What are the causes and treatments of mastitis in dogs?

MASTITIS IN DOGS

Types, causes, signs, prevention, and treatment of mastitis in dogs.

On April 20, 2023, a group of emergency veterinary doctors at Superior Animal Clinic swiftly moved to Seeta after receiving a phone call from a concerned citizen, ‘’Adina’’, to go and attend to a mama street bitch, ‘’Clowie’’, who was frail and had puppies to breastfeed.

Adina: Clowie gave birth to six puppies three weeks ago. However, in the past week, we noticed a big change in her behaviors; she became selective about food. For two days now she has been stationed in one place, not moving anywhere. She is loved by everybody on this street due to her friendly character.

Team leader for the vet doctors: Adina, Thanks a lot for the love you have shown Clowie. We shall start with picking a blood sample, and send it to the laboratory for analysis as we do physical examination tests.

Results from physical examination test were: rectal temperature 41.2°C, heart rate 138 bpm, breathing rate 35 bpm, dry muzzle, swollen lymph nodes prescapular, submandibular, and parotid, swollen vulva with pus oozing out, swollen painful mammary glands with a skin sloughing off on touch, BCS 2/5.

Results from the laboratory were: marked neutrophilia, decreased red blood cell count, and thrombocytopenia.

The tentative diagnosis was septicemia due to open pyometra and gangrenous mastitis.

Clowie was put on aggressive treatment of IV fluids, board-spectrum antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, the uterus was flushed, and puppies were stopped from breastfeeding.

When Clowies’ body parameters normalized, she was spayed, and the gangrenic quarter of the breast was excised.

Clowie now lives a happy life with Adani, who decided to adopt her with the puppies.

MASTITIS IN DOGS: is the inflammation of mammary gland tissues.

What are the causes of mastitis in dogs?

It is mainly caused by bacteria, e.g., E. coli, enterococci spp, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and rarely by fungi.

What are the types of mastitis in dogs?

Mastitis can be classified based on the degree of inflammation and the origin of the causative agent.

Based on the origin of the causative agent:

Environmental mastitis: The pathogen is derived from the surrounding environment where the bitch spends its time.

Contagious mastitis: The pathogen is spread from one infected quarter to the next.

Based on the degree of inflammation:

Clinical mastitis: Evident abnormalities are noticed, e.g., swollen, reddened, hot, and painful mammary glands. Can further be grouped into per-acute, acute, and sub-cute.

Sub-clinical mastitis: No abnormalities are noticed, but there is a severe reduction in the milk produced by the bitch.

Chronic mastitis: Persists for several months with abnormalities like a swollen, hot, reddened, and painful mammary gland that occurs at irregular intervals.

Gangrenous mastitis: The teats and the breast appear bruised, blood-tinged milk, and the skin sloughs off.

What are the symptoms of mastitis in a dog?

The signs of mastitis in a dog vary depending on the nature and severity of the condition. These include:

Swollen, painful, and reddened mammary gland

Drop or no milk produced

Bruised skin on the teats and breast

Clotted milk

Blood-tinged milk

Bitch is reluctant to nurse the puppies.

Fever

Lethargy

Anorexia

Weight loss

Listlessness

Predisposing factors or risk factors associated with mastitis in dogs:

Poor hygiene

Abrupt weaning of puppies

Damp environment

Trauma

Death of puppies

Septicemic conditions

Inbreeding

First parity

How to diagnose mastitis in dogs:

It is detected using physical, imaging, and laboratory tests;-

Physical tests: These are based on clinical signs of mastitis and the nature of the milk produced.

Laboratory tests;

Milk cytology is the most common method of detecting mastitis in dogs. A small sample of milk is collected and examined under a microscope for any pus cells or bacteria.

Bacterial culture and sensitivity: A sample of milk is collected uncontained by external materials, put in conditions that favor the growth of bacteria colonies, and then exposed to different antibiotics to get the most effective one.

Imaging: Ultrasonography is done to rule out or abscesses and tumors in the mammary gland.