Can a 4 month old (filly) foal have mastitis?? Gross and graphic, sorry!

[Arkmiido]

My baby girl has a swollen udder one one side only, but both quarters, front and back. It is dripping what looks like pus, and when I milked it, there were some solid lumps like cream cheese coming out along with lots of this yellowy creamy sticky liquid. It isn't hot to touch, but she's not keen on my touching it and actually bit me - so it must be painful? I could put it down to hormones if both sides were like it, but this is rather odd!

In case its relevant as a family history thing.... Her dam had a swollen udder (one side only) when I got her - not inflamed, just much bigger than you would expect for a maiden mare. Vet said it was fatty deposits. I suspected she had had mastitis or a blockage in the past and was very wary of breeding from her, but was reassured by vet. She then had a very traumatic pregnancy with that side of udder swelling up massively, oedema all along that side under her stomach, stretching to her chest - looked like half a football. There was never any discharge from it though. However, at one point (at 9 months gone..) she ran a temperature of 39.9, resp rate of 60.. Couldn't find any infection, other than this massive udder. ABx made no difference to the udder but with bute as well, the fever went away. She then went on to bag up fine and has not had any problems lactating. No sign of mastitis now.

 

[*hic*]

Poor little mite. Yes it does sound like mastitis but from what you've written I really think she should see the vet.

 

[Smile_and_Wave]

poor thing ive not come across anything like that would definately get the vet to come have a look, is the foal or mare running a temp or anything, is the foals umbilical normal

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Agree I would get the Vet out. Poor girl, Hope you find out what it is!

 

[Arkmiido]

I was planning to - will be calling them first thing tomo for advice/visit, but I found this problem tonight after they closed for calls, and as she isn't running a temp, and the resp rate/pulse is normal I didn't want to bother the on-call service as I don't think it's an emergency personally - the on-call wouldn't be my usual equine vet anyway. I take my horses' health very seriously
Just wondered if anyone else had seen mastitis or abnormal discharge in fillies?

 

[Arkmiido]

poor thing ive not come across anything like that would definately get the vet to come have a look, is the foal or mare running a temp or anything, is the foals umbilical normal

Yep, umbilicus totally fine - was a tiny stump soon after birth and now is a flat bit of skin. She's really well in herself - other than trying to steal my leadrope while I was catching another horse... Neither mare nor foal running a temp, all completely fine, out 24/7 in a herd. Mare's symptoms were months and months ago and no probs since, just added for background. I wonder if there's some kind of blockage in the duct or something? 2 different vets were stumped as to what was wrong with the mare when she was pregnant and had these problems though (without any discharge tho!!)

 

[charliesarmy]

I'd put this in breeding...and I'd also be ringing the out of hours vet not for a visit unless advised but for a chat..foals can go downhill very very quick...hope all improves for the wee girl and please keep us updated

 

[Arkmiido]

Vet coming out later on today - not terribly worried, but thinks it does sound like pus. Most odd!!! It really doesn't smell like pus.... I dunno. Will let you know what he makes of it when he has been...

 

[kittykatcat]

Oh no....this isnt the b**tard foal is it!?!?!

 

[Arkmiido]

Oh no....this isnt the b**tard foal is it!?!?!

Howdy neighbour... No, this is the pedigree (haha) belgian warmblood (Parco/Darco) x ISH (Cruising) foal! The tall one... Belongs to the grey creature in my end field?! TWIGLET!!
NOT the b*stard ginger shetland one that cost me the small fortune despite being worth 20p, and still has waffy legs. And kicks and bites as gratitude for the plasma transfusion... Grrr.


So we are still oozing 'pus' and cottage cheese and vet thinks it must be mastitis but has no idea why or how, OR she has abnormal pus producing cells in the absence of infection. I think there is a blockage in the duct? Wound swab taken, not on ABx or bute as she is currently so well in herself..
Silly creature.