get? He is eating 4x a day about 8 oz each time. Is that too much for a little guy? He is just so hungry! My other buckling started out at about 4 oz , but goldie is just hungry.

[Alice In TX/MO]

This is from Fias Co Farm.

* Day one- 6 oz. (per feeding) colostrum, every 4 hours.
* Day two- 8 oz. (per feeding) colostrum/whole milk, 4 times a day
* Day three- 10 oz. (per feeding) colostrum/whole milk, 4 times a day
* Day four- 10-12 oz. (per feeding) colostrum/whole milk, 4 times a day.
* For the next week- 10-12 oz. (per feeding) 4 times a day.
* For the next 2 months- 10-12 oz. (per feeding) 3 times a day.
* For the next 1 month- 10-12 oz. (per feeding) 2 times a day.
* 10-12 oz. (per feeding) once a day for two weeks.

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/feeding.htm

[Saffy]

Thanks, I am going to save that and put it in my files for now and future reference. Thanks for the help and the info.