What are the clinical signs of mastitis?
In mild or early cases of mastitis, the first sign of a problem may be that the nursing puppies are not gaining weight as quickly as expected. Careful examination may reveal slight swelling or inflammation of the affected mammary gland. In these stages, the affected dog often does not show any signs of illness and may show only minimal discomfort.
As mastitis progresses, the infected mammary gland will become increasingly swollen, inflamed, discolored (frequently red or purple), and painful. The mammary glands also may become ulcerated, with open wounds and scabs visible on the mammary gland. Milk expressed from the affected mammary gland may contain visible blood or pus or milk may appear visibly cloudy or thickened in consistency.
In severe cases, affected dogs may be visibly ill. The affected mammary gland may appear dark purple or black in color, as the tissues begin to die off due to overwhelming infection and decreased blood supply. Affected dogs may become lethargic, develop a fever, refuse to eat, or begin vomiting as the infection enters the bloodstream and they develop signs of sepsis.
All breeds of dogs, of any age, and new or experienced mothers, can be at risk of developing mastitis while nursing. The size of the litter does not affect the mother’s chances of infection, although mammary glands are more likely to become engorged in bitches with fewer puppies. With larger litters, the orifices of the teats remain open longer, allowing bacteria to more easily move into the mammary glands. Whelping boxes and puppy-raising areas should always be kept clean and dry, with soiled bedding removed as soon as possible.
Early intervention is key to keeping mastitis from becoming a life-threatening illness. Regular monitoring of a nursing bitch and the puppies is crucial to ensure that the disease is caught quickly. Your veterinarian will be your best guide to keeping your bitch and pups healthy. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
Von Dollen recommends that the bitch’s mammary glands be checked once or twice daily to monitor for signs of change “as opposed to waiting until there is an obvious full-blown problem.” The glands should be gently expressed daily to monitor the quality of the milk. Changes in texture (firmness or swelling), temperature (either hot or cool), skin color (redness or a blue hue), sensitivity (your bitch’s reaction to your touch), or character of the secretions (thickness or color) should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
The use of cabbage leaf compresses is often used to decrease pain and inflammation. Cabbage leaves should be secured to the affected mammary gland using a bandage or fitted t-shirt. Once applied, they should be left in place for two to four hours. At this time, the cabbage leaves should be removed for three to four hours before reapplying for another two to four hours. The puppies can be allowed to nurse from the affected gland when it is uncovered.
With early diagnosis, the mammary gland can return to normal function in about two to three weeks with appropriate treatment. In more severe cases, permanent damage may occur, rendering that gland unable to produce milk. In very severe cases where systemic infection occurs, death of the bitch is possible, even with aggressive treatment.
What Are Symptoms of Mastitis in Dogs?
The symptoms of mastitis in dogs will vary depending on the severity of the condition and how early on it is. For example, in mild cases, the first noticeable sign of mastitis is usually that the nursing puppies will not be gaining weight as quickly as they should be. In this case, the mother will likely not show any signs of mastitis and might just be experiencing mild discomfort.
However, mastitis in dogs can quickly progress and turn into more obvious and detrimental symptoms, which is why it’s important to keep a close eye on your dog if they’re nursing. Some other symptoms of mastitis in dogs that you should look out for include1:
As the disease worsens, a dog with mastitis will become more visibly ill. Affected dogs may also develop signs of septic shock, including shaking, weakness, panting, and low blood pressure. You may even notice your dog vomiting as the infection begins to enter their bloodstream. To prevent this from happening, bring your dog to the vet as soon as you notice the initial signs of swelling in the mammary glands and failure of the puppies to thrive.
Mastitis in dogs is typically caused by a bacterial infection. The most common bacteria that will cause this infection are Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococci, and β-hemolytic Streptococci1. There are a couple of ways that bacteria can access the mammary glands, such as:
- This can result from sudden weaning of puppies
There is a chance that mastitis occurs in a dog even if they aren’t pregnant or nursing. In this case, it may be caused by cancer of the mammary glands, which would require immediate medical attention from a vet.
‼️HOW TO CURE MASTITIS ( Instructions on Warm Towel Compression READ Caption)
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands in female dogs. It can occur with or without infection. Typically, mastitis occurs postpartum, due to how messy the whelping box can get and/or weening the pups abruptly or too early. There are multiple types of mastitis in dogs.
Acute Mastitis: Sudden swelling of the mammary gland that includes heat and pain. The milk will be obviously abnormal. This type of mastitis may also cause changes in the mother, such as lethargy.
Septic Mastitis: Sudden swelling of the mammary gland associated with heat, pain, abnormal milk coloration, and changes in the mother such as lethargy, changes in appetite, fever. Septic mastitis and its symptoms are typically caused by bacteria.
Chronic or Subclinical Mastitis: Long-term inflammation of mammary tissue accompanied by a lack of obvious clinical signs such as swelling or warmth.
Gangrenous Mastitis: The teat, and possibly surrounding tissues, appears black or bruised. The milk may be blood-tinged or bloody. The mother will also be very ill, with symptoms such as vomiting, decreased appetite, fever, changes in blood pressure.
The symptoms of mastitis vary, depending on the type of mastitis. Affected glands will have milk or fluid that may be described as discolored, bloody, or pus-like in appearance. If they are infected, glands may be described as swollen, warm, firm, discolored, or ulcerated (skin broken open).
Acute mastitis symptoms may include glands that are hot and painful. This condition may progress to septic mastitis if it’s not treated in time. In septic mastitis, clinical signs include fever, depression, anorexia, lethargy, or mother neglecting puppies.
The only clinical sign observed with chronic or subclinical mastitis is failure of the pups to thrive. For non-septic mastitis, which commonly occurs at weaning about 3-4 weeks after birth, common signs include swollen glands that are painful to touch, even though the dog is relatively healthy and alert.
In severe cases of mastitis, the mother will be sick and may show symptoms such as:
Mastitis is most commonly caused by bacteria, such as E. coli, enterococci, staphylococcus, and streptococcus spp. Other causes include: