Mastitis

What is it?

Mastitis is inflammation of a mammary gland, most often caused by bacteria entering through the teat. Risk factors include unsanitary conditions, teat injuries from puppies' teeth or nails, and infection elsewhere in the body. It is most common in the first two weeks after birth, and many cases follow sudden weaning or the loss of a puppy, when milk builds up in the glands.

What signs should I watch for?

In early cases the first sign may be puppies not gaining weight as expected, with slight swelling of a gland. As it progresses, the gland becomes swollen, hot, hard, red or purple, and painful, and the milk may contain blood or pus or look thick. Severe cases can turn a gland dark purple or black as tissue dies, and the mother may become lethargic, feverish, stop eating, vomit, or neglect her puppies.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosis is often based on an exam, sometimes with blood tests, milk cytology, or a milk culture to choose an antibiotic. Most dogs can be treated at home with oral antibiotics and pain relief, which lets her stay with her puppies. Your veterinarian may recommend warm compresses or hand-milking the gland. Severe cases need hospital care with intravenous fluids, and dead tissue or badly infected glands may need surgery. An abscess may need to be drained.

Can it be prevented, and what's the outlook?

• Most cases have a good outlook and improve in two to three weeks with treatment; severe, bloodstream infections carry a guarded outlook.
• To help prevent it, check teats daily, trim the puppies' nails, keep bedding clean, and encourage puppies to nurse from all teats.