Pet Universe

What is Mastitis?

Causes of Mastitis in Dogs

Bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., or Streptococcus sp., are the most common cause of mastitis in dogs. But how do the bacteria get into the mammary gland and cause infection and inflammation?

Bacteria can gain entry in several ways. For example, nipple trauma from a puppy's sharp teeth and nails creates an open wound and entryway for bacteria. Also, a dirty birthing environment contains bacteria that can gain entry while a puppy nurses.

Signs and Symptoms of Mastitis in Dogs

The early stage of mastitis in dogs is not very obvious. The pups' weight progression might be a clue: mastitis can prevent puppies from nursing well, and they won't gain enough weight. Other early signs are slight swelling and inflammation of the breasts and mild discomfort.

As mastitis progresses, the signs and symptoms become more apparent:

• Decreased milk production
• Change in milk appearance: blood or pus; thick, cloudy consistency
• Blood or pus oozing from the nipples
• Ulceration of affected breast(s)
• Firm, warm, visibly swollen, red or purple, and painful breasts

Severe mastitis makes dogs extremely ill because the bacteria in the mammary glands has entered the bloodstream. Signs of severe mastitis in dogs include:

Diagnosing Mastitis in Dogs

Diagnosing mastitis involves a physical examination and diagnostic testing. Your veterinarian will get a history of the problem from you, including when you first noticed the mastitis symptoms and what those symptoms were.

Your vet will then express some milk from an affected breast and use a microscope to look for bacteria or inflammatory cells in the milk. They may also perform a milk culture to identify the specific bacteria in the milk. Bloodwork will determine if the bacteria causing the mastitis has entered your dog's bloodstream.

How to Treat Mastitis in Dogs

Mastitis requires prompt veterinary treatment. Mild to moderate mastitis can be treated at home, while severe mastitis needs hospitalization.

At-Home Treatment

Oral antibiotics will kill the bacteria in the mammary glands. Your veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic that will not pass through the milk. Always administer the entire course of antibiotics to ensure that all bacteria are killed. Pain and anti-inflammatory medications will reduce pain and inflammation in the breasts.

Home remedies for mastitis include cabbage leaves and hand milking. Cabbage leaves help to reduce pain and inflammation. Your veterinarian will advise you to wrap two cabbage leaves together and apply them to the affected breasts like a compress, changing them every few hours.

Perform hand milking of the affected breasts as often as your veterinarian recommends. Observe if the milk's appearance is returning to normal. Also check the affected breasts' appearance to determine if the inflammation is going down.

In-Hospital Treatment

Hospital treatments for mastitis in dogs include:

• Intravenous fluids
• Aggressive antibiotic treatment
• Surgical removal of breasts, if the mammary tissue has died

The breasts typically recover within 2-3 weeks with mild to moderate mastitis. Severe mastitis has a longer recovery time.

Preventing Mastitis in Dogs

There are several strategies for preventing mastitis in dogs:

• Immediately remove and clean any soiled bedding.
• Clip the puppies' nails to prevent scratching during nursing.
• Shave the hair around the breasts to reduce bacteria buildup.
• Encourage pups to nurse equally from all nipples.
• Wipe the breasts regularly to keep them clean.

If your dog is nursing, keep a close eye out for signs of mastitis. If you think your dog has mastitis, take her to your vet right away for proper diagnosis and treatment.