Mastitis in supposed-to-be dry doe

[SJSFarm]

At least I think thats what it is.

My friend noticed her udder seemed larger, so I checked her and sure enough, she's got milk! She delivered in march, but because she didn't produce much and was nursing off herself, I let her dry up. That was back in may.

I don't think she's pregnant, but my buck did get out and breed another doe- lute didn't work on her and she's due august 17th. If this doe is pregnant, then it's by her full brother!

Anyhow, now the mastitis... I milked her a little and checked for lumps and tasted it, that side tasted fine. I did the same to the other side and it was watery and tasted salty!

Now what do I do?
If she's pregnant, do I do something different ?

Thanks all

[mygoat]

The fluid contents of the udder changes quite a bit, even through the dry period. A dry doe often has some sort of fluid in it - it's not like the gland goes to a 'true' dry. The saltiness may just be non-milk fluid that's normal - I don't usually go around tasting that stuff - but most bodily fluids are full of proteins and solutes that may render it salty. Mastitis during the dry period is quite common, it's usually how does get mastitis near freshening.

Because the udder changed, though, You're right in thinking it could be mastitis. I would personally express as much fluid from both sides as possible and infuse a tube of ToMorrow into BOTH halves. Usually with mastitis I don't mess around - I always also do a round of systemic (injectible) antibiotics as well. I prefer BioMycin. Oxytetracycline (biomycin) can effect the kids in development, but I believe that's only with extreme dosing - I have used it multiple times and had no issues. The ToMorrow I believe is labeled such that it can be consumed by the kids when the doe kids with no harm - you can just leave it in there and if she freshens again, the antibiotic will clear long before the colostrum does so its of no risk entering the human food chain from my understanding.