AboutGoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
(! During times of severe weather in the Midwest, I may experience a delay in internet service due to the interference of the satellite reception - but will answer your questions as soon as service is restored. !)
Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.
Experience 18 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction. The information I have to offer is not only from personal experience and years of research updated often as new information is made available to me, but supported by many Veterinary Research colleges and all medications and information I have to offer on how the medications work and what dosages "I" use, is information I have acquired by discussing directly with the company's veterinarians and staff research experts.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Question QUESTION: I had a goat kid last year, and when the little doe started to nurse, only one teat was functional. After talking with a vet, I used a special "needle" to open the end. Immediately milk came out andI milked her some, but a few minutes later you could not get milk,it seemed to close that quick. I left her alone, and let her lactate with just one teat. I did not intend to breed her again, but it happened, and this year the udder is huge, but no milk from that teat. I asked a vet about a Laser hole, but he thought it would always leak. Any suggestions? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!
ANSWER: *HI Virginia,
I think the vet is correct, and this would also invite bacteria to easily enter the teat causing mastitis. I think if she were mine I would opt to allow the milk supply to decrease on that udder half, supply and demand is how the milk is produced and as that side of the udder (which is it's own entity)-= the milk supply that is not being used will eventually decrease and she will just be a bit lopsided.
As long as the side is not hot or lumpy and no fear of mastitis being introduced to it- I would leave it alone, if it does become hard, hot or lumpy then I think I would have the vet help you treat for possible mastitis since there is no teat orifice to administer the typical mastitis medication into.
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for the prompt response, as I was going to take her to the vet this afternoon. It's really frustrating though, being able to feel the milk within 1/4 inch of the tip and not being able to get it out! She is extremely lopsided now, this is the fourth day since kidding, and that side alone probably weighs 10 pounds--again, thank you!
Answer *HI Virginia,
Oh boy.. that has to be very uncomfortable for her- maybe the vet can do something similar to what they did before to alleviate the pressure on that side. Please do let me know what the vet does and how she is doing. It is difficult to have a goat with a blind teat- but I have not yet heard of one who produces so much milk on that one side - being she is a heavy milker to begin with, it is a difficult situation at best.
Please do let me know how she does.
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
