Mastitis is an infection which causes inflammation in the breast tissues of dogs. This is a problem that must be handled with proper care. This post provides more information.
Mastitis in dogs is not observed commonly. However, if the dog is affected, then proper treatment should be given without any delay to prevent it from becoming severe. Female dogs who have given birth are more prone to mastitis.
Its symptoms are similar to that of canine breast tumors. Hence, make sure that you do not get confused between these two. Take your dog to a vet and find out what it is that she is affected by.
What Mastitis Is
Mastitis is an infection of the milk ducts of the dog, wherein the dog’s breast is enlarged or the milk duct is blocked. This infection is also referred to as mammitis or mastadenitis.
The skin around the nipple might get cracked, which might give a path to bacteria. This disorder should be treated as soon as possible else, it might cause gangrene mastitis which is a severe form of this malady.
Treatment
The best treatment that you can opt for is antibiotics. Hot packs placed on the affected area will help to some extent. Applying warm water and warm olive oil may aid in the healing process and is a good cure. While doing this, make sure that the water or oil is not too hot as it might burn the dog’s skin.
Wrapping a cloth soaked in vinegar around the infected area is also one of the treatments which will help. Giving the dog water on a regular basis might help in maintaining her body temperature at a normal level.
It is best to take her to a veterinarian and take proper care. If nothing works, then the veterinarian might suggest the removal of the milk glands in order to avoid the disorder from worsening and leading to other health problems.
Symptoms
Swelling in the milk ducts is the most commonly-observed symptom. The dog’s milk duct will be warm to touch. When the dog’s breasts are touched, she might yelp or wince. Discharge of pus from the milk glands is a common symptom. Another symptom is the formation of sepsis near the milk glands.
Reddening of the breasts will also be observed. They tend to become hard. Deficiency in the level of protein is observed. Along with the mentioned symptoms, the dog will suffer from lethargy and fever. Severe mastitis can be easily determined through a change in the dog’s behavior.
In rare cases, male dogs are also affected with this disorder. However, this is a serious medical condition and hence should be treated immediately to reduce the chances of medical complications in your pet dog. If left untreated, it can affect your dog’s health and give rise to other illnesses and health issues.
