Black mastitis is a killer. Blue mastitis virtually the same tragedy. I found out the hard way when I discovered one of my sweet milk goats with a bright blue udder. It looked like someone had painted it. Bright. Blue. When I touched her udder I was horrified to discover the udder was freezing cold. Like she'd been sleeping on ice. Having no idea what I - or she - was up against I separated her from the flock. No food. Plenty fresh water. When given the opportunity animals will self medicate. One of the fastest ways to heal is through fasting and I never panic when an animals fasts themselves for a couple days. Shabta seemed unperturbed by her bright blue udder or the fact that I had put her in my little animal hospital. I rushed home to do some research. And contact other goat breeders. The results were dire. It was a blow I never expected. Blue mastitis - possibly black mastitis. Deadly. NO!!
All the advice I was given - and I mean from international goat experts - was to simply cull her. After my initial minutes of devastation I grabbed myself by the scruff of my hippie-organic-goat-loving neck. I shot off a few unhappy replies to the more unfeeling advice about .... gulp ... murdering ... one of my pets. I expressed my disgust as well as assurance that that was not happening! A couple people patronizingly advised me to leave her to what they thought was inevitable - a thought I outright rejected - but to not allow her anywhere near another goat in her highly contagious condition. Shabta and I faced the coming weeks alone together contrary to the doomsdayers whispers. I was encouraged by the Word which has always been my motto for my beloved goats. Proverbs 27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds....verse 27 And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household...
Having faced mastitis myself I understood the excruciating pain she was in. I used every natural treatment I knew or could find. I was constantly praying tearfully over her. I built a special goatie bra lined with frozen cabbage leaves to give her relief. I ladled Apple Cider Vinegar down her throat. I massaged peppermint oil hourly. I offered her homeopathic drops for pain, inflammation and infection. She patiently swallowed and endured all my tinctures, poultices and oily massages. I had to milk her more often than the usual twice daily to stimulate blood flow and try to break up the rock hard udder. She started to resist because she was in pain. The goats, especially her mama Emma, no longer enjoyed the separation. I was beginning to despair as the bright blue turned black. While remaining chilly it was soon suppurating icy water. Shabta was constantly fussing over it. Then a goat loving natural breeder from Australia heard about my struggle and sent me encouragement:
"She doesn't have to die. Your natural remedies will save her! Don't give up. But you need to accept that she will lose half of her udder. Just don't let her lose the entire udder!"
Don't let her lose the entire udder. She doesn't have to die! Over the weeks the damaged side became as hard as a rock. It was horrible. Once it was hard it stopped sweating. Shabta seemed to no longer be in pain. Victory one! HalleluYah! I continued to fight to prevent infection on the other side of the udder OR through her body. Suddenly one morning that dead side fell totally away. It was rather bizarre. The wound was painful. I mixed my sweet girl an amazing Wound Oil I had heard about in passing. And I applied it. Neat. Daily.
The healing was spectacular! Wound Oil is simply; Pine Needle Oil. Tea Tree and Rose Geranium Essential Oils. I love my essential oils. I use them every day. Pine Needle Oil is one that I knew of but never used. Shabta was by then already happily back with the flock. Years later, whenever she kids I have to massage the lost side to prevent mastitis. Her body takes a while to register that it need only produce for one half of the udder. She is still a fantastic milk producer!
Recently Shabta's daughter Cotton sustained a ripped udder. My regualr herbal remedies weren't healing fast enough because the wound would open during the day as her udder filled. I immediately mixed my wonderful Wound Oil . The improvement from day to day was miraculous. Within a week there wasn't as much as a scar! My quantities are a 22mm bottle of Pine Needle with 30 drops of Rose Geranium Oil and 30 drops of Tea Tree. For human application it would probably be best to dilute it slightly with a carrier such as Jojoba Oil.
The udder balm I make for milking now has a little addition of Wound Oil. For precautionary cuts and scrapes. Apart from my beloved four legged kids the wonderful Wound Oil often gets taken out to help dry the tears of inevitable bangs and bruises inflicted by my farm children. It is now an essential part of my all natural First Aid Kit! And I continue to rejoice over the life of my beloved goats.