Hello all - Just to add to my experience my mare has developed Mastitis I think! Shes so helpful letting me learn all this new information from her!! The thing is, the back quarter of one of her teats is swollen... It has been the same for two days (I havent seen it yet today) and that is what made me suspicious. Last night I rubbed it and massaged it in order to test for milk and express any that might be infected - I could express any(thats down to me, not the udder, I am just useless at milking and you migt remember that my mare was the one not producing an awful lot anyhow) It also didnt feel hot to touch or was painful for her...I was squashing thtat one while baby fed the pther side no probs!! So is this mastitis or what? I dont really know what is normal for a mares udder. I know that is should be warm and sore if its mastitis but can it be without those symptoms?
All help gratefully received. : )
The baby is 2 and half weeks at this stage incase that helps at all...
Kim...I so can relate to you...Tsaharah reminded me of all things that could go wrong...she did not read the foaling book to know how to foal on time...but she sure read the book on troubles to have after foaling!!! well when T had mastitis she did not have the "cottage cheese" or "yellow milk" I was told she would have, her udder was just very firm, and warm, and she had a fever...the real giveaway was she would not let Jericho eat, she would kick at him,,,unless i held her. she did not indicate to me when i squeezed that it hurt...but when jericho did she told meand him it hurt! Tsaharahs udder did firm up at about 2 weeks old, it was firmer but cooler than when she had mastitis, but not firmer than the first couple weeks, it was not flabbey rubbrery feeling like after foaling, just firm...still is, unless he just ate and drained her dry...then its flabby. I guess if she does not have a fever and is letting baby eat maybe she is ok, if in doubt call a vet out because your little one is too young to go without milk!!! (just to clarify... you say the back quarter is real firm...as in right up behind her udder between her rear legs? T's is firm ther too(always has been), only loose right above the teats.? well good luck...things will eventually get better...they did here!!!
No sorry kris -my fault, I guess I should have said front quarter. Its the oside near her belly in front of the teat...opps! Trouble is kris - And i shouldnt say this because I firmly beleive the vet should be called if any problem arises to save it from getting worse...I just had the vet because she was not producing much milk to be told I was right and should feed a supplement - I couldnt and baby seemed fine without it so they said not to worry. Then I had to have them again friday night to get antibiotics for the baby and some spray for its dodgy umbilical stump. Trouble is its always friday when it goes wrong I call them in the day and they say they are busy - keep an eye on them and call back if its still concerning me on monday, or on the pager if Im worried at the weekend. Then they eventually have to come out anyway to confirm what I was trying to say all along and charge me double time for the pleasure!! The cheek! So I wanted to try warm water, massaging and expressing and see what happened. Only because baby still seems lively and well and mum is letting her feed I wasnt sure if it could even be mastitis! Anything to try us hey....??
Thanks Kris!! How is jericho? Doing well I trust : )
sounds like you have got a plan. try that, but if she begins to kick baby and runs a fever you may need to call the vet, you wouldnt want your mare to get scar tissue built up in the udder and be no good for breeding again. good luck, and i hope she is ok.
Thanks kris for your advice... But YAY! Its gone : ) All on its own - I think because baby was still managing to nurse and express that teat herself its helped clear it out quick... All better now - thanks for your help though
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