[smee2012]

My ewe that lambed on Thursday (following a protracted and fairly traumatic labour that resulted in one of the two lambs dead) is quite hard and swollen on one side of her udder. I haven't seen her nurse her lamb on that side so I'm suspecting mastitis (having suffered from it myself in the past!). I imagine she's feeling pretty miserable, although she is eating and drinking. She appears to try and swing her back leg around when she's walking too.

I did manage to get down and try and milk her on that side whilst she was at the trough and she gave me a few kicks but I was able to get some out without any problems and it didn't look bloody or pussy.

I have some alamycin, should I give her some? If so, how long for? It says on the box to give 1ml/10kgs but max of 5ml. She's probably around 60kgs but I presume I give her the lower dose?

Also, do I milk her on that side to empty her bag? Obviously it will fill again but I'd imagine it's very uncomfortable for her at the moment?

Is it still safe for her lamb to nurse whilst she's being treated?

[mab]

not really knowledgeable enough to answer your question but I would suspect it is.


Assuming it is mastitis and based on what I've been told:-  5ml is what my 'expert' neighbour thought; and I was recomended to empty the bag (except for a while after we'd tubed some stuff into the affected teat), and I think the view was to let the lamb nurse - my lambs seem to prefer the 'good' teat anyway.

[fsmnutter]

Max of 5ml refers to one site, so if you need more, put it in one syringe but only put part in, then move the needle for the rest.
Antibiotic resistance develops quicker when animals are underdosed, so always weigh or estimate on the larger side. Alamycin is a safe drug so 6/7ml will do fine in two bits.
Keep milking her out if you can, as getting the infected stuff out will speed up her recovery.
The lambs should be fine to leave with her, if she's uncomfortable she won't let them suck, and if its bad milk they wont like it. Just make sure to top up if they're hungry.
An anti-inflammatory pain relief injection is often overlooked but can help with discomfort and healing.
All the best
Suzanne

[smee2012]

I've just been to have a proper examine of my ewe and she has some small lesions on her left side. I've squeezed out quite a bit of milk - it still seems quite normal looking; not pussy or bloody and her teat doesn't feel lumpy. There's also a bit of discolouration on her right side (the side she is letting the lamb nurse from) and again the milk seems clear. I've injected 3.5mls into each side and milked her quite a bit beforehand.

For all my Googling I can't seems to ascertain what form off mastitis this might be or how often I need to give the antibiotics. Any thoughts?
 

[smee2012]

Bump...anyone?

I'll be ringing the vet tomorrow but would ideally like to know if I'm doing the right thing so far? Her milk seems quite pink now but I'm not sure if that's possibly due to the injection earlier or if she's getting worse! Hubby did the last check on everyone (still on lamb watch) and said she seemed lots brighter but she's not really seemed that off colour.

[Blacksheep]

Sorry to hear about the mastitis    its very unusual for a ewe to get it with just one lamb on her, but maybe her resistance to infection was down if she had a hard time lambing.   We find zactran or draxxin effective to use with mastitis, it provides cover for nearly 2 weeks. Also depending on what type the intramammary tubes for cows can be used after milking out as it gets antibiotic where it is needed and some have a steroid to help reduce inflammation,  can help save a quarter if treated in time.  Not sure about the pink milk, have never actually injected into the udder so it could be from that?  Would keep the affected quarter milked out if you can, good that the milk still seems ok. 

[farmvet]

I really hope I've misread this post & you haven't injected alamycin into the udder

[smee2012]

Yes, I did. I read several posts on here regarding mastitis treatment advising to inject it directly into the udder.

[fsmnutter]

There are special tubes with no needle, designed to be squirted up the open end of the teat. Alamycin says on the bottle to be injected into the muscle. I would get the vet out tomorrow to check her over and make sure the udder is ok

[smee2012]

Yes, I'm aware of those tubes but the post I read were regarding Alamycin being injected into the udder, not via tubes. I'll be speaking to the vet in the morning anyway though.

[Sbom]

Ouch!

[smee2012]

Ouch!

No more ouch, I'd have thought, than having cow tubes stuck up your teats!

[wellies]

Hope your ewe is feeling a bit more comfortable? I find Betamox to be more effective than alamycin for mastitis. We've also used the cow tubes in conjunction with good success where extra omph was needed

[Sbom]

Hope she's getting better.... But just for future reference the cow tubes go into the teat canal which is like a little tube so dosent hurt at all!

[verdifish]

I once heard of a farmer swearing that the best thing to do with a ewe with mastitis is shoot of the teats with a shotgun !

there you go folks its now in black and white on the forum so it MUST be ok !