Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands. It readily affects our nursing cows and, thankfully, is far rarer in our mammalian pets (dogs, cats and ferrets).
Even so, it can cause them real harm and considerable pain, and needs to be treated promptly.
It occurs in nursing females and is often set off by tiny injuries from the suckling young’s teeth. An infection starting elsewhere (in the womb, for example) or poor hygiene can also bring on mastitis, or make an existing case worse. As the bacteria multiply, the affected mammary gland or glands become infected — and, left untreated, this can lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia) that is sometimes fatal.
The affected glands are hot, painful, swollen and red, exactly like an abscess, and can progress to gangrene or tissue death (necrosis).
Treatment relies on antibiotics — chosen with care depending on whether the young are still suckling, since the drug passes into the milk — together with warm compresses and frequent draining of milk from the affected gland or glands. If part of the gland has died off, the wound must be cleaned out (debrided) under general anaesthetic. In some cases the diseased gland is lost altogether.
The mother may reject her young, in which case the owner will need to step in with bottle-feeding.
Prevention comes down to keeping a close eye on the litter’s nursing, keeping everything scrupulously clean, and watching for the slightest sign of trouble in the mother or her young, so that you can act quickly.