I have a 6 year old half pygmy half nubian goat who has an enlarged udder on one side. To touch it feels like a balloon with water in it. It's not hard or hot, but it is very enlarged. We've put heat on it. Physically she's fine. Could it be she's drug her udders across the top of the stall when she climbs over to get in with the horse. She is strictly a pet and horse companion and never had kids. Any help is appreciated. We've had her since she was a baby and never had any problems before.

-- Amy Hall (pumpkinpi1@excite.com), March 18, 2002

Answers

Hi Amy, yes it could be an injury, but I would bet whe has mastitis in that half. Staph is everywhere, and is more than likely growing in that side of her udder. If you take her to the vet and have him drain that half, either by milking or using a catheter, you can then send in the fluid to be tested. Pirsue is the infusion of choice to put up in the udder, if it does not refill with fluid/milk than she will be fine. If she does refill wait for the test results to come back and use the drugs the lab recommends to treat this both as an infusion and systemically with shots. You could guess: Milk her out completely from that side (save some of it in a baby food jar in the fridge), infuse her with Tommorrow infusions for cattle at the feed store, and wait and watch. Then if she refills, send in the sample yourself to your state vet and use the drugs they recommend. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.