Help with udder problems please

Hello everyone

My mare has had quite a few insect bites around and on her udder - she has been very itchy there and I can feel the raised bite marks, but recently - over the last two/three days - her udders have become swollen and hot and the area in front of the udders is also swollen - I imagine filled with fluid? I have read that insect bites can cause bacterial infection in a mare's udders. Does anyone have any experience of this? She is eating fine and doesn't show signs of pain when I massage the udders but she is finding walking difficult - I don't know whether this is only due to her foot problems but I suspect she is also favouring her udders. I am using Summer Fly Cream to keep flies away and relieve itching and sooth the area. I don't think it's mastitis because of the absence of pain. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Rona,
In Agrial they have an udder cream thats anticeptic and soothing which they use for the cows I cant remember what its called I will see if I can find a pot here and let you know.
We use it for all manner of bites on the horses.
Bob

When Bluey had an udder infecion a couple of years ago, she had a swollen area in front of her udder too. She also had some liquid in the teats. Vet advised to use warm compresses on the swelling. I found that disposable nappies soaked in hot water pressed in place as long as possible (real arm-aching stuff!) thoroughly cleaning the udder and gently "milking" out the teats did the trick after a few days.

Bill.

Thanks Bob that would be fab. If you let me know the name we can get hold of some. Hope BFG is doing well!

Love Rona x

I've been up to see the boss at La Baronnerie - she is a font of knowledge about breeding and mares - and described the symptoms which, I have discovered involves a fair amount of milk coming out of her udders when milked. Karine asked about seasons and I did remember that I haven't seen her obviously in season for a while and also she has been uncharacteristically sweet! She's lost interest in "her" stallion too. Simples... phantom pregnancy apparently! She says I should go and buy that powder which makes into a paste that you put on windows if you want to white them out, and paint it on her teats which will stop the milk. Clever these French n'est pas? Hope she's right - think she is.

Fingers crossed rona just in case you, or maybe someone else may need it udder cream is called Graisse Atraire, a good all -round soothing cream, and an exceptionally good hand cream I have been reliably informed
pen

if its a phantom preg and its milk she's producing, don't milk her because the backwards pressure of the milk in a full udder suppresses the further milk production, only if its very uncomfortable draw off a little, pp are hormone governed can you talk to a stud vet who has experience of this, or if its an infection it needs antibiotics maybe
pp 's and milk production can be an ongoing prob not always acknowledged by vets

Thanks for the info Azaria. Re milk. Have not milked her because I did hear it can encourage more milk to be produced. On Thursday she was extremely uncomfortable lifting one back leg after another and she was in a very bad mood and uncomfortable over her whole body - didn't want to be petted. She is much better in the udder now and the swollen milk gland has gone down so I think she must have stopped production. She's certainly happier. I am sure she didn't have an infection because there was no udder pain or smell from the milk (and I would know if she was carrying an infection I think).