Momma goat (6-month old kids) with HUGE, hot, engorged udder. Help!!!

[Fudgie]

I had a labrador that did this and to relieve the pressure i felt of the udder to see how it felt before I started then I milked a little from her and felt to see if the tightness went away, if so I stopped, if not I continued. ONLY milk enough to relieve the pressure. You are correct she will continue to milk.

Milk production is supply and demand, the more you demand the more they supply. Relieve a small amount so she does not continue to supply more

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Yes milk her now before she gets into real trouble. A little olive oil on the teats will help soften them and milk from all the teats. Also you can put a very warm towel, water soaked on the swollen teat. Good luck and check on the often.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
I would only milk her out until her udder feels slack. Not completely, not even mostly. Just until her udder doesn't feel tight.

Depending on what your temps are, her udder could feel hot just b/c there's a lot of blood flow.

In the summer, my girls *always* have hot udders (and ears, and legs, and everything else). It's not mastitis, it's just blood flow in dilated vessels.

Bag balm doesn't help dry them off. But it does help keep blood flowing in the udder, which is what you want if you have edema-helps flush out the extra fluid.

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
I would only milk her out until her udder feels slack. Not completely, not even mostly. Just until her udder doesn't feel tight.

Depending on what your temps are, her udder could feel hot just b/c there's a lot of blood flow.

In the summer, my girls *always* have hot udders (and ears, and legs, and everything else). It's not mastitis, it's just blood flow in dilated vessels.

Bag balm doesn't help dry them off. But it does help keep blood flowing in the udder, which is what you want if you have edema-helps flush out the extra fluid.

Okay, sounds good. When I milked her out this morning, I only milked until it no longer felt like it was about to pop like a balloon.
I will get some bag balm today. Would cool compresses help, versus warm ones?

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
I would not handle her udder any more than you have to to get her milked out a bit. Every time you touch it, it's stimulation. Stimulus + empty space= more milk.

In fact, if you are wanting to dry her off (not keep milking her for your own use), I would not put bag balm on there either. That requires vigorous rubbing.

Most does are not hard to dry off. Some can be stubborn. What kind of a goat is this?

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
I would not handle her udder any more than you have to to get her milked out a bit. Every time you touch it, it's stimulation. Stimulus + empty space= more milk.

In fact, if you are wanting to dry her off (not keep milking her for your own use), I would not put bag balm on there either. That requires vigorous rubbing.

Most does are not hard to dry off. Some can be stubborn. What kind of a goat is this?

She's most likely a Pygmy/Alpine mix (that's what most people seemed to think when they saw pic's of her after I posted for the first time). I definitely think she has dairy goat in her, because she's had milk galore, and her udder looked a lot bigger than any miniature goat udders I've seen. I would LOVE to keep milking her, but since I'm a flight attendant (gone for 3 days every week), I won't be able to. I've tried to find someone to "share " her with, who'd come and milk her when I'm gone, but no luck so far.

 

[Chirpy]

Popping in with my 5 cents worth:

I agree it doesn't sound like mastitis - but it could certainly go there quickly. I would also milk her out just enough to feel the bag going a little loose.

Here's a homemade recipe to check for mastitis if you don't have the CMT:

1/2 glass of warm water - add a few drops of detergent (Dawn is a good one). Mix this well.

Add 1/2 glass of freshly milked milk. Mix it all together.

If it becomes thick and slimy there is an infection. (Just to note: it will also become thick and slimy if there is colostrum in it but that doesn't fit your case.)

Good luck with her.

 

[Granolamom]

I'm going by the feed-store this afternoon, to get a CMT, just to ease my mind, even though I really don't think that's what it is. If they don't have one, I'll try this home remedy, next time we have to milk her out a little. Thanks!

 

[FlightsofFancy]

Quote:
Thank you ksacres!

Ellen, Do you have any pepermint oil? That is great for mastitis and will help her swelling. You could put it in a spray bottle w/ olive oil or another carrier oil. That way you will not have to rub her udder.

I see a new line of goats products coming along. LOL!

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
Thank you ksacres!

Ellen, Do you have any pepermint oil? That is great for mastitis and will help her swelling. You could put it in a spray bottle w/ olive oil or another carrier oil. That way you will not have to rub her udder.

I see a new line of goats products coming along. LOL!

Kelly, I have every essential oil under the sun, and most definitely Peppermint oil! Should I just spray it on her udder, mixed with a carrier oil? I use it for us all the time, why didn't I think of it...??? Thank you, you're AWESOME!!!