mastytis????

[NoviceNic]

I have recently purchased a pony which has this week showed signs of being in season. The worry is she is producing milk. I am reliably informed there is no way she could be pregnant. My friend who told me when she brought the pony three weeks prior to me having her that "Bonnie" seemed to be showing signs of being pregnant but when she consulted horsey friends and spoke to last owner there was no way she was pregnant. After speaking to her vet he told her that "Bonnie" may have been stressed during transit and got a touch of colic and then turned into mastytis. Could anyone please tell me what is mastytis? What is the best thing I can do to help "Bonnie" and also is this usual for a pony to "bag up" when she comes into season? Any tips would be truly appreciated.

[intouch]

It can happen, my friend's pony suffered from mastitis during the summer. Try giving her homoeopathic Belladonna 6, 2 pillules in a slice of apple 3 times a day for 3 days, it helps humans with the same problem!

[Wally]

If you really think she has mastitis don't mess about get the vet in. There is, however, a huge difference between a mare milking and mastitis.

Mastitis is a nasty udder infection which can turn to abscesses and in turn blood poisoning if left un treated. In the WORST cases the mare will loose the ability to produce milk after a bad mastitis attack.

If it is full blown mastitis she will need antibiotics. You will know if it is mastitis as she will be depressed, run a temperature and the udder will be swollen and very hot and hard and painful to touch. It may need rubbing and stripping out regularly if she'll let you. Puss may run from the teats which STINKS. If it is milk don't be too worried.

I can tell you from bitter experience once you have mastitis there is not a homeopathic remedy in the world that will help. I had it after my son was born. I didn't recognise the signs and ignored the symptoms, it feels like bad flu.

[intouch]

Wally - I absolutely agree that acute mastitis is horrible, it is essential to catch it early. Although I would always advise consulting a doctor, (I'm a lactation consulant) the above remedy can stop it in its tracks 9 times out of 10 long before antibiotics can touch it, without afffecting the infant the way drugs will. However I felt the condition NoviceNic was describing, as there was no foal involved, was unlikely to be acute, and the belladonna would do no harm if it did no good.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

[NoviceNic]

I am a bit low tonight as the pony I loaned prior to buying "Bonnie" for my daughter has been put to sleep as she had a nasty astmha attack. The vet said it was COPD. Not the best moment in my new experience of ponies. Thank fully my friend called me and I went to see the pony to tell her I love her and be with her when she needed me the most. Any way thank you for your advice on mastitis. I f she is just a milking mare what colour is the milk like and does it smell? "Bonnie" doesn't appear to be in any discomfort and definately is not depressed or under the weather. Appreciate your replies and advice.

[intouch]

That is so sad, heartfelt sympathies. It's good you were able to say goodbye.
Ordinary milk can be anything from opague to creamy, infected milk can have pus in it or have clots. With infection the udder will probably be distended hot and sore.
Lots of mares bag up when they are in season, keep an eye on her, but try not to be paranoid:eek: , you are bound to be over protective after your experience. Why don't you ring the vet, s/he should be able to reassure you.
Take care.

[Wally]

:D :D My friend kept mastitis at bay with the help of a homeopath, she was only firing on one cylinder due to the loss of the other with her first child! She needed to keep firing on the one she had. I won't go into details but we all know how to treat open abscesses!

She, like me is probably predisposed to the acute version, but in the end it went to full blown mastitis and ended up with the anti biotics. .....and the nappies that go with them :) :)

Having seen and felt the results of mastitis in cows, sheep, humans and horses it is something which I would never play around with. I know hoemopathy can help, it worked for my friend, but the consequenses of undiagnosed, acute mastitis are huge.

It is one of those conditions that if you know what you are looking or feeling for it is obvious, if you are not sure it is better to get help after administering the hoeopathic dose to keep it at bay.