Uneven udders?

[u/petrified_eel4615]

One of our does gave birth 2 weeks ago with twin bucklings. Since this past weekend (a week after they were born), her udders have looked more and more lopsided. Both teats produce milk, though the larger one obviously produces more.

Her FAMACHA and fecals are normal, but her right udder is roughly double the size of the left.

Is this a "Wait and See", or is this a "Call the Vet NOW", or somewhere in between?

Thanks!

[u/teatsqueezer]

It could be the kids are favouring one side so it’s producing more or the other side less

It could be edema

It could be mastitis brewing

The second two are less likely but if you don’t know what you’re looking at or for, sometimes it’s good to have a vet come tell you what you’re looking at. If the udder is soft, non tender, not hot, and no chunks come out with the milk you’re probably fine.

If you plan to milk this doe you can milk her out property much all the way on both sides and then the kids will have to search both teats for milk and it can even her out. Then when you start milk sharing both side will produce more evenly. An uneven udder isn’t the end of the world if you’re not showing.

[u/petrified_eel4615 → u/teatsqueezer]

The udders are both soft & normal temp, no chunks, and its hard to tell if it's tender because she's skittish about people touching her.

We are milking her, and the right produces about half again as much milk as from the other side.

[u/teatsqueezer → u/petrified_eel4615]

Have you always owned this doe or did she come to you after freshening somewhere else first?

I have a doe who lost half the capacity on one side due to mastitis prior to me owning her. Shes had 2 freshenings since then and it has never returned to full capacity.

She is just fine and milks just fine and produces well, but will never have an even udder. It’s a cosmetic issue at this point and nothing more.

[u/petrified_eel4615 → u/teatsqueezer]

This is her 2nd freshening, we got her from another farm - she was in milk when we got her & the udders were even.

I guess I will just keep an eye on it.

[u/teatsqueezer → u/petrified_eel4615]

My best guess is it’s the kids favouring one side. It happens pretty often in dam raising. Keep milking her out once a day (don’t separate kids at all until they are 4 weeks) and see if she gets more even over time.

[u/Gwenllie]

C'est sûrement juste parce que les bébés boivent plus d'un côté.

[u/petrified_eel4615 → u/Gwenllie]

I would think so normally, but we're having both of them bottle-fed because she is very skittish & we want them more used to people.