What should you know about mastitis in goats?

In goats, inflammation can affect one or more udder quarters. The udder may feel warm, firm, swollen, or painful, and the milk may look watery, clotted, discoloured, or contain an unusual discharge. A goat may eat less, seem dull, or resist milking. These signs can also occur with injury or another udder disorder, so appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Separate the affected goat from routine milking if advised, keep the udder and hands clean, and arrange a veterinarian’s examination promptly. Do not give human medicines or leftover antibiotics. Follow instructions about whether milk should be discarded, and record changes in appetite, temperature if you can measure it safely, udder texture, and milk appearance. A lactation consultant is intended for human breastfeeding; animal mastitis needs veterinary care.

Seek urgent veterinary help if the goat is very weak, cold in the limbs, unable to stand, severely swollen, or producing markedly abnormal milk. Rapid worsening, refusal of food or water, or signs of widespread illness also need immediate attention. Keep people and other animals away from milk that a veterinarian says may be unsafe.

Ask which udder quarter is affected, whether a milk sample is needed, how to manage milking, when milk can be used again, and which warning signs should prompt a return visit.