precocious udder or sub.mastitis??

[cmjust0]

I've never had to do a mastitis test before, but so far as I know, the hardware in the kit is reusable and you get like a pint of the solution.. You can also buy replacement solution, so I'd certainly think it would do multiple tests.

FWIW, the thing that concerns me about that photo is the shape of the teat... It's like a football, and I just can't think of a really good reason for it to be wider toward the center but 'pinched' at the base like that.. Plus, the fullness of the udder doesn't seem to match the fullness of the teat..

That's why I'm saying I'd strip and test **if I were you.**

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'd also go ahead and strip it and test, just in case. Wash the teat with warm soapy water first, then strip it completely out, then wash again or use a good teat dip.

And FWIW, I've never heard of a mother passing mastitis to her baby, then the baby carrying it for a year or two before getting it. In fact, many dairies feed their heifer calves waste milk (either treated milk or mastitic milk) with no issues. Only when a calf (or goat) has been fed mastitic milk and then nursed on another animal's teat is their an issue of transferring.

Is there any way this goat could have been nursed on by another goat? I'm not thinking she has mastitis from it, just wondering if it could have brought on production or something.

 

[mcdaid36]

From what I saw, it looked like the pen she was kept in was only for yearlings and older. I didn't see any that were born this spring, they were all grown up, but maybe she did have one there that I didn't see. Thanks for the info. I'm ordering a test and will keep an eye on it in the meantime to make sure it doesn't get full and hard. I'm also going to call the vet and see if she can come sometime soon, I figure I can have her take everyones blood for CAE testing at the same time so it's not a waste of a visit.

Thanks for the input!