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Mastitis basics
What it is, what to watch for, and what to ask your vet. No treatment advice, just a better starting point.
Education only. This page explains concepts so you can have a better conversation with your veterinarian. It does not tell you what to treat or with what.
What mastitis is
Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland, most often from bacteria entering through the teat end. It can be clinical, where you can see changes in the milk or the udder, or subclinical, where the milk looks normal but tests show a problem. Subclinical cases are easy to miss and often cost more over time than the ones you notice.
What to watch for
- Clots, flakes, strings or watery milk when stripping the foremilk
- A quarter that is swollen, hot, hard or sore to the touch
- A sudden drop in a cow’s milk
- A cow that is off feed, dull, or running a fever. This is a call-the-vet-today situation
The habits that keep it down
- Clean, dry teats at attachment. Consistent prep matters more than any single product.
- Teat dip after milking with a product your vet or milk plant field rep recommends.
- Clean, dry bedding and comfortable stalls. Cows that stay clean and lie down after milking are at lower risk.
- Equipment on a service schedule. Liners, pulsation and vacuum problems can quietly damage teat ends.
- Know your numbers. Track clinical cases, bulk tank results and individual cow testing so trends show up early.
- Handle problem cows last or with a plan your vet helped you set up.
Questions to ask your vet
- Which pathogens are causing our cases? Should we culture?
- Which cows are worth treating, and which are not?
- What milk and meat withdrawal times apply to anything we use?
- Is our milking routine, equipment or housing contributing?
Withdrawal times are not optional. Milk from treated cows must be kept out of the tank for as long as the label or your vet specifies. Follow those instructions exactly.
The full Dairy Herd Hub guide will go deeper on milking routines, teat-end scoring and reading milk quality reports.