I left my house yesterday and returned home 4 hours later to find Smokey very poorly. She would not respond to her kittens cries and refused to move. I rushed her to the vet immediately last night to find out she has mastitis in one of her breast. The vet gave her antibiotics and an IV for dehydration. We were sent home with antibiotics and a stimulate for her appetite. The vet said to let the kittens nurse and to not let them nurse from the infected teat. She is so miserable she will not let the babies even near her. The kittens are two weeks old today. I started bottle feeding them last night to avoid them becoming weak. I have tons of experience with bottle feeding so that's not the issue but I am just upset Smokey is going through this. Has anyone had experience with mastitis if so what append?

Is the affected teat so bad that she cannot nurse? I'm wondering why the vet would tell you to try to not let them nurse there.

We had dairy cattle and the best thing for them when they had mastitis, in addition to antibiotics, was to strip the milk out well several times a day. We didn't ship the milk for human consumption while she was on medication but we certainly fed it to the calves. Stripping the milk helps remove the bad milk and can, often, save the teat for future use.

I'm sure there is a reason the vet told you this, so please excuse my ignorance...just curious.

Hope Smokey is feeling better soon.

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~ Kyenta

That is what I thought as well! When I was growing up my mother bred Dogs and one of our Dobermans had mastitis! Our vet said it would not heal properly with the milk making it engorged!!! I feel so terrible for the poor girl! I unfortunately know how painful that is!!! I hope she is well soon!

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Am sure when the infection starts to clear she will allow the kittens to nurse again - poor girl

Thanks everyone, Unfortunately the kittens cannot nurse due to the infection in the teat which can be passed to the kittens. Smokey is also so uncomfortable it makes it impossible for her to nurse. I have been giving her meds as prescribed and giving her KMR(Kitten MilK) since her appetite is poor. I have also been applying warm compresses to the effected area. If she has not improved by this evening we will be heading back to the vet. :( I worry about the poor babies as well. They are eating well but its been difficult since this is the largest litter I have handfed.
I will keep everyone updated

Thank you, Well Smokey's teat opened up last night and started draining. She eating and drinking again after a three day stay at the vets. The kittens are well. I have been using my moms dog who loves babies to help them eliminate. She is very tedious in keeping them clean and healthy. She even tries to nurse them. :) Two of the babies are very stubborn about taking the syringe but are getting used to it.

Don't have any advice but am wishing you all the best for your furry family.

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Katrina

Owned by:

Thank you!

How is she feeling?

Of course how are her babies as well! I know you have to be exhausted!!

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She is doing much better, thank goodness. She is very upset about me feeding her babies. She sits on my shoulder and watched me carefully. She was such a good mommy I feel terrible for her. All five babies are well they are 3.5 weeks now. They are becoming crazy and wanting to play. They are such cuties. I am exhausted from everything I started back to college so my grandmother who watches my son watched the babies for me so I know they are being cared for while I am away during the day. :)