I noticed something strange with one of my milkers yesterday

Wildwood · #1 07/22/10, 12:06 PM

She is dry and has been for months...we didn't get her bred last fall.

Anyway, yesterday evening when I let her out to browse and she was was running ahead of me, I noticed one of her udders is completely flat, like a deflated balloon. No one on the place has noticed anything wrong or any change prior to that. She is the picture of health and is in fact looking unusually good. There are no bumps, lumps, redness or warm areas in either udder and she feels fine.

She is five years old and prior to drying her off, we milked her through for two years. Her udder has always been slightly uneven and I've checked for mastitis in the past using the strips and she has always been fine.

I would be afraid to breed her at this point even though she is my best milker. There are no local vets that know anything about goats and I'm afraid they would do more harm than good...BTDT.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, criticism, etc. I just want to help my girl.

Backfourty,MI. · #2 07/22/10, 12:18 PM

I'm curious to see what the experts in this area have to say about this as well.
I have a friend that one of her doe's is like that as well. Although she did have kids this year, it happened while the kids were still nursing off the doe. She used the Mastitis strips & no sign of mastitis either, no fever & she acts fine otherwise.

ozark_jewels · #3 07/22/10, 04:32 PM

Well......if she is dry, open and has been for months, the udder should go completely flat eventually. In fact, I'd be more worried if the other side doesn't eventually go all the way flat as well. When does dry up, sometimes the sides do go flat at different rates, but they should both eventually look completely empty if she is not bred back.
Do both sides feel fine??

Wildwood · #4 07/22/10, 05:23 PM

Yes they both feel fine but this does look strange, like a balloon that has been completely deflated on one side with her nipple sticking out a funny angle. When I saw it yesterday my heart about sank until I got a chance to really examine her and everything felt normal. I searched and searched but couldn't find anything about it anywhere but it was kind of an odd thing to search for and I never could pick a term that fit.

I'm glad to know it's normal. We dried her up in the late fall/early winter so it's been longer than I realized. Her sister has been on the same schedule and she's not showing any signs of teat collapse yet...I think I'll trademark that term LOL.

These are my first goats and I'm learning as I go. I do appreciate the feedback.

ozark_jewels · #5 07/22/10, 07:04 PM

Well, its hard to know without seeing it, but as long as it doesn't feel cold or hot or lumpy, it should be fine.
Can you take a pic?

Wildwood · #6 07/22/10, 09:19 PM

A picture is a good idea and I'l try to get one this weekend when DH is home with the camera.

LomahAcres · #7 07/22/10, 10:59 PM

I had 2 does develop precocious udders this spring, nothing big, but a noticeable tea cup udder. They both went flat on one side at about a month after. We were not milking them, but I did milk them out once when I noticed they'd gone lopsided. They felt and looked fine. But both ended up having mastitis in the flat side. After treatment they evened back up.

It could be normal for her, but even on my lopsided milkers they dry up evenly. If you can get any milk out of the flat side you might send it in for a test.

motdaugrnds · #8 07/22/10, 11:07 PM

If she were mine (and not having professional vet advice), I would milk the side that is not flat.

Udders have a way of healing themselves in time as long as we don't interfere and there is no infection. Your saying she, otherwise, seems fine leads me to believe she will be ok.

Would like updates as to what you learn and how she does.