The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: fifixx on May 03, 2011, 06:43:18 pm

Title: Sore teats
Post by: fifixx on May 03, 2011, 06:43:18 pm

I've noticed today that one mum of triplets has cuts round her teats presumably where the battling triplets are trying to hang on when they get the teat!  what can I put on it that won't taste vile to the kids (who are now 3 weeks old and having a bit of concentrate too) - or perhaps that is a good thing?

Title: Re: Sore teats
Post by: jaykay on May 03, 2011, 09:30:29 pm

You can get something called Dermasol which is a cream very good for getting animals to mend - we found it sold for horses.
It has a bit of a chemically taste though, but no doubt the kids will lick it off!

Watch out for mastitis - this is how it happens in ewes at least - they get cuts on their teats 'cos of over-enthusiastic lambs, the bacteria get in and then you end up with 'black bag'. Not good  :P

Title: Re: Sore teats
Post by: fifixx on May 04, 2011, 10:36:47 am

I've put her and one kid in a pen for a couple of hours and am going to try to rotate the kids if they don't moan too much - so far so good.  I also put a little sudocream on the sore bit, which is not as sore as I thought, more scabby as if healing up.

Title: Re: Sore teats
Post by: Beewyched on May 04, 2011, 08:30:41 pm

My mother used to use stuff sold in the chemists for human mothers with sore nipples from breast feeding (sorry can't remember what it was called though).  Agree with JK - watch-out for mastitis, it can be picked-up even if she's on the cleanest of bedding.

If it gets too bad you may have to keep the kids off her for a few days & hand strip her, bottle feeding it back to the kids - but you'll need ear-plugs in the meantime  ;)

Title: Re: Sore teats
Post by: ballingall on May 04, 2011, 10:59:46 pm

Sudocream was quite a good choice- might not be great for the kids, but it's not going to do much harm. Agree with Beewyched- there's bound to be something available for cracked nipples for humans, so that would be great. Rotating the kids is another good idea- but be sure that by this she isn't just getting pestered all the time. Ie- one kid goes in, has a sook, goes back for a few more sooks, you take that one out, give her another one, who starts looking for her drink.....Etc etc.


Beth

Title: Re: Sore teats
Post by: fifixx on May 05, 2011, 09:27:03 am

The kids didn't seem too bothered by being separated for a few hours yesterday, I might try her alone for an hour or two after feeding today.