Post by Mitra on Apr 6, 2009 8:10:40 GMT -5
I think you're fighting a couple of battles here. One is the mastitis and the other is udder edema which compounds trying to get that colustrum/milk out. When you go to town today, go to the Better Living Center (BLC) and pick up some bags of Raspberry Leaf (in the herbs section) and brew up some tea for Lady. The raspberry leaf tea is supposed to be very good for relieving the udder edema.
Rena has a lot of experience dealing with mastitis and I think you'd have a lot of success following her suggestions.
I have not had to use antibiotics yet on Helen with the several bouts of mastitis that I've dealt with but I've also not had her here long enough to deal with mastitis on top of a really engorged udder, post-calving. Massaging a nearly empty udder or quarter has got to be much easier than what you're dealing with but I do think the massage and the increase of "heat" to get the blood flowing will only serve you well. If you have any lard, I would slather it on and then mash handfuls of cayenne pepper into. This won't bother her at all but it will help to heat it up and get the blood moving.
Definitely add some Vit C powder to her feed and some glugs of cod liver oil (also available at the BLC) to give her a boost. I know Janet's cow BC is very sensitive and refuses to touch her feed if there are any of these additions. Helen on the other hand, just digs in, no matter what's on her sweet feed. I hope Lady is more like Helen in that way.
Lastly, I would not separate the calf at this point as she can be your best assistant in frequent milkings. Even if she stays away from the affected quarter because it's too hard to get anything out, she'll still be helping to milk Lady out, leaving you to concentrate on the affected quarters.
Hang in there Amy - this too shall pass
Rena has a lot of experience dealing with mastitis and I think you'd have a lot of success following her suggestions.
I have not had to use antibiotics yet on Helen with the several bouts of mastitis that I've dealt with but I've also not had her here long enough to deal with mastitis on top of a really engorged udder, post-calving. Massaging a nearly empty udder or quarter has got to be much easier than what you're dealing with but I do think the massage and the increase of "heat" to get the blood flowing will only serve you well. If you have any lard, I would slather it on and then mash handfuls of cayenne pepper into. This won't bother her at all but it will help to heat it up and get the blood moving.
Definitely add some Vit C powder to her feed and some glugs of cod liver oil (also available at the BLC) to give her a boost. I know Janet's cow BC is very sensitive and refuses to touch her feed if there are any of these additions. Helen on the other hand, just digs in, no matter what's on her sweet feed. I hope Lady is more like Helen in that way.
Lastly, I would not separate the calf at this point as she can be your best assistant in frequent milkings. Even if she stays away from the affected quarter because it's too hard to get anything out, she'll still be helping to milk Lady out, leaving you to concentrate on the affected quarters.
Hang in there Amy - this too shall pass