advice on mastitis needed

J

justafluke

Member
Joined
16 January 2010
Messages
10
Visit site
Hi,

I have a 15yo TB mare, all well this morning and turned out. Popped by at 3pm and she was pawing the ground looking unhappy. On inspection she was sweaty, refused to move, high breathing and pulse, and shivering. I called the vet and stripped off rug, found her left udder about the size of a rugby ball, swelling also in front of udder, temp was 39.3 degrees and she was lethargic.
Have owned 6 yrs, may have been bred before and has no history of problems although this udder has always been slightly larger and she is not happy being touched. Has had no stallion contact. All jabs up to date.
Vet arrived and gave anti-inflammatory injection, then IV penecillin, after about 20mins I could coax her into her stable. Vet said he would have to return for next 3 days to continue the injections and if mare not drinking enough would have to go onto an IV drip.
He said it's not mastitis, he would expect these symptoms after a fly bike in summer or in a pregnant mare.
Have checked her twice tonight, about 3 cupfuls of hot greenish watery liquid have oozed out but no longer flowing, swelling 20% reduced, temp back just above normal but horsey looking pretty sorry for herself and poor appetite, not drinking and still looks to uncomfortable to move much.
Has anyone any experience of this flaring up so quickly and any idea on prognosis? Should I ask for cultures or something?
Would appreciate any advice! She is very loved!
frown.gif
 
Arh bless her

Warm towels on her bags if she will let you!!!!

If you are able to 'strip' her then use plenty of KY jelly on your fingers and assist any liquid out

She maybe too sore though so you may need help!

I would be asking for bloods to be done-just to see if she is fighting an infection of some sorts
 
poor thing!

I had 2 broodmares develop mastitis last year - much to the detriment to the foals but it was because they had been poor when i bought them the previous winter and fed them up (not knowing they were in foal but treating them as if they were!)
Anyway both had the same as you are describing. Both vets from the same practice gave both mares antibiotic injections and antinflamatory injections, I was left with powders to give each of the mares for 10 days and had to strip the muck from each udder, unfortunately one mare was so bad her udder on the right side is beyond repair but her left-hand-side will be fine. Luckily neither of the mares are in foal for next year as both produced late foals.

Try to strip the muck from your mare, make sure your hands are not cold and it's a good idea to clean around the area with some hibiscrub. Horses are very resilient and i'm amazed at how well both my mares recovered. first mare was back feeding her foal within a fornight and both doing great!

Good luck!xx
 
Mares can go down with mastitis for the oddest of reasons. My rescue mare Angel arrived with dreadful, untreated mastitis after her foal had died in tragic circumstances and no-one had bothered to treat it. Vets advised it can be life threatening untreated so keep a careful eye on it. Angel let us strip her for a few days until she started to feel better, then she tried to kill anyone who went near her udder. She needed 2 back to back courses of antibx it was such a bad infection. Then, 2 years later, she went off to be backed and promptly went down with mastitis again. Some mares will suddenly develop mastitis if their feed changes eg to rich grazing or if something stressful happens. We think Angel may have thought she was going to the stallion again. Anyway, because we caught it early, 7 days antibx and it was gone. A year on from that she went to her new permanent home and didn't get it at all. Good luck x
 
Thanks for the advice both of you!
Will try to "milk" tho have no idea how as she seemed rather opposed to the idea of me touching the swelling! Might ask the vet to demonstrate (and stand well back!!) hehe.
Great to hear she should recover tho. Noted, will definitely try hot towels, KY, hibiscrub tomo if I can get near enough! Will also ask about bloods.
Thanks again for your help.
 
I hope he didn't give her IV penicillin - they get horrendouse reactions so vets NEVER give it IV. It must have been IM, or not penicillin that he gave IV!
 
Sorry - my mistake! penstrep(sp?) IM and some anti imflammatory injection.
she was worse this morning after improving last night, distresses, v high respiration rate&pulse, temp 39.5, not eating/drinking and further swelling so is now also on Equitrim injections to be followed by granules. Had more pain relief too. More penstrep injections to follow.
Had a miserable day but perked up considerably about 4hrs ago now eating/drinking small amounts, tried "milking" her using the above tips- she did let me but I got no fluid at all,its rock hard. vet wants a sample and is talking about lancing?
going to check on her a few times tonight.
any tips? I tried walking her a little but still no fluid since y day. swelling has spread to other side and up belly.
 
You have to treat this aggressively hun. Nag your vets for "next step" advice. Is it time for a referral to a specialist centre? It's just that my vets told me that mastitis can be very bad news. Angel was on back to back antibx - totalled a month!
 
Goodness, does sound like she's suffering. I wouldn't have thought that lancing would help really, as the mammaray gland is not jusy one sack full of milk/pus, its lots of little compartments. Only antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will help. Good luck
smile.gif
 
Hi Guys,
Just a quick update, she is doing much better although still not 100%. Bit me this morning so definately getting back to normal!
Much perkier and is turned out today to try to encourage the HUGE edema from chest to groin to disappate. Eating and drinking ok.
Have had no bloods or samples done as vet did not think necessary, penecillin and anti-inflammatory IV finished but still on equitrim and metacap.
Thanks for your advice, I will be asking for bloods to be done if not cleared by Thurs. Got nothing from trying to milk.
Any further hints you would recommend to reduce the edema quickly?
Thanks v much
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top