I was with Olivia and the kittens and thought I'd just check Olivia's teats as part of her daily grooming.
Two of them were hot, hard and swollen (I didnt know if thats because the kittens had just finished nursing off her). She's eating well, alert and not in apparent pain, but I was concerned. So I logged on here and read about mastitis and called my vet, who said to bring her in. Took her in this afternoon...her temperature is 'halfway' between normal and a slightly raised temperature. The vet said the the teats were warm but that is normal of milk-producing teats but that it looked like there could be a mild case of mastitis as they were a bit hard/swollen/lumpy. The two kittens have chosen their favourite teats and are sucking them for all they have got, the vet said.
The vet was explaining that mastitis becomes dangerous when bacteria gets into the teats from any broken tissue on the teats or the teat duct itself. She said (thank goodness) that Olivia was not at a critical stage and it looks like the onset of the condition, if in fact it is mastitis.
Olivia had an antibiotic injection and is on tablet antibiotics from tomorrow as a precaution. The vet said the babies could continue to nurse off her, but if Olivia gets worse or the kittens appear to be having problems, I have to go back to the vet to learn how to bottle feed them. This is where I could do with your help guys...I just want to know what I need to be looking out for...the continuation of hot, swollen, lumpy teats? Olivia's stopping to nurse or looking uncomfortable nursing? Her losing her appetite or looking ill? The kittens looking ill? Anything else? How often should I be checking? Olivia and the kittens look alert at the moment but I just want to be cautious...they have nursed off Olivia about 4-5 times today with no apparent problems.
Also what I want to know (the vet didnt make it clear), is the lumpiness normal? Is it a problem only if infection gets into the teats?
Just looked on Olivia now and her teats are not as hot, but they are 'lumpy'. I hope all goes ok. Fingers crossed.
Two of them were hot, hard and swollen (I didnt know if thats because the kittens had just finished nursing off her). She's eating well, alert and not in apparent pain, but I was concerned. So I logged on here and read about mastitis and called my vet, who said to bring her in. Took her in this afternoon...her temperature is 'halfway' between normal and a slightly raised temperature. The vet said the the teats were warm but that is normal of milk-producing teats but that it looked like there could be a mild case of mastitis as they were a bit hard/swollen/lumpy. The two kittens have chosen their favourite teats and are sucking them for all they have got, the vet said.
The vet was explaining that mastitis becomes dangerous when bacteria gets into the teats from any broken tissue on the teats or the teat duct itself. She said (thank goodness) that Olivia was not at a critical stage and it looks like the onset of the condition, if in fact it is mastitis.
Olivia had an antibiotic injection and is on tablet antibiotics from tomorrow as a precaution. The vet said the babies could continue to nurse off her, but if Olivia gets worse or the kittens appear to be having problems, I have to go back to the vet to learn how to bottle feed them. This is where I could do with your help guys...I just want to know what I need to be looking out for...the continuation of hot, swollen, lumpy teats? Olivia's stopping to nurse or looking uncomfortable nursing? Her losing her appetite or looking ill? The kittens looking ill? Anything else? How often should I be checking? Olivia and the kittens look alert at the moment but I just want to be cautious...they have nursed off Olivia about 4-5 times today with no apparent problems.
Also what I want to know (the vet didnt make it clear), is the lumpiness normal? Is it a problem only if infection gets into the teats?
Just looked on Olivia now and her teats are not as hot, but they are 'lumpy'. I hope all goes ok. Fingers crossed.
