Mastitis Prevention?

[caroline]

I have had 3 does in the last couple of years that have developed mastitis.

Philosophically I prefer to prevent something, if possible, rather than spend a lot of time, money and energy treating it.
I have read that does who develop mastitis, even if treated and recovered, tend to develop it with subsequent litters.
Thus I have chosen to cull the does who have developed it.

I feed pellets, free choice grass hay, supplemental barley or oats and BOSS.
I have also been giving the nursing mothers a daily stalk of dried nettle to increase milk production,
starting on the second day for a couple of weeks.
Is it possible that I have contributed to the development of mastitis with the nettle?

I'm great with human mastitis, just massage, rest and nurse a lot more. But the bunz don't know that

Has anyone found a routine or feed regimen that results in reduced/less/NO mastitis?
Or have you found that it's best to cull and keep those that don't develop it?

 

[Dood]

Eliminating the does with a genetic disposition towards mastitis is a great start.

I would also thoroughly disinfect all cages, bowls, rest matts and nest boxes to eliminate the bacteria that lead to the disease.

I would review my rest matt and nest box construction to be sure the doe is not scraping her teats over them and allowing the bacteria to enter the teats.

In my old colony set up I would often get mastitic does, it could have been environmental but I also believe that since the kits were never removed they may have damaged their mothers teats when they tried nursing with 12 week old teeth i have not had any incedences in my current does who's kits are weaned at 4 weeks and think this helps.

 

[caroline]

Thanks for your reply Dood. I have all items being cleaned now.

 

[skysthelimit]

I've read that is can be caused by Staph/strep and spread by that method.

I treated the doe, but culled her anyway.

I have not found it to be a regular occurrence, so even though I heard the staph/strep theory, I ten to think genetic as well.

 

[stone soup farm]

When I as a human had it, my midwife told me to drink 2 TBL of apple cider vinegar every 2 hours til symptoms go away (took about 10 hrs).

Maybe using ACV a few days or 1 week before weaning might help. I have only starting having litters here since January and luckily no sign of mastitis. I do give milking herbs like lemon balm, borage, fennel, etc but not nettles. For weaning I usually do between 5 and 6 weeks and also give sage and mint to help dry doe. I think helping them dry up helps as well as keeping a clean environment.

How long do you give the nettles for, I usually stop heavy herbing them at 3 weeks. And make sure to not gives those when weaning.