RE: Mastitis
Hi Bill, I had a bitch who developed mastitis very suddenly, she had a lot of milk and only two puppies so I had been adjusting her diet accordingly and expressing milk when I felt she was in danger of "caking up" this term means a hardening in the breast which makes it unattractive to newborns and likely to get infected. Usually by four weeks the puppies are vigorous and keep the breasts regularly empty. It is essential to gently feel through the breasts to make sure nothing is getting too uncomfortable for mom. With my bitch I suspected a scratch from a puppy claw and I usually make a point of keeping the front claws well trimmed. Sometimes these things happen for no apparent reason. With my Tali one breast flared into a dangerous condition very very quickly and along with Clavamox we had to warm compress the area, in a couple of days it erupted and the amount of pus was gross but the immediate releif to the bitch was apparent. We continued to keep it open and cleaned and let it heal from the inside out so to speak. Only one quarter of her breast was affected and it healed well and now you would never know which one it was. However we never had a chance to find out if it produced milk a second time because her second pregnancy resulted in one dead puppy and she was obviously dried up very quickly. While I was in BC last year I left my husband looking after Jamaica and her crew of six week old puppies, one night he thought she seemed unwell and took her in for a checkup. A young vet found a very high temperature but no obvious signs of problems and sent him home to "keep an eye on her". She checked the milk on a full breast and declared it was fine. Fortunately I came home the next night, found a bitch with mastitis (which my husband had suggested to the young vet), I spent all night warm compressing and easing out the affected milk. Again only part of the breast tissue was affected and the good glands expressed easier hence the young vet (read not a lot of time in) only got regular milk to test. I sat up all night and was very fortunate that I was able to help my bitch be more comfortable and eight oclock the next morning found me demanding antibiotics for my girl. Her puppies were a greedy lot and taken off her immediately given their age and Jamaica's ration was greatly reduced to dry her up. It is important to learn to adjust the feed intake according to the puppies demands and one soon discovers if one has a bitch to challenge a cow for production:-) Sometimes mastitis is just going to happen no matter how experienced you are but if a nursing mother develops a sudden fever or lethargy then mastitis or metritis is to be initially suspected. If she gets a bit shaky then a big emergency is happening and eclampsia has to be suspected and she needs to get to the vet's at warp speed. Rose T.
Re: Mastitis
Bill, We encountered in one of our girls almost the same scenario you have discribed in your dog. It was just one breast, and the vet cultured it to find e-coli. At four weeks of age those puppies already have sharp teeth and we feel that a puppy punctured mom's breast, which in turn left it open to e-coli that can be found in puppy stools. Mom cleans the puppies, and the sore breast and infection can occur. After several days on the antibiotics and warm compresses applied several times a day to the affected breast, a small (not even dime sized) pus pocket ruptured on the affected breast and we cleaned it, and kept it cleaned, and it healed fine. We were able to let the puppies continue to nurse with supervision (there were only 3) and they avoided that breast. This girl had no history of mastitis in her first litter of one puppy and LOTS of milk, and did not get it in the next litter of two puppies after this episode. So, with the puppies already 3-4 weeks old when she got sick we're pretty confident it was due to a puppy bite. Mastitis no matter what the cause comes on quickly and can be deadly if not treated promptly, and throughly. Puppies should not be allowed to nurse the breast. If not treated promptly the whole breast can rupture, and could require amputation. Always check mom's breasts when nursing, feel for any hard lumps, or hot areas. This indicates an infection. If a nursing bitch refuses food, call the vet. Healthy Mom's usually have a ravenous appetite! Bernerly, Mary Jeff & Mary Chapdelaine SnoBear Berners N. California, USA http://snobear.freeyellow.com "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." Wayne Dyer - Psychotherapist, Author and Speaker
Mastitis
Hi everybody just wanted to 'pass along' info as well as ask questions about Mastitis. Our three year old girl Addy had puppies four weeks ago and has been the perfect mom. Thursday we came home about 3 and found her lifeless, throwing up and shaking in the rear. We had only been gone about two hours from watching her nurse pups. Made mad dash to our vet. He first thought it was calcium drain. Did blood work NOTHING showed up wrong but he knew she was one sick puppy. Temp was 106.5. At the time there were no enlarged or bad looking breasts. Had us put her in an all night clinic to give her IV's and watch her. They started her on pencillian and another antibotic. She felt better the next day but you could feel the lump in one of her breast and it was 'hot'. I've heard this referred to as MILK FEVER in cows. Anyway hopefully all is well now, we understand it's undercontrol after about five bags of fluids and several pencillian shots into the breast to try and break up the knot. Now we have a 'purple' scar on the outside of the breast which the vet says will scale off. Has anyone had experience with this? What has been the prognosis with your girl when it happened? Did anyone have a girl that lost a breast from it? We checked her daily on each of her breast and there was never any sign until BAM it happened. WE really were afraid Thursday night we were loosign her but quick action and good vets and modern drugs saved the day.I'll look forward to anyone's experiences. bill dunnavant Kotten Kennels
