MASTITIS.
In General
Is the inflammation of the mammary gland and is characterized by physical,
chemical and bacteriological changes in the milk and by pathological changes in
the glandular tissue. The most important changes in the milk include, discolouration,
presence of clots, blood, pus and the presence of large number of leucocytes
and swelling, heat, pain, reddening, ulcerations and indurations, in the
mammary gland. There may be systemic reactions in acute cases with pyrexia,
dysagalactia, anorexia. The incidence is more in heavy milkers and old
cows.
Etiology :
1. Infectious factors :
Bacterial , viral and fungal organisms are mainly responsible and systemic
diseases like Brucella , Foot and Mouth etc.
2. Trauma While milking
3. Bad Hygiene and management
through the contaminated milker’s hands, bedding and wash cloths, infection
enters the teat canal.
Treatment : The mode of treatment can be grouped in to two heads A). Mastitis
with Anorexia, and B). Mastitis with out Anorexia
A) Mastitis with Anorexia :
1. Belladonna 30 or 200 : When the udder is hot , painful, and edematous.
Dose: Belladonna 30 : one dose every two hours 4 to 5 times till relief
Belladonna 200 : B.I.D for 2 days.
2. Bryonia 30 or 200 : When udder is hard, painful and hot, animal is
disinclined
to move.
Dose : One dose every 3 hrs , till relief
3. Urticaria urens 30 : When the udder is hard, painful, edematous with
allergic
reactions and let down problems, dysagalactia,
Dose : One dose every 1 hr till relief
4. Homeopathic Combination : Belladonna
Bryonia
Urtica aa 30
Dose : 1 dose once in 2 hrs till temperature comes to normal
5. Phytolocca 200 : When the udder is hot, with flakes and clots in milk
and
refuse to allow the calf for suckling or mulking
Dose : 1 dose 2 hourly 4-5 doses, for 2-3 days
6. Conium 200 : When the udder is very hard, with yellowish and cheesy
milk
and painful udder.
Dose : B.I.D. for 2 – 7 days
7. Merc sol 200 : When the udder is hard and when the milk is watery or
serosanginous in appearance ( Foot and Mouth affections)
Dose: B.I.D. for 2 days
8. Silicea 6x : Udder indurated, milk cheesy in consistence, with yellow
clots
Dose : T.I.D for 1 week to 10 days
9. Biochemical Preparation 1 : Kali mur 6x when clots in milk
Calc Flur 6x
Dose : B.I.D. for 1 week to 10 days
10. Biochemical Preparation 2: Silicea 6x When the udder is hard
Calc Sulph 6x and clots in milk
Dose : Q.I.D for 1 week
11. Homeopathic Combination 1: For intra mammary use.
Calundula Q
Belladonna 30
Dulcamara Q
Echinaea 30 aa 1 ml
Made upto 20 ml with distilled water
Indications : Inflammation of the udder with loss of appetite, fever
congestion and trauma.
Dose : 10 ml Morning and 10ml Night , intra mammary injection
for 2 to 3 days. Massage the udder to disperse the medicine uniformly
12. Homeopathic Combination 2 : For External use only
Phytolocca decandra 30
Calendula officinalis Q
Apis mel 30
Belladonna 30 aa 1 ml
Made up to 20 ml with glycerine.
Indications : Indicated in fissures, wounds, ulcers, congestions,
hematomas, inflammations, contusions etc.
Dose : Apply on the affected teats and udder, B.I.D. for 2 – 4 days
13. Homeopathic Combination 3 : For internal use,
Phytolocca 200
Calc. Fluor 200
Silicea 30
Belladonna 30
Arnica 30
Conium 30
Ipeca 30 aa 0.5 ml.
Made up to 30 ml vimeral.
Indications : In acute, subacute and chronic mastitis .
Dose : 2 –5 ml, B.I.D. orally for One week.
B) Mastitis Without Anoexia :
1. Kali Mur 30 : Hardness and White or gray or cream colour clots.
Dose : 4 time a day for 2 to 5 days
2. Ferrum Phos 6x : Blood in milk with or without bad smell
Dose : Q.I.D for 2 to 5 days
3. Silicea 1M + Calc. Sulph 200 : When udder is hard and with clots
Dose : Q.I.D for 2 –7 days.
A. Acute form. In this form, which frequently accompanies parturition, and
also, in
less severe form, at drying off, the onset is usually sudden, and the condition
can be
recognised by swelling of the gland and changes in the milk. The swelling may
take several
forms, ranging from slight oedema to a hot painful enlargement. Although most
often seen
as a sequel to calving, this acute form can also be seen at any time during
lactation.
B. Chronic form. In chronic mastitis, feverish manifestations are usually
absent,
although exacerbations can occur. The gland shows fibrous induration in the
region of the
milk cistern and the milk itself shows small clots.
Mastitis caused by streptococci. In dairy herds where good hygiene and
management are poorly practised, streptococci may show a morbidity rate of 25%.
It is less
common in well-managed herds, but can still cause a high loss of production,
though rarely
resulting in the death of the animal. There is a primary fever which may
persist for 24
hours, but this systemic reaction is invariably mild, and is associated mainly
with
Streptococcus agalacticae. Streptococcus dysgalacticae and Streptococcus uberis
produce a
more acute syndrome with severe swelling of quarters and abnormality of milk.
Systemic
reaction is usually moderate, although an occasional per-acute infection may
yield a very
high fever.
Mastitis caused by Staphylococci. There is frequently a per-acute form
appearing a
few days after parturition, and this can be highly fatal, the quarter becoming
swollen and
purple, and systemic involvement rapid. The chronic form of this type is
characterised by a
slowly developing induration of udder tissue with watery secretion, leading
eventually to
atrophy of the quarter. A form in between the per-acute and the chronic may
yield secretion
of a purulent nature containing many thick clots.
Mastitis caused by E. Coli. Per-acute involvement is fairly common and can lead
to
loss of function of affected quarters and in many cases to death. The secretion
is thin and
yellow, and contains small bran-like flakes. Temperature may be very high
indicating a
severe systemic involvement.
Mastitis caused by Corynebacterium pyogenes. This is usually called summer
mastitis because of its appearance during the summer months among animals that
are not
lactating. In Britain it is common in warm wet summers, although it can occur
under other
conditions also. Low-lying wooded farms experience a high incidence and this
has led
some authorities to implicate flies in its transmission. Summer mastitis always
commences
acutely with severe systemic reaction. The quarter or quarters involved – there
are
frequently more than one – become indurated, yielding a thick cheese-like
secretion which
is evil-smelling and sometimes difficult to express. Less severe involvement
produces a
purulent discharge. The udder may later show abscesses which burst through the
outer skin,
yielding a creamy pus with occasional sloughing of tissue. The corynebacteria
are
well-known for the invasive toxins they produce, and it is this toxin which
produces the
systemic symptoms.
The role of Homoeopathy in mastitis control.
(a) Prevention. When advising the dairy farmer with this end in view, we stress
the
importance of tackling the problem on a herd basis, rather than seeking out one
or two
offending animals and treating them individually as is often done by farmers
themselves. In
considering prevention we must take account of the various bacteriological
causes of the
condition, and, if possible, employ the appropriate nosode. By first
determining which type
of mastitis is present in the herd, we can easily have a nosode or oral vaccine
prepared
against the organism concerned. This prior determination is important in as
much as there is
a multiplicity of bacteria capable of causing the condition and one cannot
always assume
we are dealing with one of the commoner types we have mentioned. For the
purpose of
herd medication we usually employ the nosode in the 30th potency and have it
prepared in
liquid form. A 5ml vial may be added per month to the main water tank supplying
the
drinking water. A variation of this approach is to use certain remedies well
proven in their
relation to the mammary glands, e.g. Phytolacca, and Sulphur, Silicea, and
Carbo
Vegetabilis used in conjunction. Sub-clinical cases will obviously benefit from
this
approach.
In considering prevention, we must not forget the animals in the herd which are
non-lactating during the summer months and consequently are at risk to Cor.
Pyogenes
infection – all such animals should be given a monthly dose of nosode, starting
in March –
heifers in calf for the first time are just as likely to succumb as older
animals, and should
therefore be included in the prevention programme.
(b) Treatment of individual cases. All outbreaks of mastitis call for the
employment
of various remedies according to the different symptoms, and the animal’s
reaction to the
disease. Among the commoner remedies frequently used are the following:
Belladonna 1m. Indicated usually in the acute form post-partum. The udder shows
acute swelling and redness, and pain is obvious on palpation. The animal
generally may
feel hot with full, bounding pulse. Dose: one every hour for four doses.
Aconite 6x. This should be employed as a routine in all acute cases, especially
those
which develop suddenly, possibly after exposure to cold, dry winds. It will
allay tension
and restlessness. Dose: one every half-hour for six doses.
Apis Mellifica 6c. This is a useful remedy for freshly calved heifers showing
oedema of udder and surrounding tissues. The mammary vein is usually engorged
in these
cases. Dose: one every three hours for four doses.
Bryonia Alba 30c. Indicated where the udder swelling is hard and indurated. In
acute cases pain will be relieved by pressure on the udder and such cases are
frequently
presented with the animal lying down as this appears to give relief. Chronic
forms showing
fibrosis should benefit from this remedy. Dose: in the acute form, one dose
four-hourly for
four doses. In the chronic form, one dose twice weekly for one month.
Arnica Montana 30c. When mastitis has developed as a result of injury to the
udder
tissue. Blood may be present in the secretion. Dose: one three times daily for
three days.
Bellis Perennis 6c. Somewhat similar in its requirements to Arnica, but Bellis
is
probably better if the injuries are more deep than superficial, e.g. damage
from teat cups
which has gone on for a few days. Dose: one three times daily for four days.
Phytolacca 30c. A useful remedy both for acute and chronic cases. Acute forms
may show curdled milk and clots, while in the latter, small clots may appear in
mid-lactation. This is probably the most useful remedy for the average chronic
case. Dose:
for acute cases one three times daily for three days, followed by one daily for
four days.
Mastitis which appears in the form of small clots in mid-lactation will
probably yield to a
dose every three hours for four doses.
Urtica Urens 6x. For acute forms showing oedema which may be in the form of
plaques frequently extending to the perineal area. Dose: one every hour for
four doses.
S.S.C. 30c. This is a combination of Sulphur, Silicea and Carbo Veg. and has
given
excellent results in both acute and sub-acute cases. Clots are usually large
and have a
yellowish tinge, especially in the fore-milk. Dose: one three times daily for
three days.
Hepar Sulphuris 6x. This low potency of Hepar will help promote suppuration and
clearing of the udder contents in cases of C. Pyogenes or summer mastitis
infection. Dose:
one every three hours for four doses. Once the udder has been cleared of
purulent material,
a dose or two of a higher potency should be given to complete the cure.
Silicea 200c. Also useful in chronic cases of C. Pyogenes infection where
purulent
foci and sinuses have developed as a result of multiple abscesses. Dose: one
twice weekly
for four weeks.
Note: In acute cases remedies such as Belladonna, Bryonia and Urtica Urens may
be
combined as a polyvalent remedy (like S.S.C.). This will avoid the necessity
for separate
dosing with each remedy. The various nosodes can also be used therapeutically
along with
indicated remedies, a dose a day for three consecutive days being sufficient.
12. Ipecac 30c. This is a useful remedy for controlling intra-mammary bleeding
which results in ‘pink milk’, or even more frank bleeding. Dose: one three
times daily for
three days.
Sub clinical mastitis: Milk can be tested with a pH paper like
bromothymol blue in sub clinical mastitis the paper turns to green and in
clinical mastitis turns blue. Or small quantity of milk is directly boiled in a
glass and decanted. In sub clinical mastitis the sediments gets attached to the
sides of glass. These two methods are 40% reliable. Use electronic device to
know electrical conductivity which is reliable above 95%. All these 3 methods
are not useful in colostral period, when the animal has crossed 5th month
pregnancy and in a non pregnant animal which has milked for 10 or more months,
where milk will be having more sodium and chloride ions in the milk. In such
sub clinical case Pulsatilla 30/200, 20 pills TID for 2 or 3 days is used (if
used for more days the animal can lose its appetite),
Animal can be given two teaspoonfuls (10-12g) of sodium citrate orally once a
day, which reduces alkalinity of milk.
Sulphur30, Carboveg30, Silicia30, Phytolacca30, Pulsatilla30 each 15 pills
TID/QID can be used. In acute mastitis i/mammary and i/muscular treatment is
used. Pulsatilla30/200, 20-30 pills TID can be used for 3-4 days.
Acute mastitis: Echinacea.Q 8drops and Apis Mel CM 6drops in one tea spoonful
of water TID/QID. Sulphur30, Carboveg30, Silicia30, Phytolacca30 and
Pulsatilla30 each 15 pills TID/ QID.
Mastitis in Cattle: Painful swollen udder: Belladonna hourly, Udder Hard but
milk not spoiled. Bryonia 200 qid .
Hard udder with pus in milk. Phosphorus 200.
Udder oedema Natrum Sulph 200 depending on the severity the drug/s may be used
5 to 6 times in a day.
For Chronic Mastitis: Use subcutaneously 1/2 ml of injectable Sulphur C
