Nursing

Question

Teat Image #1   QUESTION: Hi, I have a 2 yr-old boxer (Beth) who just delivered her 2nd litter (I think that's too young for a 2 yr-old, but she was given to me in July, and she was pregnant when I got her). She had 7 pups in all. She did a wonderful job whelping and taking care of her pups. They are all doing great. However, I noticed last week that in one of her most hind teats, she developed a small egg-shaped mass inside the milk duct area. I massaged it, thinking it was a mass of clogged ducts. I have not noticed any irregular heat from it, nor abnormal coloring. It has grown, and I was instructed to apply a warm compress and to make sure the pups were nursing it. I have done all that, but it seems like it's just slowly getting bigger. I do notice that it sort of gets softer when I massage it, and there are some harder places between the mass and the actual teat nipple area (as if the milk is pooled in that massed area and the hardened places are where the clogs are). I am concerned that some of her ducts have actually died and that is where the milk is pooling. ??? Do you have any other information that would be helpful to me? I don't have a lot of money, so a trip to the vet right now would be hard, but if necessary, I will take her. Thanks so much!

ANSWER: You must take her to the vet and have the mass checked. The vet will aspirate it and send it off for pathology.

Whether it is benign or not- it must be removed. I would ask the vet if it's safe to nurse puppies, or should you bottle feed.

I have a newborn puppy formla if you need the recipe later.

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QUESTION: I just wanted to let you know what happened with Beth. I took her into the vet the next day to get checked. The vet said that it was an engorgement, gave me antibiotics just in case it turned into an infection, and told me to keep the pups nursing on it and to use the warm compresses and massages. I haven't needed the antibiotics at all (yet) and I believe that that is because I have been consistent with the compresses and massaging and keeping the pups on it, even though they have gotten their teeth and Beth is avoiding feedings more and more. I would love to see about getting a recipe for a puppy milk replacer so I can begin weaning them.

Answer
Engorged teats is called Mastitis and can be a concern if they become infected which would produce pus and blood.

But as long as you've massaged them and milked her- and the pups continue nursing- it resolves itself and doesn't get to the infectious stage.

Keep an eye on her and as long as the teats are draining while nursing-- all is well.

I sent you the puppy formula in another post. Check your email.