DISCLAIMER: Von Der Musikstadt is not a Veterinarian or health care professional. The Information I have on this website is from own personal experience or information I have found. I suggest to bring your dog to a Veterinarian that has several years experience in dealing with pyometra.
This is graphic!
Mastitis a bacterial infection in the lactating (milk producing) glands.
Occurs often because of trauma to the lactating gland, ascending infection, or an infection somewhere that has spread through the bloodstream.
This infection is serious and needs to be checked out by a veterinarian. It can become life-threatening and in some cases leading to septic shock and death!
Basics about Mastitis
Pregnant and Lactating females
Normally stimulated by hormone changes
Bacteria can go into the teats / nipples to the gland
Bacteria can get entrance through the bloodstream. This normally comes from the uterus because it is normally high during pregnancy or infection in uterus.
Bacteria can get into the blood through intestional tract. Possible worms causing problems or intestional bacteria infection.
Low immune system
Can mostly occurs in onegland but can be multiple glands.
Symptoms can occur very fast within 24 hours.
Fever over 102.5 - 103 degrees
Feeling sick or ill
Stress
No appitite
Toxic Milk
Puppies not wanting to nurse because they feel sick
Dying Puppies
Poor energy
Skin redness
Breast Swelling
Breast hot and tender to the touch
Burning and pain during nursing
Dehydration
Toxic Shock and Sepsis
Dysfunction of the kidney, liver, and lymphatic system.
Gangreen
As you can see in the above and below photographs the one breast is very swollen and red. This is from the infection building up in the lactating gland. Her temperature rose to 104.2
The below pictures are 24 hours later after doing hot compress to the lactating breast, giving her antibiotics from the vet and appling a cold cloth to her belly to bring down her temperature to at 102.9 degrees. Normal temperature is about 101 - 102.5 degrees fahrenheit.
