Bluebell has mastitis

We weaned Lismore a few months ago and Bluebell seemed to dry off fine. But this week when Doug was checking her over, he found that two of her 'quarters' (the udder is 4 separate bits, one for each teat) were a bit swollen.

On Friday I had a look and found that they were oozing liquid so I squeezed them with a milking motion and a gross kind of snotty lumpy stuff came out. Sorry for the gross photo but it is important to show the downsides as well as all the loveliness.

So it seems that somehow she has got mastitis. We knew this was a danger as she was drying off, but thought she was past it.

We are 'milking' those quarters every day now and will maybe get the vet next week to give advice. I also soaked them in betadine (which is an iodine thing that the French seem to put on everything) and squirted a bit up each teat with a syringe (no needle).

It is quite worrying as you read horrible things that can result from mastitis. She doesn't seem to be in pain though and the udder is not hot and she doesn't seem to be ill or have a temperature or anything. I think we caught it early, Doug is a good cow daddy for checking so well and spotting it!

Here she is getting some food as a reward for good behaviour