[Oopsiboughtasheep]

On checking my girls this evening, one of them has a very swollen udder area. She is a 2 yr old Zwartble, never had a lamb. I just have 4 sheep as pets/mowers and not for breeding.
This has only occurred during today. She seems fine in herself but I don't know if they can get mastitis if they're not lactating/bred from? It's isn't hard, inflamed or 'watery'. Can this happen if they get stung or bitten in that area? If so, is it OK just to keep an eye on it and how soon should it start to go down? I don't want to over react but I don't want to leave it if I shouldn't either. Their bums were clipped a few weeks ago by local shepherd so I can see the skin clearly and it looks normal.
Thankyou in advance for any advice.

[SallyintNorth]

Cattle can certainly get an infection in the udder before they've ever been bred, so I guess sheep could too.

A bite or sting is possibly more likely.

You say 'udder area' - it is on one side, not the other?  There's a strong internal barrier between the left and right halves of the udder, so if it's not one-sided, it might suggest it's not internal, more on the surface - as a bite or sting would be.

Is the area hot to the touch?  Can you draw any fluid from the teat on that side?  (Don't try over-hard to get some; if you're not sure what you're doing it's better not to try, as you can do damage.)

Another possibility that's occurred to me... a friend had her unbred gimmers all start developing their udders when they were put out on clover.  Clover contains oestrogen, and the hormone was stimulating udder development!

[Oopsiboughtasheep]

Oh! That's interesting Sally, there is certainly some clover in the grass. Is it OK for them? They love it out in the horses field and I would like to keep them out there if they will be alright with the clover. They have been out there for about 4 months and the other 3 sheep haven't had this happen to them (yet).
The swelling is on both sides and looks quite even in size. It doesn't feel hot but I haven't tried expressing fluid from her teats as I have never done that to a sheep and am concerned about hurting her.

[fsmnutter]

If there's no chance a ram could have served her, and she seems well - eating , moving comfortably and there is no heat or pain - I would agree with Sally it may be the oestrogen from the clover.
This should not cause any harm, but high clover grazing is high protein so with non-pregnant sheep, you will need to make sure they don't get fat, by restricting the area they can graze or feeding them hay or straw indoors to fill them up before turning out to graze.
If you are concerned she seems unwell at any time or there is heat and pain in the udder, call your vet.

[Oopsiboughtasheep]

Thankyou fsmnutter. Definitely no Rams able to get into my paddock (unless they can pole vault!) so that's a relief. She seems fine in herself but if still swollen tomorrow, I will get a closer look and go from there. I won't hesitate to get a vet to check her if she looks like she has pain or just doesn't seem herself. I'm very grateful for your reply.

[Anke]

Weren't Zwartbles bred as milk sheep? Then it is well possible that in a strong milking strain you get what is called "maiden milkers" in goats - a young (not-bred) goatling coming into milk without pregnancy.

You don't fancy milking her?

If you can get to her - checking the udder for redness/hardness and heat is probably worthwhile, because they can get mastitis. Also restricting her grazing is helpful to get dried up.

[Oopsiboughtasheep]

Hi Anke, thanks for your reply. Not sure I do fancy milking her! She's a bit flighty. Udder still symmetrically swollen on both sides but less so than when I asked for advice a few days ago (about half the size). The udder is soft, not hot and no sign of inflammation. She seems fine in herself, eating, drinking, pooing, resting, generally behaving as normal. I'm hoping therefore that it is to do with either what you have suggested about Z'ds being 'milky sheep' or the previously mentioned clover possibility.

[Anke]

I was joking re the milking... hope she goes back to normal soon.