Post by Selden on Sept 24, 2011 6:37:59 GMT -5
Hello, everyone. My cow Katika is 9 years old and has never had full-blown mastitis. However I think she's got it now. After years of reading this board I should know exactly what to do but I haven't any idea.
Two days ago her right rear quarter was swollen and warm. At first I simply thought she was over-full. I keep the calf on her 24/7 and now that the calf is 10 weeks old I'd thought it was OK to skip a day of milking when I was severely stressed for time. My mistake. Very stupid.
I felt terrible to see the swelling and milked her out as much as I could. Strangely (I thought at the time) I couldn't empty the quarter. However there were no strings or clots and the milk appeared perfectly normal (I am feeding most of my milk to the pigs these days, so I didn't strain it, but will today). Still, the quarter remained swollen.
Yesterday morning it was larger and harder and the right front quarter was also involved, stiffening and harder. I called my vet while sitting on my milking stool.
At 5 PM I finally got a call back from the new young associate. She told me it definitely sounded like mastitis, that it was definitely my fault -- "Dairy cows give far too much milk for a calf," she lectured me -- and that they didn't carry the meds as all the dairies in their area (45 minutes away) stock their own.
Katika's temperature is 101 and her bag does not seem sensitive -- no attempt to kick or keep me from touching it -- but by evening last night she seemed to be tentative on her right back foot, limping slightly around the swollen udder.
It looks as if I will need to make a trip to Tractor Supply an hour away to get meds. What do I need?
THANK YOU.
Two days ago her right rear quarter was swollen and warm. At first I simply thought she was over-full. I keep the calf on her 24/7 and now that the calf is 10 weeks old I'd thought it was OK to skip a day of milking when I was severely stressed for time. My mistake. Very stupid.
I felt terrible to see the swelling and milked her out as much as I could. Strangely (I thought at the time) I couldn't empty the quarter. However there were no strings or clots and the milk appeared perfectly normal (I am feeding most of my milk to the pigs these days, so I didn't strain it, but will today). Still, the quarter remained swollen.
Yesterday morning it was larger and harder and the right front quarter was also involved, stiffening and harder. I called my vet while sitting on my milking stool.
At 5 PM I finally got a call back from the new young associate. She told me it definitely sounded like mastitis, that it was definitely my fault -- "Dairy cows give far too much milk for a calf," she lectured me -- and that they didn't carry the meds as all the dairies in their area (45 minutes away) stock their own.
Katika's temperature is 101 and her bag does not seem sensitive -- no attempt to kick or keep me from touching it -- but by evening last night she seemed to be tentative on her right back foot, limping slightly around the swollen udder.
It looks as if I will need to make a trip to Tractor Supply an hour away to get meds. What do I need?
THANK YOU.