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maryjane
7074 Posts
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 Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 10:42:08 AM
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This morning when I went out to feed at 6 a.m., Sally O'Mally wasn't her usual self--she stood back and was licking her calf intently (she usually loves food more). Last night she was her usual self because my husband and I sat down in the pasture in the shade waiting for Ester Lily to finish her evening bottle. Both Sally and Daisy came up to us to be petted, etc.
Anyway, this morning when I started milking her, everything seemed like it always does (I did the California Mastitis Test right after I stripped her and it was good--not at all gelled) but then towards the end of getting her milked, two of her quarters didn't empty (shrink up) so I touched them and found a huge hard ball in both the quarters on her right side (the side baby doesn't nurse on) that I didn't see before I milked her. I gave her a load of Vit. C and massaged both quarters and tried to get more milk out. I got enough to run another CM test. Nothing gelled again so this time I created a fresh batch of diluted solution and did the test a 3rd time. Still clear and very empty of milk at this point. But here's how she looked right after milking. Usually all four quarters are empty looking and the same size.
And this is her right side with the lumps.
This is a pic from her left side. You can see that both quarters on that side are empty.
I've called both Vet clinics that I work with and no one is available at the moment. I'll keep trying. I'm puzzled because I would think any kind of infection would show up in the CM Test or the milk I extracted would be yellow or gelatinous. None of that. The milk was perfectly normal.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 11:32:23 AM
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| Looks like I'm going to monitor Sally through the day today and do a CM Test again later. The vet suggested some sort of trauma but Sally gets along with everyone here--hardly any pushing and shoving these days so I can't imagine that happened and there wasn't any blood at all in the milk and the milk was perfectly normal. That is the side Elsa doesn't nurse on so maybe I need to give Sally some relief in the evenings. I'll definitely do that tonight just to check things out. If by tomorrow it hasn't improved, I'll take her in for a ultrasound. That was the only suggestion WSU had. It's definitely a puzzler. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 1:01:45 PM
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Here's what I'm thinking at this point. That is the side that Elsa doesn't nurse on. Until a week ago, she only nursed on one teat, the right front. She's moved to the back on that side and is growing by leaps and bounds. What I think happened is that last night she realized for the first time that her mother had another side, that she had another side, and so she tried to milk on Sally's right side after draining the left side. Sally was probably pretty full and if Elsa butted that side, she may be the "trauma" culprit the vet suggested.
I'm going to milk that side tonight and for a few nights if necessary, hoping to ease Elsa into taking from that side without it being so full and perhaps easily traumatized from the butting. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 1:21:43 PM
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| Oh my gracious. Hope things turn around quickly for Sally O'Mally. Now it has me wondering if the CM test is working to show signs of mastitis or not. Guess I will keep doing what I'm doing and hope all is okay. So sorry MaryJane. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 3:31:01 PM
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I think the CM Test is working fine. But it seems like with the swelling she'll be susceptible to mastitis and that's why I'm going to keep her drained so at least she isn't dealing with that on top of whatever caused her to have two bumps/lumps. Julie noticed today that Elsa tried to go to that side to nurse and Sally turned away.
I know my CMT solution worked when Fanci got sick with dry mastitis.
Janet, I just now left our Cultivator girls for a few minutes and guess what they're making? Little cute Jasper balls (toys) sent our way from a kind, sweet, endlessly thoughtful milkmaid in Iowa:)
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 4:10:49 PM
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| Well, I sure hope Sally O'Mally heals up quickly and things don't get worse. How fun, making little balls for Jasper to play with. When I made the first one I sewed it wrong and it had points, Lol, but they still play with it. So then I did another and sewed it the way it was supposed to be and it turned out just round as could be. Hope they have fun. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 5:47:10 PM
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| Seen it on range cows with calfs..look in more like the calf getting rough..vet check always good...assume you checked Her temp? |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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Mike
1667 Posts
Mike
Argyle
WI
United States of America
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Posted - Jul 07 2015 : 7:40:58 PM
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| That's it Ron......knew I'd seen it in the past. One of our foster moms (Angus) had what looked like baseballs in two quarters...... it was calf abuse! Thanks. |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jul 08 2015 : 08:05:57 AM
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| Hope Sally O'Mally is looking better this day. Please give update when you have time. We love our cows and like to know how they're doing. :) |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jul 08 2015 : 08:32:09 AM
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| Sending get well wishes to miss sally o'mally and strength and tenacity to mary jane! Sounds like you are sssoooo on top of it mj, our girl is in the best hands possible. |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jul 08 2015 : 08:56:49 AM
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| Just in from milking. Sally is definitely on the mend and since I'd milked her last night, Elsa had nursed on the swollen side during the night, front quarter. All is well. Actually, Elsa isn't too much into head butting like I've seen other calves do. I'll continue to milk in the evenings until the lumps are gone. No fever. No discolored/gelatinous milk, negative CM Test. Sally is being very sweet. But now that I tossed in an extra milking she got to wondering, maybe I was game again right after I'd milked her. Ten minutes later she was standing by the gate of the milking parlor with those beseeching eyes of hers. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jul 08 2015 : 09:14:15 AM
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| Oh good to hear she is on the mend. So dear to our hearts it's hard to hear when there is a problem. So onward and forward and next, Sally O'Mally/Cindy greeting, meeting and learning the ins and outs, so to speak. Thank you for the update and good news. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jul 08 2015 : 12:02:44 PM
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I appreciate all the problem-solving help on this chat room and look forward to using all this wisdom and knowledge even more after Clover calves.
So glad to hear Sally is doing better! She thought she had a good thing going ... treats every time she gets milked so more milking was fine by her! It amazes me how fast an udder issue can crop up. I was just watching Sally be milked a few days ago and her udder was perfect looking. I do appreciate your carefulness and thoroughness, MaryJane. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jul 10 2015 : 1:37:41 PM
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I'm happy to report that Sally O'Mally's udder lumps are almost gone. The extra milking/day was just the ticket. Elsa is now nursing on all four quarters and all seems well.
Concerned even while nursing.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jul 10 2015 : 2:59:40 PM
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| That is really good news! Beautiful photos. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Jul 10 2015 : 6:19:55 PM
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| Another good day on the farm :) |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jul 10 2015 : 11:15:05 PM
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| beautiful and wonderful mary jane, thanks for the update. miss sally o'mally is lucky to have such great care! see you wednesday! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - Jul 11 2015 : 10:36:48 AM
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| This may be totally unrelated, but how many times has Sally O'Mally calved? Elli had a lot of swelling in the first month or so after she calved. I was so grateful a friend told us that she needed to be a twice a day milker fairly early on or I think it could have been disastrous for her to be with the newbie cow people. I'm still in awe of how much her udder changes day to day. I'll be on the lookout for craziness like this. |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jul 11 2015 : 9:55:00 PM
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| this is her third calf. i am keeping track of that girl! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jul 11 2015 : 10:06:22 PM
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Sally O'Mally's tail is beautiful in the first photo MaryJane posted on July 10 ... obviously, it is brushed often and it shows! Beautiful.
Is she still being milked twice a day? Or have you been able to go back to once a day milking with Elsa nursing all four quarters now? |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Nov 26 2015 : 4:28:46 PM
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mary jane, i was just rereading this thread as EVERY morning when i milk miss sally i over analyze her right rear udder ;> its the only one with a small scar tissue like mass inside, and i am constantly really massaging and working it to make sure that it is exactly the same and nothing is bigger or different. and that i get it completely empty.
she's really a joy to milk, and all the CMT are always clear. thanks for this wonderful cow! we just put her and elsa up for the night, total cow love in texas. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Nov 27 2015 : 04:17:02 AM
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| Love your detailed updates, Cindy. Honestly, I don't think Sally can get mastitis. You might consider doing a CMT every other day or twice/week. Both Miss Daisy and Fanci gel a cup every now and then. (Looking forward to trying Mastoblast in addition to Ester-C on them when that happens.) Never Sally, not even once. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Nov 28 2015 : 08:23:14 AM
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| thanks mary jane. about once a week i forget to do the CMT, but other than that i do it every day. i am honestly afraid if i do it less that i'll forget when i have/havent' done it ;> also afraid the human might do something wrong and don't want her coming down with mastitis and me not knowing. i think when i get more experienced i could drop back to every 2 days or so... but i learned at the master's feet and can't mess with the process! |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Dec 13 2015 : 07:01:14 AM
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i wanted to let you know mary jane that all of the hard mass inside the rear right udder is gone. GONE. i started massaging it daily for 2-3 minutes post milking with dr sarah's "protect her" liniment oil around Thanksgiving. i noticed a drastic reduction in three days, and after seven days that quarter felt the same as the others - no more hard scare tissue like mass inside. it was amazing. i truly felt so good about this experience, as my diligence and observation here has made a significant difference in something for sally.
i am sure a big part of it was just consistently massaging it, but i know a big part was also the liniment as i had been actively massaging it daily for two months since i got her as every day when i milk i milked that quarter last and all by itself so i could focus and massage on that quarter. and there was NEVER a difference... until now. so good ole essential oil liniment just like the old days.
here's the info on this product:
Protect - Her
Protect-Her helps with mastitis, cracked teats, chapped teats and in preventing frozen teats. It can also help with infections and inflammation not only on teats, but also swollen legs or any other injury or infections. It is an Essential Oil liniment for skin absorption.
Ingredients: Castor Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Safflower Oil. Essential oils of: Camphor, Cinnamon, Clove Bud, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Oregano, Peppermint, Pine Needle, Rosemary, Sage, Tea Tree, Thyme and Wintergreen. Vitamin E Oil.
Directions: Rub for 1-2 minutes on inflamed or infection udders, swollen legs or any other injury or infections. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Dec 13 2015 : 07:51:39 AM
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Way to go, Cindy and great news for Sally!
Off to look at another one of Dr. Sarah's products. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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Andrea0509
155 Posts
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Posted - Dec 13 2015 : 1:50:23 PM
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| Thanks for sharing your update on Sally's mass Cindy. I'm glad that the massaging and Dr. Sarah's liniment helped clear it up. I love gleaning these bits of knowledge to file away for later! :) |
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Mastitis or ?????
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