Swollen Mammary Glands

gayef

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My girl, Lexus, has a litter of four healthy kittens on June 7th. All has progressed normally until today when I notice that there is a large swollen area on her belly, right below her right shoulder in the two mammary glands located close by. There is no heat, no discoloration and she does not appear to be in any discomfort when I examine and palpate the area. I suspect a blocked nipple. Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience in this area? I will most certainly be calling my vet just as soon as they open in the morning, but is there anything I can do for her here at home overnight? Thanks in advance.

~g~
 

kluchetta

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I've been searching the Internet for several minutes, and can't find much except mastitis - probably at an early stage, before the fever or soreness. I would think that a warm compress might make it more comfortable. I would think also if you could express some milk it might help...Let us know how poor Lexus it!
 
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gayef

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Thanks, Kim, I am worried about her. She is acting normally, eating and drinking, playful with her kits and all that, but to be safe, I am taking her in first thing. I cannot express anything from her and she is not tolerating the warm compresses at all well. Overall, she has been a very healthy girl so I am naturally concerned when something like this happens.

Thanks, I will update after our vet consult in the morning.
 

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I have dealt with Mastitis before, and when I saw your post the first time, I didn't want to worry you with that diagnosis. Howver, it could be a possiblity. I did want to hopefully ease your mind though, as our girl had much discomfort and her teats were hot.
The way it started; she was acting strange and her eyes were looking a little green, she is of course blue eyed. We called the 24 hour vet service to get an idea if eye color changes meant anything, and they shrugged it off as nothing. We waited until the next day, that morning she was on our couch in a ball, and just by the way her body moved, you could tell she wasn't feeling well. We took her to the vet that morning, and mastitis was the diagnosis.
While I don't wish that on anyone, it did educate me to check for often for hot or swollen teats, and since I know my girls the best, if one is acting a little off, to take it seriously.
Gaye, I really hope it isn't anything of concern, and honestly, I don't feel it is mastitis, but I am glad that you keep an eye on your girl so closely to catch anything wrong quickly. Lexus is in my thoughts. Please update us, when you get the chance.((HUGS))

EDIT: I also wanted to say our girl drained very thick milk, (almost pus like) by the third day. I researched to see if there is anything that may match symptoms of mastitis, and I found "Galactostasis", I thought it may match Lexus' symptoms closer than mastitis. Here is a website regarding Galactostasis.
http://www.waterlooanimalhospital.co...ticles/K5O.txt
 
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gayef

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Update: (sorry this is so late)

Lexus does indeed have a very mild case of mastitis, but as it was caught early enough, there was no degredation of milk quality so she can still nurse the babies (who really only comfort-nurse at this stage). She gets a half-tab of zeniquin once per day and the vet gave me a really good idea for applying the warm compresses since she wasn't tolerating them well (Lex is not a "holding-girl"). I am to place a covered heating pad on low temp into her kitty-carrier with a damp washcloth on top of the heating pad and confine Lex in there for 10 minutes, 3 times per day or as often as comfort allows. She is liking this much better than me holding something up against her belly. She is fine now, taking her pills (because I make her, she isn't the best cat I have ever pilled) and the swelling is all but gone.

Thanks Kim and Stormi for your input here. As Lexus has always been pretty much the absolute picture of health, this was unsettling.
 

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Glad to hear everything is fine!


Did you happen to get a pic of her swollen mammary glands? Some of Sneakers' are swollen and not quite hard, but I am not even sure of that because well, I just don't know what they are supposed to look and feel like! Everything else is normal.

I'm taking her to the vet with the kittens next Monday anyway, so don't worry, she'll be seen by my vet. I'm just curious if there is anything distinctive about how a potential problem looks so I can keep a better eye out for it.



Oh, and gayef... YOU STILL HAVEN'T POSTED PICS!!!!
 
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gayef

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Originally Posted by Godiva

Glad to hear everything is fine!

Did you happen to get a pic of her swollen mammary glands? Some of Sneakers' are swollen and not quite hard, but I am not even sure of that because well, I just don't know what they are supposed to look and feel like! Everything else is normal.
No, I didn't get pictures, dang it! I should have thought to do that, but honestly, there really wasn't much to see -- the real indication was the firm, lumpy feeling and the swelling. That along with the fact that after I posted the original message, Lex refused chicken meat baby food and if Lex refuses chicken meat baby food, I am here to tell ya that the world is just gonna quit spinning and we are all gonna go flying off of it for lack of gravity! I knew something was really wrong then. How old are your babies now? It seems that when the kittens get to be about 5 to 7 weeks old, they are more demanding when nursing and the potential for the glands to be overstimulated is greater. Little sharp kitten teeth and claws can easily make the bacteria entry-point. What with all that full-fat and high sugar content milk just sitting in the gland, there is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to develop and thrive.

Originally Posted by Godiva

I'm taking her to the vet with the kittens next Monday anyway, so don't worry, she'll be seen by my vet. I'm just curious if there is anything distinctive about how a potential problem looks so I can keep a better eye out for it.
For me, the only real physical sign was a firm, lumpy feel to the two affected glands and the swelling as I said above. It was more that Lexus just didn't "feel" right in my hands. I don't know if I can even explain that so it makes sense.


Originally Posted by Godiva

Oh, and gayef... YOU STILL HAVEN'T POSTED PICS!!!!
Ummmm, yes I did - I just now made a thread in Fur Pictures ... here's the link:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93957

Hope you enjoy!
 

kluchetta

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Originally Posted by gayef

Update: (sorry this is so late)

Lexus does indeed have a very mild case of mastitis, but as it was caught early enough, there was no degredation of milk quality so she can still nurse the babies (who really only comfort-nurse at this stage). She gets a half-tab of zeniquin once per day and the vet gave me a really good idea for applying the warm compresses since she wasn't tolerating them well (Lex is not a "holding-girl"). I am to place a covered heating pad on low temp into her kitty-carrier with a damp washcloth on top of the heating pad and confine Lex in there for 10 minutes, 3 times per day or as often as comfort allows. She is liking this much better than me holding something up against her belly. She is fine now, taking her pills (because I make her, she isn't the best cat I have ever pilled) and the swelling is all but gone.

Thanks Kim and Stormi for your input here. As Lexus has always been pretty much the absolute picture of health, this was unsettling.
Whew! I think your knowing your cat well helped a lot there! I'm SOOOO relieved.
 

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Gaye,

I also think it was your quickness and knowing Lexus so well that did help to get a dianosis and get her treated quickly.
I should say that our mastitis episode was when the kittens of the infected mom were 5 weeks old. It can spread quickly and take a perfectly healthy cat to a lethargic state very quickly.
If anyone has any concern over the teats of a nursing Queen, go to the vet to get it checked out as soon as possible to prevent any further problems. As Gaye mentioned the first symptoms are firm, (hard), raised lump around the teat area. It can be discolored, turning red. Can you squeeze any milk out, and does any discharge seem to be pus, instead of milk.

Gaye, please give Lexus lots of love from us, and tell her to take her pills easily for her Meowmy.
 
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