Does this milk look ok?

Moody

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Aha. That's what I'm using. How about the old equal parts dawn and milk? Does that work?
 

Goat Whisperer

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Can you call around to other breeders you know and ask if they have a CMT? (assuming you know other breeders that are local)

Not sure what you want to do with the dawn soap???
 

Ridgetop

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You need the CMT kit with the white plastic paddle that has the round flat discs or cups for testing the milk. You milk a few drops into the paddle and tilt it. There is a measurement line so either put in another few drops or pour some off till you are at the measurement. Then you put the exact amount of supplied test liquid required on the directions into the milk in the cup and swirl it around. If the test is positive, the milk will curdle into strings and clump. The more it curdles and produces clumps the worse the infection. You can also send it to the vet to test. PLEASE do not drink the milk if it has lumps in it or is odd looking, smells funny, etc. If she has mastitis the lumps in the milk are pus and can make you sick. Don't drink it till you send in a sample.
 

Moody

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I don't see any more clumps. But I have ordered the cmt test kit from Amazon

It was a local breeder who suggested the dawn and milk equal parts. I hadn't ever heard of it.

Would one see clumps as one is milking or is it always after the milk is chilled?
 

Ridgetop

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You don't always see the clumps as you are milking, but after the milk sits a while the clumps will circulate to the top and arrange themself into a bunch of clumping stuff. Pour some in a small jar and put a lid on it. Let is sit for several hours. Then check to see if lumps have risen. In really bad instances it can smell bad or the clumps will turn a greenish color. If it gets that far, you have a severe case. Right now I hope she has a mild case. Keep milking her out since constant draining of the udder is important to keep the infection at a lower level. If you can keep any mastitis to early signs, keep milking - even 3 times a day to keep the udder empty but DON'T stop milking to dry her up since that will affect the udder. Treat her with a mastitis infusion that you insert in the teats. She won't like it! Make sure it is an antibiotic infusion for does or cows IN MILK. Follow the instructions on the tubes.
Treating her will be more successful and she might not get it again if you keep her empty by milking. You will have to infuse after each milking. After she is cured, milk for a normal lactation and when you dry her up, use antibiotic mastitis tubes for dry goats NOT IN MILK. These are designed to medicate her udder while she is dry and keep any mastitis microorganisms from forming. That should keep her healthy for next kidding. Hopefully she will not get it during her next lactation with this practice. If she is housed with other does, watch them carefully and decide if you want to infuse them after you dry them off as a precaution. i once had a ewe freshen with mastitis on one side. She had never had a live birth before so I suspected she had leaked some milk after the dead baby was born that carried an infection into i her udder. It sat there until the following year when she kidded and flared up. She raised 2 large lambs on one side. After that I infused her every year when she was dry after weaning lambs to avoid a repeat. She never milked on that side again though. REMEMBER DON'T DRINK THE MILK OR FEED KIDS WITH IT UNTIL YOU ARE SURE THE MILK IS CLEAN. iT IS OKAY TO GIVE IT TO CHICKENS. iT WON'T BOTHER THEM.
 

Moody

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I have the cmt on hand now and it doesn't appear to be mastitis. Thanks so much ridgetop for the detailed info for treatment both before and after. I have copied it and saved it for future reference. I definitely don't want to take chances with our health nor the health of my goats. I have $ invested and want them to stay healthy.
 

Ridgetop

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So happy it isn't mastitis. You are so right about the investment. Many people don't equate their livestock with an investment, only with love, but there is a major $$ investment in them. Not only money in purchase, feed, vet, but your time and emotional attachment. People who will spend a fortune at the organic store won't spend the money to make sure they have the best dairy animals they can afford or feed them a proper diet. I am always shocked when people don't think they need to take proper care of their animals. Goat milk is very nutritious (we raised our family on it and our daughter and sons never had acne or any skin problems in high school which I attributed to the goat milk LOL). I think 3 of our grandchildren were milk sensitive but the goats were gone by then unfortunately. I had ulcers for 5 years and there were times when the only thing I could keep down was the raw goats milk. It is very healthy.

Before anyone gets mad at my comments above, they do not apply to anyone on this site! Everyone here knows the type of people I am referring to.
 
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