Cracked Nipples

I was wondering if there was something i can do for Taz's nipples. They are al dried out and cracked. It looks painful. Are they supposed to be that way, or are they super dry. MY mother in law suggested putting fish oil on them, but i wasnt sure. Anyone have any ideas?

Cocoa butter is good - but don't use human lotions with cocoa butter in them, get a tin of the good stuff.

My vet just suggested vaseline, and I have used it in the past with no problems.

I always thought Vaseline would dry skin out as it is a petroleum product??? If you've used it with good results, then I suppose it doesn't dry like I thought it would.

The Vaseline doesn't seem to dry out, and has worked well in the past. I would also assume it is a good moisturizer, as from when my son was an infant up to now as a 5 year old, he has severe eczema, and other than his medicated creams, we are also to use vaseline as soon as he comes out of the bath.

Well, this is good to know! Thanks!

Any thoughts on Bag Balm? I had used it once, but is it like vaseline or different? I think next time I use some thing I will try the cocoa butter though

I have heard of Bag Balm but don't have any personal experience with it ... what's in it?

I'm not sure? I don't have any right now, my mother-in-law had it and I used it on my cat it seemed to clear up good, but if some thing else works faster/better (cocoa butter) then I would get that instead of the bag balm, mabey some one else knows whats in it?

The cocoa butter is something I have used and it worked just fine for Lexus when she got dry and tender. And it smells good too! I didn't need a lot of it, in fact, when I ran my fingers over it, it sort of glides on as more of a film than a layer if that makes any sense. It was very light and I did not need much of it at all.

What about if she is nursing when she has cracked nipples? Is it safe if the kittens ingest it? The cocoa butter I mean. When I used bag balm she wasn't nursing I don't know if I could have used it if she was.

I don't think I would use cocoa butter on a nursing cat ... never had a need to, but it is a condensed extract of cocoa beans, which are used to make chocolate.

I would worry about fragrance, when kittens are nursing, they would need to be able to find the nipple, and may pull away if it smells different. I also, didn't ask, but it was a week before my queen was due, when I asked what I could us. I would worry that vaseline even could be bad for the kittens if digested. That is a question, I will have to pose.
There is something that women use when breastfeeding, a vet may know if it is safe for cats. I think it is something with lanolin inside.

I just want to add, they may appear cracked and sore...but are you absolutely sure you are not seeing dried milk that is flaking on the nipple? Because, in between feedings, the nipples do dry out and the milk is sometimes left behind.

I would not put anything on them unless a vet tells you it is safe and you are sure the nipples really are bothering the mother cat. If she is still allowing the kittens to nurse on those nipples, it is unlikely there is a problem.

Originally Posted by poohandwendy

I just want to add, they may appear cracked and sore...but are you absolutely sure you are not seeing dried milk that is flaking on the nipple? Because, in between feedings, the nipples do dry out and the milk is sometimes left behind.

I would not put anything on them unless a vet tells you it is safe and you are sure the nipples really are bothering the mother cat. If she is still allowing the kittens to nurse on those nipples, it is unlikely there is a problem.

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That is a very good point, the dry milk can tend to appear as dry cracked nipples. I don't have any problems now, and she hasn't had them so she isn't nurseing, I had just wondered if it could be used if she was. One time she had been dry and used bag balm, but wonder if that or the vaseline would be bad if she was nursing or what I could use if she was nursing and had dry nipples. Mabey since the kittens are always suckeling, it keeps them from drying? since so far every one has said they hadn't need while their queen was nursing. So no dry nipples on a nursing cat here, just wondering

I dont see any milk on Taz's nipples. When i squeeze them nothing comes out. So i dont think that it was milk. She likes to eat the fish oil i gave her. Thanks for the suggestions, i will pick some of them up and see what works on her.

I am trying not to get to open here but I know that at wal-mart they have stuff for us nursing moms that we can use and it is natural and the baby can still nurse and be safe. There is no tast. Ask the pharmasist they can tell you what it is. I loved it and lived by it the first son I had. I remember it is in a purple tube with a deep purple lid. I found it next to the pumps and baby items.