Saturday, July 19, 2008 | Day 78

The last of the 'scab' has fallen off and Andi looks fantastic!




I gave the Toggenbergs the Copper boluses at the beginning of July and Andi's coat is markedly improved.

Andi (the one teat wonder)

I can't thank Joyce at Saanendoah enough for all her experience, knowledge and support!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | Day 53

Big Day! The teat has fallen off. And along with it a lot of weight off my shoulders as well as off Andi's too (I guess). Everything looks great. She's doing great. And it seems, well on the road to a full recovery. Of course I will still be cleaning the 'wound' and medicating it until it looks completely healed over. Now all we need to do is figure out what to do with the donkey situation.

side / front view

side view

back view

side view

Sunday, June 22, 2008 | Day 50

The tissue connecting the udder to the dead area has shrunk a good deal. It's about the thickness of my thumb.


The circular 'scab' at the back of the udder has separated from the whole dead area. Looks like healthy, pink tissue beneath.

I'm guessing we'll have at least 2 more weeks of this. Andi is still doing great.

Thursday, June 12, 2008 | Day 40

I have removed some of the yellow in these photos.

The yellowish-green hue from the Fural makes what is already pretty grotesque even worse. I have also toned down the saturation.

Side/back view with leg lifted


Side/front view

back view

front view

There is a little bit of bleeding, but not a lot and I think it's due in part to Andi licking it and messing with it. The dead tissue is drying up and shrinking and the areas it was attached to seems to be nice, healthy pink tissue. Andi is still acting just great.

Monday, June 9, 2008 | Day 37

Perhaps Dr. Mobini has misunderstood a few things I have said. First of all I tried to contact his collegue, Dr. Getz to get information on copper deficiencies in Georgia - specifically in goats. And I have not heard back from him. Secondly, I am well aware that a copper deficiency does not cause gangrene mastitis. It is my understanding that it is often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but other bacterial causes include Escherichia coli, Actinomyces pyogenes, and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. No, the mastitis was not caused by a copper deficiency, it was absolutely caused by a bacteria. But an impaired immune system prevented her body from mounting a proper defense to the infection and the end result was gangrene.

I took Andi's temperature yesterday and it was a normal 101.3. She looks fantastic. I see absolutely no sign, whatsoever, of any pending infection. I waivered on my decision to have some tissue removed as well as on making a decision about the copper. After getting YET AGAIN, some more invaluable insights from Joyce, I've decided to sit tight on both issues. I need to stop panicking. Andi is going to be just fine. I will get my soil and hay tested and speak with Dr. Getz. I've switched over to the MannaPro minerals and I think I'll put them in her food daily (in addition to free choice.) I've taken the baking soda and the donkey's block away also. My hope is that she'll rely on the new minerals for her salt and perhaps boost her copper intake. I am also very interested in talking to Dr. Getz about copper bolusing for parasites.

Friday, June 6, 2008 | Day 34

Thursday, June 5, 2008 | Day 33

Nothing really new to post today. This is taking its time.

I've called a goat specialist from Fort Valley State College and the new vet to discuss copper deficiency. No one has called me back as of yet. I'm still very worried that we have a deficiency here with the Toggs. I think I may have the vet out also - to see if he can tell me if he thinks my goats are deficient, to look at the teat and the injection site swelling...just a general, overall check up. Maybe even see if he thinks some of the dead tissue should be removed at this point. Though I'm satisfied with how it looks. It seems like almost a good thing that the dead tissue has remained on the teat, as it's like a little helmet protecting the inner area and keeping junk out. It's drying up and headed in the right direction. It's just going slowly.

I have been cleaning this out in the mornings with warm soapy water that I squirt from a squeeze ketchup bottle for a little pressure. Joyce suggested a hose or a syringe, but Andi is not a very good patient. This will do. Also in the morning and at night I spray with the chlorhexidine solution, wait 'til it dries, spray Fural and then give her a light spray of fly spray. No other medications have been given since day 17 - over 2 weeks ago.

Monday, June 2, 2008 | Day 30

The back of the udder is starting to slough. The part that has been detached is starting to dry up more. Andi is in great spirits - jumping, running and head butting - as goats do. Appetite is great - no matter how bothered by the cleaning and medicating, she still gets on the milk stand - knowing she'll get some grain.

I'm very concerned about the whole copper deficiency thing. I have read that unless you see several serous signs of a deficiency, you should not treat for it. My thinking right now is, a deficiency won't kill them, but toxicity will. At the same time, a deficiency can be the underlying cause for a few things we've had on the farm, such as gangrene mastitis.

Yellow-green color is medication (Fural)

Tuesday, May 29, 2008 | Day 26

Some folks are saying this is the beginning of the sloughing process. Others are saying - Oh my God...get a vet out there! I feel this was going to slough off soon, but perhaps she snagged it on something and ripped it and started the process earlier. Either way, I'm letting it take it's course. Keeping it clean and medicated. I have half a mind to snip some of the dead skin off if she'd let me so that it won't snag on something else.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 | Day 25

I've never seen anything like this. One of the vets described what was going to happen as 'like a bullet shot from the inside out" and that is what it looks like. However, the folks who have gone through this with their doe said it just died and dropped off in one chunk. I can't help but think she caught it on something and ripped it open or something.

Half of it is just hanging there attached to what seems to me to be living flesh. It doesn't seem to bother her anymore than usual. She's flinching and kicking at it a bit, but I think that's flies bugging her.

So again I'm not sure whether to continue doing what I'm doing or if I should try to wrap it up or something. It looks like it could easily snag on something and rip off.

Disgusting.

I feel terrible for her...

The yellowish green hue on the teat is Fural (wound medication)

On this photo I lightened the area in the background to differentiate the leaves from the teat.

Saturday, May 25, 2008 | Day 22

I have spoken with three people now, who have gone through this with their own goat, and who let the dead teat slough without any intervention. Finally I have a handle on how long the process is actually going to take -- 3 to 4 months! Andi's dead teat is extremely large, so it may take even longer. The entire thing has to die completely, then it needs to heal underneath, and only then does it fall off. I am told it will be one big chunk - similar to how the balls fall off when you wether a boy with a band.

Still - this is looking pretty wet and I think the goal is for it to dry up and become leathery.

No more antibiotics for this girl. She has two pretty major swellings at the injection sites...and I'm pretty certain that the infection has run it's course

Friday, May 23, 2008 | Day 20

I don't know if I'm just too impatient or if the worry is just making me again question myself. Though I'm not looking forward to the sloughing process to begin, I know that the sooner it happens, the sooner this will all be over. And the swelling has me very concerned. I can't help but think that once the sloughing begins, the drainage will begin. And then the swelling will go down. And I just don't know how long this process should take - and if I should have a vet remove the dead tissue.

Nancy said that with her experience it took over 45 days from the the first symptom to when they felt it had healed over enough not to worry about it anymore. But she had her doe's teat surgically removed - so this will take much longer waiting for it to slough off naturally.

All out war with Andi on the milk stand. After our struggle, I was letting her out of her pen and as I was opening the cattle panel gate, she was pulling on it to open it and the thing beaned me right in the eye. Got a nice swelling starting to form.

My latest and greatest way to hold her still is not working - and I am out of solutions...

Oh - and while this may be good, there was a 5' long snake slithering along in the rafters above us.

Not so sure about this 'country life'.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 | Day 17

It's getting more difficult to treat Andi. The struggling wears me out. I spend more time fighting with her than I do treating her. I'm going to try to modify the milk stand and strap her in so that she can't kick anymore.

Gave her Biomycin and tried to clean the teat. She has a pretty large swelling at one of the injection sites. I think that will be the last shot.

Monday, May 19, 2008 | Day 16

Discovered a fresh sore between Andi's udders. I'm inclined to think this isn't directly related to the mastitis. Looks like living tissue, not dead, and it's not part of the dead area. I cleaned it and applied betadine and neosporin.

It may be the sloughing process beginning, but I'm more apt to think it has something to do with all the pressure and swelling and the rubbing has caused it. She's licking at it...don't know what to do about that. Maybe the bitter spray...?

(Shot from below, looking up at the udder -

blurry photos today - too close.)

Still having a lot of difficulty doing the warm compresses. She kicks and lays down while I try and ends up getting dirty all over again. I try wedging my knee under her and that helps sometimes. Getting really sick of battling with her as I'm sure she is too. Wish she could understand it's for her own good. Also tired of the shots. I don't want to keep giving them to her if she doesn't need them. All those antibiotics can't be good for her rumen, etc. How do I know when to stop?

Still waiting for the sloughing.

Cleaned, warm compress (not much of one), B-12 paste, probios, Bio-mycin, touch of scarlet oil (she didn't care for that one bit), neosporin on the sore, Chlorhexidine spray.

I was able to feel the other udder today. It felt normal. Warm and soft (not hot and hard). Isn't red either. The lumps don't feel like lumps at all. The udder/teat just looks lumpy - really, more like 'ripply'. So I decided against milking her and doing infusions in the good teat. I don't want to risk opening that up to infection.

Kind of a strange angle, taken while she was laying down.
That's my hand on the left holding the teat.
The new sore in between the udders is just above my hand.
The black in the back is the dead teat.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 | Day 15

Warm, wet compress. Sprayed (both udders) with Chlordexidine. No other treatment.

The skin at the line between dead and living tissue appears to be starting to peel.

I let the donkey graze with the goats, on a lead and supervised. No major aggression towards the goats, but she was pissy. Hope this separation doesn't make her even more frustrated and angry.

Saturday, May 17, 2008 | Day 14

Warm, wet compress. Sprayed (both udders) with Chlordexidine. No other treatment.

Spoke with two more vets. One suggested Banamine for the swelling, one said no to Banamine. One said they would NOT recommend a mastectomy, the other said it was a good option. Neither suggested the option of removing the dead tissue in order to help with the swelling and to get this draining.

I'll wait and hope the compresses will bring it to a head soon and without surgical intervention.

Friday, May 16, 2008 | Day 13 CONTINUED

Spoke with ANOTHER vet. I'm convinced no one really knows what to do. She said to be giving penicillan. Said it would also be fine to use that AND oxytet. My understanding is that penicillan is useless when used with oxytet. I asked her about the swelling - and what can I do to get this draining. She said there would be no draining (NO DRAINING?). She said it will look more like an explosion from the inside out - - surely that will need to drain. She said I could get some Banamine for the swelling and she thought possibly the areas that seem to be 'sores' might be a good sign and it's beginning to start the 'exlosion' process. She suggested warm/hot compresses. I will. Wants me to continue for 7 more days on antibiotic.

Poor Andi...

Friday, May 16, 2008 | Day 13

I'm worried again. Went in this morning and the teat and udder seem more swollen - if that's possible. I can tell it's bothering her. She's reaching back to it with her head and licking and scratching? just a little bit. Not sure if it's itching or hurting or just so cumbersome. Feel we've taken a step back.

Washed the teat with warm, soapy water. A bit of hay and dirt keeps sticking to it, so I'm wondering if it's still dripping. I squeezed the teat to see if blood or milk would come out and nothing came out. I don't want to mess with it, but I felt I needed to see. Sprayed with 2% chlorhexidine solution. Gave Motrin and Bio-mycin.

I think perhaps the sloughing is about to begin. I think the skin is what is actually starting to ooze in spots.






> NEW ISSUE - I swear the healthy teat looks lumpy. I suppose I could be imagining it, but we're going to be in big trouble if the other teat has mastitis. I don't believe that a lumpy teat is a symptom of mastitis. I'm going to feel the lumps later on today and describe it to the folks on the forums - maybe they'll have some answers. It almost looks like skin that has been fat for a long time and no longer is - sort of saggy, I guess.



I'm wondering if I should get a vet out here, though the two I've spoken with seem to think I'm doing all I need to do. I'm grateful for the folks that help through email and on the goat forums. Maybe they can give me some answers on this new development.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 | Day 12

No treatments.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | Day 11

Still in a holding pattern. No treatments.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 | Day 10

Cleaned Andi's teat with warm, soapy water. Rinsed in 50% betadine solution. Gave Motrin and Biomycin.

Temp - 102.3

Her appetite is still really good, and I can't help but think we're in a holding pattern. I feel she's over the hump and now we should just wait for the teat to slough off. So I'm going to back off of the antibiotics etc. for a bit.

Monday, May 12, 2008 | Day Nine

No treatments. Today I have let her out with the other goats, assuming she is no longer contagious. She is not with the donkey. She will be penned up at night. She's drinking and eating - almost as much as usual. I have bought a spray to spray on the other goat who appears to be bagging up and have found a muzzle which I intend to try on the donkey. Spoke with a new vet - he says she is still in danger and to stay with the antibiotic a little longer. (Must remember to take her temp again and give probios.) Recommends cleaning it and applying neosporin - also Banamine or 4 aspirin per day. Not what others have suggested, but I will go with the antibiotic for 5 more days, just in case - start again tomorrow - - and aspirin.

Sunday, May 11, 2008 | Day Eight

No treatments. Morning and evening out for an hour or so with supervision.

Saturday, May 10, 2008 | Day Seven

Switched to Bio-Mycin once a day and infusions 1 time a day. The area on the teat that has turned black no longer seems to be spreading. The udder is still very tender. Wondering about a copper deficiency. Want to stop infusions and milking - feel it's just aggravating things - also afraid to stop and want to do all I can, but everyone says it's not accomplishing anything as the tissue is dead and there is no blood circulating at this point. Andi seems very much herself except for the enormous, swollen, black teat in between her legs.

Friday, May 9, 2008 | Day Six

Continued LA 200 once a day and milking, compresses and one infusion. Andi's udder is extremely sensitive to pressure - it's really hurting her

Thursday, May 8, 2008 | Day Five
Continued LA 200 once a day and milking, compresses and infusions 2 times a day. Children's Motrin for pain and inflammation. Her appetite is really good. The teat is cold and turning blue/black. The point at which it changes color, is the point where the warmth in the udder begins and ends.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | Day Four

Continued LA 200 once a day and milking, compresses and infusions 2 times a day. Children's Motrin for pain and inflammation.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | Day Three
Started with LA 200. 1 cc per 30 pounds by SQ injection once a day. Continued milking and infusing with ToMorrow twice a day. Gave some probios, B-12 and Nutri-drench and 16 cc Children's Motrin for pain and inflammation.

Monday, May 5, 2008 | Day Two
Monday morning I milked her and got what appeared to be pure blood. Took her temp - 101. Gave her 8-9 ccs Nuflor that afternoon. Also got some ToMorrow and started infusing the teat and continued with warm, wet cloths on her udder and massage two times a day. Because the udder temp is cooler than the udder that is not infected, I began to suspect gangrene mastitis, or possibly and injury caused by the donkey.

Sunday, May 4, 2008 | Day One
Sunday night she wouldn't come in from the pasture and was obviously not herself. She appeared to be in shock. She was clearly reluctant to walk. At first I thought she was just spooked by something and just didn't want to go back to the barn.

After getting her into the barn I saw her left teat was swollen and much larger than her right. I was able to milk her and the left teat gave very bloody milk. The udder was fairly hard but not really hot. I massaged her a bit with tea tree and lavender oil and applied warm, wet cloths on her udder.