Help please. Swollen gland and nipple

4 mimi

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Kota had 2 boy kittens on july 30th by 8:30 pm. By 2:30 am she was in great distress and she would look at me and cry and couldnt settle down. She was panting profusely and roll her eyes back. She even left her babies to lie on cool floor and would lift one leg up in the air and look at me and cry. She was upset also at leaving her babies cause she was up in a flash at any worry or movement from them . She made sure to feed them clean them and snuggle them through her pain abd then she would be fine. I was alone with her and needless to say i worried all night long and stayed by her side . i worried she had another kitten inside or partial placenta.? I examined her up and down and did notice a swollen hard nipple that was a bit warm as well . Her behavior lasted off and on throughout the night by morning my daughter and a friend of mine brought her to a vet along with her boys this vet took blood work and an xray? We were charged $900 to be told she was fine and her behavior was because she was breastfeeding/lactating and eating too much? We were charged $900 and i then find out we dont know if theres any placenta cause they cant tell with an xray. Im upset an ultrasound wasnt performed ? Today she would beg me to pet her i spent day massaging her body wondering if she might have injured herself during delivery not sure if a cat can tare area or if her glands were infected. After another long day i am now aware that it is her nipple that is the problem. I did not clue in sooner cause when she fed babies i'd leave her slone to bond with them. The gland is so swollen as well as the nipple and is hot to touch. Im assuming now that is why she lies down on cold floor and kept lifting her leg. A friend recommended hot compress and pain medicine? im not even sure if we can buy pain medicine at a pet store and its closed now. Im furious theres no way he should have missed that at all and now shes in worse pain! Any advice of any home remedies for tonight please and thank you in advance. U can clearly see the enlarged nipple in pic taken right before vet visit .

 
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catownerof2

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I will assume that all mammals can get mastitis. Could be a clogged duct. Hot compress and try to get kittens to nurse on that one. If she gets a fever it's mastitis and only antibiotics take that away.
 

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Kota had 2 boy kittens on july 30th by 8:30 pm. By 2:30 am she was in great distress and she would look at me and cry and couldnt settle down. She was panting profusely and roll her eyes back. She even left her babies to lie on cool floor and would lift one leg up in the air and look at me and cry. She was upset also at leaving her babies cause she was up in a flash at any worry or movement from them . She made sure to feed them clean them and snuggle them through her pain abd then she would be fine. I was alone with her and needless to say i worried all night long and stayed by her side . i worried she had another kitten inside or partial placenta.? I examined her up and down and did notice a swollen hard nipple that was a bit warm as well . Her behavior lasted off and on throughout the night by morning my daughter and a friend of mine brought her to a vet along with her boys this vet took blood work and an xray? We were charged $900 to be told she was fine and her behavior was because she was breastfeeding/lactating and eating too much? We were charged $900 and i then find out we dont know if theres any placenta cause they cant tell with an xray. Im upset an ultrasound wasnt performed ? Today she would beg me to pet her i spent day massaging her body wondering if she might have injured herself during delivery not sure if a cat can tare area or if her glands were infected. After another long day i am now aware that it is her nipple that is the problem. I did not clue in sooner cause when she fed babies i'd leave her slone to bond with them. The gland is so swollen as well as the nipple and is hot to touch. Im assuming now that is why she lies down on cold floor and kept lifting her leg. A friend recommended hot compress and pain medicine? im not even sure if we can buy pain medicine at a pet store and its closed now. Im furious theres no way he should have missed that at all and now shes in worse pain! Any advice of any home remedies for tonight please and thank you in advance. U can clearly see the enlarged nipple in pic taken right before vet visit .
Cant you phone this vet and ask for some antibiotic paste, for threating mastitis?   You are his paying patient, after all.   With that "somewhat" hefty charges  he should give you some advices and standard receips on the phone, too...

Avoid OTC pain killers.  If you dont know exactly what you do and exactly what dosage, they are dangerous...   But ask this vet about this too, he may have some good suggestion.

And yes, warm compresses helps to fight the inflammation.
 
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4 mimi

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Thank you . I put one on her after i read this and she wagged her tail and left it and let me repeat . But afterwsrds it aggravated the pain fof her. Should i put a bit of pressure on nipple gently?

You cant tell in picture but im assuming its a gland but its rock hard and size and lenght of about 3 golf balls .

I do not know if she has a fever she she wont let me near that part of her body and and my first time fostering and only fostering for pregnancy and care of kittens therefore dont even have a thermomete except a human ear one. I would buy one if she'd let me but its pointless. Im assuming vet would have checked? But not sure since its 3:18 atm

I also was wondering if i could rub her down and massage her with scent free pet wets since she used to get baths but its not a good time or no due to kittens ?

Thank u again for the guidance you provided
 

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Thank you . I put one on her after i read this and she wagged her tail and left it and let me repeat . But afterwsrds it aggravated the pain fof her. Should i put a bit of pressure on nipple gently?

You cant tell in picture but im assuming its a gland but its rock hard and size and lenght of about 3 golf balls .

I do not know if she has a fever she she wont let me near that part of her body and and my first time fostering and only fostering for pregnancy and care of kittens therefore dont even have a thermomete except a human ear one. I would buy one if she'd let me but its pointless. Im assuming vet would have checked? But not sure since its 3:18 atm

I also was wondering if i could rub her down and massage her with scent free pet wets since she used to get baths but its not a good time or no due to kittens ?

Thank u again for the guidance you provided
You can surely use the ear thermometer on her ear too.   Normally, it will show lower temp than i recdtum, count with 1 full Celsius or 3F grades.  But do calibrate on your own ear at first. I dont have personal experiences of ear termometres, they perhaps are automatically compensating into normal human body temp??

You can surely help her with washing by viping off her.

Btw.  You got the advice on letting the kittens nurse on that inflammed gland.   The idea is to help the fluids get going, but its potentially dangerous for the kittens.  You dont want infected milk into the kittens, so dont let them nurse on this gland!
 

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I will assume that all mammals can get mastitis. Could be a clogged duct. Hot compress and try to get kittens to nurse on that one. If she gets a fever it's mastitis and only antibiotics take that away.
Nay!!!  

I suppose you though to try and get fluids going.  Which is a sound idea, but you dont want to get infected milk into the kittens.   So dont do it.

If you can get an alternative idea for gettings things going, try with this if you wish, but not with the kittens participation.   It may poison them.
 
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4 mimi

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Yes i now guard the kittens feedings and redirect when they attempt. Thank you started second guessing myself for a brief moment.

I will go by the wioes in morning and hope it relaxes her tense muscle and gives her envouragement poor thing has had a rough time .

Just when i was turning my house upside down for my ear thermometer i remembered its at my daughters since o gave it to her for my grsndson. I really have no idea the sciencr behind sn ear one versus others except ehat degree a fever is. But i think its brilliant your recipe on how to try it.

I think what ill do is compress througout night to get her used to it and soften nipple and maybe tomorrow morning add a little pressure?

As for me calling the vet here in ontario they do not do telephone advice ect you are forced to book and wait and pay straight away for an apt also since we were so worried it was kitten or partiial placenta she was seen by a vet on call for emergencies at the emergency animal hospital. But if she gets more ill and it doesnt lance itself i will ring his neck but in sctuality here it is not easy to complain against ones doctoring . It depemds on severity. Im positive they wouldnt question his judgement over kota? Idk im just so upset and overtired at this point.

Thank you sooo much for the confidence and advice i do feel better having support for Kota and the boyz. Maybe tomorrow is an easier day.


 
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StefanZ

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If you have a common thermometre, you can measure in the armpit of the foreleg.  The temp there is lower 1C and 3F compared with the rectum.  But you know quite well what you are measuring.   :)

Ah, you are in Canada, so now I understad a little better that hefty price.  Canada vets are renown for holding high prices, and there also being few low cost spaying clinics...
 
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4 mimi

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No i dont but will go buy one tomorrow cause i think ill have more success there then ear or rectum

Yep your helping a Canadian that got bit by our lack of healthcare system for our best friends your right, thats why alot of people try to instill in a pet as an indoor pet to avoid vaccine cost and spaying
 
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4 mimi

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I know usually answer to my question should i move kittens for her is no however its tricky so i need advice.

I took on fostering on a necessity but i do not have the space because i live in a 1 bedroom apt. Kota came from a loud busy house and she was outdoor car. I live on 4th floor but it fid not matter because she would have given birth outside. She was hunting for a nesting place outside. And she was vicious.

Anyway when she arrived she hid in my bedroomn for about a week. I let her be and eventually won her over. I tamed her. She was her old self cuddly playful.

I read all i could to help with upcoming birth and her behavior.

I live alone as wel. She was trying to locate a nest area. My bedroom door remained off limits in fear shed birth under bed so kept door closed

I have 2 huge wall to walk closets and she kept crying to get in when doors were closed. She acted frsntic as well

I finally decided to empty out a half a closet which is seperated by in half by a wall. I laid blsnkets toys and her food nearby. I also made 2 nesting boxes and placed them around. She slept in all of them and accepted all areas.

Well she chose my couch to give birth! I managed to slip a towel under her but she did mske a mess of my couch since theyve been there since birth 2 days ago.

We had to bring her and littens to vet which i posted about needing advice. Thebsituation corrected itself with intervention



Now her behavior is erratic. She was caring however since their birth she left within hours them to come where i was and we used to spend hours with ny radio and doing projects its small though and not private . I fid put a nesting box on couch in hopes shed trsnsfer them no luck.. She spends more and more time away and last night she just stare at them from corner of couch and cry. Shes paced throughout night as if nesting again .. We did try to put kittens and her in closet with door open of course but it upset her she sst on couch crying til we returned them asap to her.. She does not keep them warm enough just about every hour to feed them usually. But last night i fell asleep alas after a hard 48 hours. She kept waking me with cries snd she was rough with kitties and hissed and sits on them all the time sometimes by accident other seens purposely. She stared down at them in a scary way at times other times a sweetheart. She seems confused as to what to do and she cries wanting to go outside ony balcony.

Should i allow her to go on my balcony with me on a leash since im worried she might jump.

Also i moved the nesting box to dinning room. Should i try to move them fir her to eliviate her depression and rejecting them? Im concerned for kittens temp her being away. I will attempt to buy a scale. What kind of svale do i buy that is affordable ? Since i lost $900 to vet bill yesterdsy :((

I did not proofread this so i apologize if its confusing and i would appreciate any advice from those who might be knowledgeable about behaviour and queens

Ty!
 

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That isn't the case in humans.  Also there is this...

If the breast infection is not too severe, your cat's kittens may be allowed to continue nursing (this is the ideal option, as it is best for the health of both the mother and kittens), unless the glands contain dead tissue, or because the mother is systemically ill and it is not safe for her or the kittens to nurse. In those cases, your cat will be admitted into a hospital until she is stable.
 

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Often, veterinarians recommend that you apply warm compress and milk out the affected gland(s) several times daily to keep the milk ducts  clear. Application of cabbage leaf wraps to the affected glands may also speed resolution of the swelling and help bring comfort to your cat. Abscessed or gangrenous glands, on the other hand, will require surgical remova
 

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You are going to have to step in a feed these kittens  Is the foster group available for help and info?

You will need powder Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) not sure what country you are in.

Also get a small needles syringe  1 -2-ml

A heat source GET RIGHT AWAY  a heating pad on low, a hot water bottle, a sock fille dwith raw rice and microwaved for 5 minutes will hold the heat for 2-3 hours.

Stefanz is answering too.  Get the heating source.
 

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I agree, you must have a heating source for them kittens...  And get kmr as said.  Goat milk is OK too, if its easier for you to get...  A needleless syringe.  If you supplement them with this needleless syringe, them on the tummy, head up, in the corner of the mouth, a few drops a time so they swallow properly...  Burp afterwards.

Re scale... In USA Walmart has suitable and cheap scales...  Electronical measuring in grammes is best.  Post scale or kitchen scale, doensnt need to be fancy.  YOu can also borrow from some neighboru, perhaps?

Do I understand right, the gland is better now?   If so, please update the tread with the gland...
 
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4 mimi

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Lol yikes i just noticed how long it is. U might be awhile. Maybe jump to bottom to the basic question? Its just very complex situation. Thanks in advance
 

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Is she letting yhe kittens nurse or not?

How many kittens are there?

How old are they? Two days?

The first thing to do is get KMR and a syringe to feed with. You can shop for a scale later.
 
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Sarthur2

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Your cat will need an antibiotic to clear the mastitis. It can spread to her other glands. Have you booked an appointment for her?

She may have been experiencing after pains. They subside after a while.
 
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4 mimi

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2 boys 2 days old. Yes she is its the warmth im concerned alot about. Can i put a small facecloth on them for heat or will she reject them more and make me do the work more? For example shes been at my feet now for half hour. Are they ok ?

Yes i already called pet store for kitty milk and i have a syringe .

I started well i am trying to write feedings down now and it was every hout ot hour and half but last night i had to intervene when i noticed it had been sbout 2 half hour snd it becsme very sporadic.

Shed cooperste when id latch them on but she would complain

I wonder if its normal and will pass since its such a change for her the move to my place 3 weeks ago and not going outside but going to buy a cat leash today should i invite her out for air on balcony?
 

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Do not take her out under any circumstances! She needs to stay inside with her kittens. Not even the balcony and no matter how badly she thinks she wants to go out.

She needs antibiotics for her mastitis. Do you plan to treat it? Once she feels better she will nurse more often. Right now it is uncomfortable for her.
 
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4 mimi

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I am going crazy due to being overwhelmed. Ive been sleepless due to her taking over my home and life. It wasnt supposed to be this complicated. Sy i am whining

I came on this site and had a thread and support from stefanz and catowner and others.

Because i had already brought her to the vet and it was worthless and cost $900! I live in canada no good support for animals and owners . So i was asking for help in middle of night

I bought a thermometer and kitten milk and syringe and was gone for 2 hours since im on foot since my car crash

When i came back she was with kittens and they looked like they were feeding but were sleeping while latched on

Since i arrived shes not left the couch or thrm snd shes sleeping or crying then looks like a cramp. She will NOT let me near her now but she does that then she switches moods or pain is temporatily less and shes kota again and i csn access kittens and her but today she has not allowed me access i csn see her but if i get too close i get a cry and she hides them with her paw

Now i just looked and they are feeding

Im so confused

I had a cat at 25 who had a litter and she did everything it was not like this. I was prepared for complications but st least to know what the complication is thats y we brought her to emergency animal hospital but should of just flushed it down toilet

Ty for letting me know about outdoors .
 
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