Herd Queen has lump in Udder

bpawb · #1 07/09/12, 11:59 AM

We noticed it about 3 weeks ago, then it was a fairly small lump where the teet attaches to the Udder. So we called around in search of any vet that may know about goats. We did find one who said they could test for mastitis but not as in depth as a university could test.
So i figured I would take a sample of milk for them to test, The Dr, after testing came back and said there was a small amount of bacterial present and prescribed penicillinG in the muscle for 7 days ( I told her I had heard penicillin wouldn't do squat for most cases of mastitis and the Dr. said they have had good results in the past with mild cases )
Mean while, we decided to dry her up for the year, after 3 weeks she is almost dried up but the lump has grown, It is now the size of (a little smaller than ) golf ball.
We don't know where to go next, I didn't want to go thru the expense of the overnight shipping to a univ. for testing. especially with the heat of late and trying to keep the milk cold during shipping and all.

Once she is dry will it take care of itself?

sorry so long

LoneStrChic23 · #2 07/09/12, 01:28 PM

I wouldn't dry up a doe untreated for possible mastitis........ If the doe is valuable to you, I would send in a milk sample to LSU.

The lump may not be anything serious, but if it is, it will be sitting there this whole dry period untreated.....

If you just can't spring for the shipping, I'd see if the vet could give you an RX for Pirsue which is infused directly into the udder through the teat orifice (odds are VERY good the injected pen did nothing at all), infusing has to be done in a VERY sterile manner, but otherwise it's easy to do.

If she were mine, I would not want that udder left dry & untreated. If the vet won't give you Pirsue, you could infuse with Tomorrow as well.......

bpawb · #3 07/09/12, 01:42 PM

She hasn't shone any other signs of mastitis, Never any clots, stringy milk or anything, She hasn't shone any signs of pain.
Also, the lump is now extending down into her teet.
Are these classic symptoms of mastitis?

andabigmac · #4 07/09/12, 02:10 PM

She could have an injury, staph mastitis (which wouldn't necessarily present with clots, stringing, etc), a blocked duct, an abcess, cyst, anything. One of my does was injured on her udder and she had quite a knot in her udder for a while.
I would send a sample in so you can rule mastitis out. Otherwise you could have a goat with one working side. The bacteria can stay in there until she freshens and she could freshen with mastitis again. You can deal with it now or possibly deal with it next spring.