This disease occurs in the mammary gland in cats during lactation ( feeding ) of kittens. It can provoke scratches on the glands through which the infection penetrates. Also, it is not necessary to excommunicate the babies from their mother before the time, from this stagnation occurs in the milk packets. Some cats may be predisposed to mastitis as a result of poor heredity or their immune defenses are reduced as a result of previous illnesses. Many people are wondering whether mastitis can occur in a nulliparous cat. This is a very rare phenomenon, but sometimes it also happens. It happens that mastitis occurs after estrus, it is caused by hormonal disorders, intoxication, false pregnancy, postpartum infections. After castration, in some cases, a false pregnancy occurs and there may be a suspicion of mastitis in a sterilized cat. In this case, you need to show it to the veterinarian in order not to start the disease.
Mastitis in a cat - symptoms
This disease affects the general condition of the animal. The cat has a decrease in appetite, it becomes sluggish. A young mother does not let her babies to her nipples, tries to lick them. You can detect swelling in the area of one or more dairy packages, redness, or strange seals. Sometimes there are discharge in the form of flakes or pus with blood. The overall body temperature increases or in the place where inflammation occurs. Only an experienced doctor can make the right diagnosis and prescribe a treatment. This will require a visual inspection, palpation, and if necessary even a blood test. Do not tighten with the reference to the veterinarian, so as not to harm the cat.
How to treat mastitis in a cat?
It is necessary to start treatment in time, so that complications do not occur. What to do if your cat mastitis? At the earliest stage, conservative treatment can also help. Antibiotics such as quinolones, penicillins, cephalosporins in combination with antipyretic drugs will help. There are special drugs that reduce the secretion of milk. If you have identified mastitis in a nursing cat, the kittens will most likely have to be transferred to artificial mixtures and excommunicated from your mother. And on the cat you can put on a special blanket, so that it protects her glands. In the most difficult cases, surgical treatment is used, when it is necessary to open cavities and perform drainage and sanitation.
Prevention of mastitis in cats
The most important thing is that you do not have such a problem - it's right to keep and feed the cat . It should be periodically taken for examination to an experienced veterinarian, who can detect the disease at an early stage. Kittens need to cut their claws in time so that they do not scratch. At the slightest appearance of wounds or cracks on the mammary glands, they need to be treated. You can wipe your nipples warm (up to 40 degrees) infusion of oak bark, sage or even a simple weak solution of manganese. In the early stages, it is worth trying to do without medication.
But self-medication can not be done if the disease progresses. In this case, consult a doctor, you may need to use a variety of more serious drugs. Mastitis in a cat is dangerous for its complications, and never disregard the help of a specialist, relying only on your strengths and advice of "experienced" friends.