Mastitis in goats is common, but that does not mean it isn’t serious. What is mastitis? Where did it come from, is it contagious, and will a vet be needed to fix it are all common concerns among goat owners. The truth is you can easily learn how to treat mastitis in goats naturally. Facing the mastitis issue yourself armed with some natural health knowledge will not only save you a ton on vet bills but also help you avoid antibiotics and complications that can come with that.
What is mastitis in goats?
Mastitis in goats is the same as any other lactating mammal, including humans. Mastitis is simply a clogged or infected milk duct. This can happen at any point in the milk production process but it tends to happen in a newly lactating does more often.
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Is mastitis in goats contagious?
Many people wonder if mastitis is contagious, and fear it spreading to others in a herd. The truth is there is nothing contagious about mastitis. Goat mastitis is simple a milk duct that has gotten clogged and or infected due to the movement of milk through the mammary glands. So no need to worry, just like a cavity or infected tooth is not contagious, your goat can not spread mastitis to other goats.
Symptoms of mastitis in goats
Now I myself am no foreigner to mastitis, I have got it myself within a month of 4 of my 5 kids births. So I feel like in human terms I am a pro, at recognizing this often ‘new to nursing issue’. Just like humans goats tend to get or show signs of mastitis within the first few days or weeks after milk production starts. Just think of it as clogged pipes, when the water hasn’t been run for a while.
Mastitis signs to look for in your goat are:
- engorged
- swollen
- painful
- tries to avoid letting baby nurse due to pain
- acting sick or not well
- higher than normal temperature or showing signs they are trying to fight an infection
Mastitis in goats is not usually all over. You will tend to see it affect one side of the udder or teat more than the other. However, even though rarer both teats can be affected.
Typical treatment for mastitis in goats
The typical response to this is the same with both humans and goats. The difference a vet may take blood samples first. However antibiotics are given and soon milk on that side will begin to flow again, the pain and swelling will subside. Knowing a typical vet visit will cost no less than a few hundred dollars, and end in an antibiotic prescription. If avoiding antibiotics and high vet bills is a priority for you, you have more options.
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The natural approach
If you are trying the natural route to healing mastitis in your cud-chewing friend this simple, yet effective method will get right to the problem, but please do be precautious and keep a close eye on her for the first few days
Tea tree oil also known as melaleuca oil is a very fast-acting and powerful antibiotic. One I recommend keeping on hand for any sort of infectious issue that may arise, and with homestead animals that can happen more often than we would like right? You got some sort of infection tea tree oil one will get it. However, with essential oils, there are some precautions, especially for the nursing mother goat. Tea tree oil has a bit of a drying effect, so a little will go a long way, and should always be applied to the skin with a very diluted carrier oil.
Olive oil, coconut oil or any other gentle and healthy oil works great as a carrier oil. A carrier oil is used with the essential oil, in this case, tea tree oil and it will help carry the essential oil into the body and bloodstream to heal the infected milk duct. I like to keep a jar of herb-infused oils for just such occasions. Herbal infused carrier oils also help with pain and inflammation that can accompany the swollen/ infected milk duct.
Goat mastitis natural treatment plan
Add just a few drops of tea tree oil in a palm-full of carrier oil and apply it to the udder area. If you feel your goat is in a lot of pain try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to the mixture as this will help pain and speed healing. Cover as much of the udder as you can while being careful not to get any of the oil mixtures on the teat (to avoid baby goat ingesting any, if at all possible). Do this twice or in severe cases even three times a day. You will see a dramatic difference within 12 hours, completely healed within 2-3 days. Just remember to use common sense to judge your goat!
Once again nature has a cure! Avoiding antibiotics (and high vet bill) is not as hard as you might think. Tea tree oil is a wonderful essential oil to keep in your natural medicine cabinet or animal emergency bag. For the cost of a bottle of tea tree oil, you can cure all sorts of issues! Let’s call that a win in the ‘money not-spent category’. I’m sure as a homesteader, goat keeper or DIY’er you try our very hardest to save money and spend as wisely. Natural cures can be just that a very effective way to help you save money, all while knowing what goes into your animals and food supply. We, of course, are believers in the healing power of essential oils, I hope I have made a believer out of you too♡♡♡
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Beth is a mother of 6 living on a handful of acres in an old farmhouse in central Kansas. Beth has a background in the military and health and fitness however her passions come from her homestead life. Beth is an enthusiastic homeschooling mom, avid organic gardener, chicken & goat wrangler, who is obsessed with herbs and natural remedies and maintaining an all-around Do-It-Yourself lifestyle. Beth loves to share all she has learned about and sustainable living. While striving for a healthy, natural life, family-centered life.
Thank-you, Beth. I am really into herbal healing, as well.
By the way Hawthorne Berries & Black Walnut will kill heartworms in dogs. I’ve helped my dog & friends dogs add 10 extra years to what the vet said they had, by using this treatment. Please pass it on.
Judy, Wow! Thanks for that info! I would really like to know more about this so I could share it!
Thanks so much Beth.Tea tree oil rid my goat of mastitis in a week’s time , saving me and the goat a LOT of bother with vet visits, antibiotics and painful injections.
my girl is pregnant, milk started but it was pink the first day and progressed to blood red water. I found your site and since I use tea tree for my own infections, it made sense to me. I’m on day 4 of treatment an milk is slowly returning to normal colour and the lumps in her udder are decreasing. thank you for the great advice
I have found vitamin C to help. I have put vitamin C powder in their grain. It helps with broken blood vessels.
Good to know vitamin c helps with that! Thanks for the info!
Our goat only has 1/2 the udder that is hard, but there’s no milk coming out of the nipple at all. The nipple is soft and pliable and the baby is able to nurse on the other side.
I also have a mom who lost both of her kids and I want to keep her producing milk. What do you suggest? Should I try to get another baby goat on her or just keep milking her?
If the udder is hard somewhere I would say you have a clogged milk duct, and warm moist heat (warm rag or something similar) massage and tea tree oil will help.
On the other goat if you want her to keep producing, I would say try another baby or milking by hand will also keep her in milk.
Not sure if all that made sense, good luck!
Momma had two stillborn and a third survived. After first day i noticed baby was not getting milk. Checked mommy and could not get milk no matter how hard i tried. Soaked, massaged, used peppermint oil….tried, tried and tried….nothing. Baby is on the bottle doing ok. Mommy’s udder is huge and we are going to try a automatic milker. If this doesn’t get it going i will try your tee tree oil suggestion. Will let you know?
I have a question for you. I have a goat with mastitis and I am looking for natural cures. I love tea tree oil so I will be trying this, but my question is this.. Do I milk her out every time or am I supposed to dry her off because of the mastitis?
I am glad you asked! Mastitis is nothing to fear it is just a localized infection due to milk not flowing or being stuck in one or more milk ducts. There is no need to dry her off. Just keep milking through it use a warm wet hand towel on and around the infected area prior to milking moist heat help move the clog. And treat with tea tree and a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil (carries the essential oil into the body). After 3-5 days you shouldn’t see much if any at all signs of the mastitis if you do just keep treating until it is gone!
Hello Beth, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I want to make sure I understand this -please Bear with me (I’m a nervous first timer)…I have a Nigerian first time mom and she gave birth two weeks ago to a baby girl. mom seems to have MASTITIS affecting the right side. No blood or redness, just a small lump on the nipple, a little bit enlarged and sensitive to the touch. so i applied the tea tree oil with coconut oil mix over night and separated mom and kid…my questions are: Do I have to be concerned about kid getting tea tree oil in the milk? should I cover the teat over night when I apply the oil, and if so how? Should I bottle feed kid in the MEANTIME? can I begin milking for human consumption? Sorry for the caps and all the questions 🙂 and of course, thank you for your service
Lilly, I am sorry for my slow response. Understandably you are nervous, I would not be too concerned about the kid ingesting any of the oil, as it is a much cleaner treatment than the conventional. I would simply let there be time to let the oil soak in before letting the kid nurse. Maybe separate them for 30 minutes or so. Best of luck!
HMM NOT SURE WHY THE FORM WONT LET ME USE LOWER CASE, SORRY FOR THE SHOUTING 🙂 .
i BOUGHT A LAMANCHA ALMOST A MONTH AGO WHO WAS IN MILK. IT’S MY FIRST TIME MILKING A GOAT SO I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT IS WHAT, STILL. BUT I HAVE LEARNED A BIT SINCE HAVING HER.
WHEN I FIRST GOT HER ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER SHE DEVELOPED A FEVER OF 106.9*. I HAD TO TREAT HER WITH LA200 FOR FIVE DAYS WITH A SIX DAY WITHDRAWAL. AFTER, I NOTICED THAT THE ONE TEAT THAT IS ABOUT DOUBLE IN SIZE FROM THE OTHER WAS HAVING A MUCH IMPROVED STREAM OF MILK. BEFORE TREATING IT WAS AS IF SHE HAD A NEEDLE HOLE FOR THE MILK TO COME OUT; IT TOOK ME ALMOST 4X AS LONG TO MILK THAT SIDE AS THE “NORMAL” SIDE. I CHALKED IT UP TO “EVERYONE’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT”. NOW I KNOW THAT IT MUST’VE BEEN AN INFECTION WITHOUT ANY CURDLES IN THE MILK, OR BLOOD, ETC.
WELL HERE I AM AGAIN, NOT TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT FIRST ROUND, SHE DIDNT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF GETTING SICK UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN I WENT TO MILK HER. THERE WERE SOME TINY CURDLES IN THE MILK ON THE ENLARGED TEAT SIDE. THERE WEREN’T MANY AND SHE MILKED FINE WITHOUT ANY PAIN, IF SHE WAS RUNNING A FEVER IT WAS SO LOW AS TO NOT BE NOTICEABLE. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT PERHAPS SHE GOT HIT IN THE UDDER AND THAT’S WHY SHE HAD CURDLES, IT WASN’T NECESSARILY MASTITIS. I WENT AHEAD AND FED HER 30CC OF HER OWN MILK BACK TO HER FROM THAT SIDE OF THE TEAT, PER OTHER FORUMS STATING IT WILL RAMP UP HER IMMUNE SYSTEM TO FIGHT WHATEVER IS GOING ON IF THERE IS AN INFECTION, AND I ALSO GAVE HER A LARGE CLOVE OF GARLIC.
THIS MORNING, HOWEVER, THERE’S ALMOST NO MILK TO BE HAD AT ALL FROM THAT SIDE, AND THE OTHER SIDE IS LESS THAN HALF PRODUCTION. I MILKED WHAT I COULD FROM THAT SIDE, NO CURDLES PRESENT, FED HER WHAT I GOT (ABOUT 20CC). GAVE HER ANOTHER GARLIC CLOVE, AND PUT THE TEA TREE OIL MIXED WITH A LITTLE PEPPERMINT AND COCONUT OIL. I REALLY HOPE SHE FEELS BETTER AS QUICKLY AS THE OTHER LADY WHO HAD BLOODY MILK.
DO YOU SUPPOSE USING TEA TREE WITH COCONUT OIL EVERY DAY AS PREVENTATIVE MEASURE WOULD BE A BAD IDEA? I’M THINKING THE REASON THIS PERSON GOT RID OF THE GOAT IS DUE TO THE PROPENSITY FOR MASTITIS. I FEEL VERY OVERWHELMED AND WORRIED I’LL END UP ACCIDENTALLY KILLING HER BY NOT CATCHING SOMETHING ON TIME SINCE GOATS HIDE THEIR ILLNESSES SO WELL. WE DO NOT HAVE A LIVESTOCK VET ANYWHERE NEAR US (>2 HOURS).
THANK YOU TRULY FOR ANY INPUT YOU MAY HAVE.
Thanks for the comment, and I don’t mind the yelling in caps! I would say yes treat her daily if needed for mastitis. Tea tree can not cause any harm (unlike regular antibiotics). Worst case scenario the tea tree oil would cause the skin to dry out, however, with coconut oil, I don’t think that would be an issue at all. I have a goat that tends to get mastitis as well, however, I can’t blame her that’s how my own milk-making journey was! And everybody, human or goat, has its issues. I love keeping a few specific oils on hand for issues like this, because like you said sometimes a vet is not so close by. Other oils that may help might be thyme, oregano (use sparingly), frankincense or lavender.
Good Luck!
Hey there Miss Beth, thank you for responding so quickly :). This evening her temp was 103.9 which is pretty good in my opinion, a nice level to help fight the infection. How do I know when to do something more/the tea tree oil isn’t sufficient? I am not getting more than a tablespoon, if that, out of the side that seems to be problematic. The other side, maybe 2 oz. I have seen a lot of horror stories about untreated mastitis so naturally I’m worrying! I also nursed through a mastitis infection a time or two and just drank acv to fight it, so I know it can be beaten without antibiotics, but I also had a baby nursing every 2 hours!
Thanks again!
How much milk was she producing when you first got her? So does she seem to be drying back? It seems to me that for a LaMancha 2 oz on the good side does seem low. So to have almost nothing on the bad side might not be so bad, that is if she does seem to be drying up? The garlic is a great idea, and if you are very worried step that up to more than once a day. If I was very worried I would also make a concoction of coconut oil, tea tree EO, thyme EO, Oregano EO, peppermint EO, lavender EO and Frankincense EO (or any of those that I had on hand) and I would apply that to the udder and teat area 2 or ever 3 times a day. Tending to a sick goat can be time-consuming. I would think she actually sounds on the mend since her temp is not as high as it was the first round you did with this at 106.9 if now she is at 103.9 she is much closer to the range of normal for a goat. Also, our goat who tends to get mastitis has a forevermore, shall I say stretched out teat on one side. That side will never be quite like it once was but she still milks well, she just might not be prize-worthy. I think what you are doing sounds all good, and even though you may be new to milking goats I think you have a good feel on the situation, and you are doing well.
I was getting approximately 1/2G per day when I first got her, she went up to 1G after I treated her first fever. SHE IS BEGINNING TO IMPROVE THE QUANTITY ON THE “BAD” SIDE. PROBABLY ABOUT 8-10OZ PER MILKING NOW, ALTHOUGH IT’S MUCH LIKE SQUEEZING THROUGH A NEEDLE HOLE. HER PRODUCTION ON THE GOOD SIDE IS BACK UP TO NORMAL.
I DID BEGIN GIVING HER A CONCOCTION OF BLACK STRAP MOLASSES, ACV, PUREED GARLIC, OIL OF OREGANO, AND THIEVES OIL(in addition to the coconut/tea tree/thieves/frankincense/oregano oil udder rub). AFTER TWO DAYS THE SWELLING IN HER UDDER WENT DOWN BY ABOUT 70%. I’M DOWN TO ONCE A DAY GIVING IT TO HER. THE “BAD” SIDE IS JUST AS YOUR GOAT’S, MUCH LARGER TEAT. DID YOU HAVE YOUR GOAT BEFORE THE TEAT BECAME LARGER? WAS IT DUE TO AN INFECTION? I WOULD LIKE TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE WITH ANY GOATS THAT I MILK SO THAT I CAN REDUCE THE ODDS OF MASTITIS. HAVE YOU LEARNED ANY TRICKS IN REGARDS TO WHY THE MASTITIS OCCURS ON THAT SIDE/PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THAT SHE GETS THAT YOUR OTHERS DON’T REQUIRE TO STAY HEALTHY? THANKS!
Sounds like you are doing so good at managing this! I think the molasses, ACV, Garlic oil, Oregano, and thieves oil is amazing. You sound like a goat owner after my own heart! We did have our goat before the teat became larger, it was with her first baby and we were also new to being goat owners. She was our first goat mama. Looking back it might have been us not watching closely enough is the first days after her milk came in, as we let all the milk be just for her feeding her baby. Now we just watch those first days after to make sure no milk issues arise, checking a few times a day to make sure milk is flowing properly. I think if it is handled very early on the reoccurrence of mastitis and the stretched out teat is much less likely. You sound like you have done very well with this situation you did not even know you were getting!
Hi Beth. I have a older goat that never had kids and her utters started tO swell up a few yEars back when i tried to milk her the milk was wHite. I had to milk her to give her relief. Then she started to swell this Year i tried to find informatoN on how To stop her from prOducing milk because i couldnt milk her any more. Then someone said she might have cl or mastitis. Well i made a milking stand So i could milk her but one side is clear liquid aNd easy to mIlk drY but the other utter Is hard as leather and when i milked that side it was coming out like thick white curds and i had to stop because it started to break the skin above the utter And milk STARTED tO come out there. I was told to give her English ivy to dry her up. I raised 19 goats back twenty years ago And i am 69 now and i am on fixed income so ill try UsinG the tea tree oil with Lavendar oil. Is there anything else i can try. Ill use hot compresses and maybe a lotion like utter cream to soften the utters. Do you have any other suggestions i could do. Thanks for your help.
In this situation, I am not sure what to say with an older goat it may just be harder on her. Sometimes I do think its like pipes in a house they have to be used every so often to work well. I am also not sure what else to tell you to try, are you still trying to dry her up? Or keep her producing?
I just purchased a doeling from a lady that said she had miscarried due to being too young. She will be 1 in a month and a half and I have had her for a month. She is doing great wit one exception. She has a small udder of fluid. This morning I milked the fluid from her and it was a yellowish clear color and it tested positive on my little mastitis test cards for MASTitis. I started the tea tree oil treatment this MORNING. My question is have you ever seen or heard of this before? The goat was in poor condition when I got her, but seems to be thriving now, except for The udder. Thanks! Sorry for the caps, but it won’t let me use lowercase.?
Amanda,
I have not personally seen this no. However, I would say that due to your doe’s partial pregnancy she started the hormonal process for milk production. I would think with a few days of tea tree oil she should be good as new. I wouldn’t worry about her too much in the future I think it was just a kink in the system due to the incomplete pregnancy/ birth/ milk production process. Good luck!
Im new To using essential oils, when you say a few drops approximately how many do you mean? Also approximately how much carrier oil?
Becky,
Good question! Essential oils luckily are not a fine science, so there is room for flexibility. Carrier oil is really what is used to “carry” the essential oils into the body, so as far as carrier oils go you don’t need to worry much. I like healthy but still fairly cheap and easy to find oils like olive or coconut, but even grapeseed, sweet almond or many others work well (I would just stay away from chemically altered ones or cheap vegetable oils). As far as how much to use anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon depending on how big of an area you might be dealing with and 3-5 drops of essential oils, is really all you need. Mostly with oils as your secure all you don’t need to worry about getting everything just right. Find what works for you! Hopefully, that answers all your questions.
Good luck,
Beth
HI i have a nigerian dwarf doe who has one side of her udder hard and warm wheN milking has cottage cheese like milk coming out. Only at bits at a time. She hates me touching her. I put warm compress and i have done the teA tree oil. No fever so far. WHAT else can i do?
Sorry for the slow response, your comment went unnoticed. I apologize. The warmth is an indication her body is trying to fight an infection, and the cottage cheese-like milk is the blockage in the milk duct. She will likely not want you to touch it, but that is what it needs, to get the “pipes” flowing. If she has a baby encourage nursing as often as possible, the warm compress helps to relieve pain and help get the milk flowing. Tea tree oil and even lavender oil to help with pain as well, this could take a few days but just be patient. Even antibiotics from a vet would take a few days. This natural method may leave you thinking you could be doing more, but trust me the process is the same. You are doing good, just keep it up.
thank you for the information,had a rescue and her baby come in tonite and i was told the doe may have mastitis,so needed a natural way to heal her teat and milk bag
So I have a doe who’s due in two weeks. (This is her 5th kidding but my first.) One of her bags looks hard and feels extra warm. It’s also larger than the other one. Seems sensitive to the touch. Should I do the tea tree oil you suggest? Her bags haven’t filled yet. Not like they do right before kidding? Should I milk the one side?
Ana,
I think the tea tree oil is still a really good idea, If there is something starting there the tea tree can help fight it off. And if for some reason her bags seem a little extra full go ahead and try to milk her. It cant do any harm. Hormones sometimes do funny things. Tea tree maybe lavender and milking may help get the blood flowing and move things around enough to get her healed up and looking right. Good Luck!
Can i use the tee tree oil treatment on a pregnant goat? Shes at beginning of pregnancy?
Yes, you can use tea tree on a pregnant goat. The only precaution I would say is that it can be a bit drying to the skin. be sure to use a carrier oil with it as well.
Hi Beth
One of my first time moms is developing a blue teet. The blue is starting to run up the bag. Is tea tree oil in a carrier oil my best bet?
Thanks
Mark
Mark, Sorry for the slow reply. Tea tree would help with any sort of infection. However, if you are thinking maybe a blood flow issue I would consider using rosemary as it increases the oxygen uptake into the bloodstream. Also Lavender is always helpful for pain and healing!
Best of Luck!
Hi there! I recently purchased a goat (Nubian) that was in milk. She had babies in January, next to the river and the owners said they died. We got her the end of april. about a week and a half ago she started developing plugged ducts and her milk production dropped to half a quart of milk per milking. i researched and found this post about the oils. I started that last tuesday or wednesday (i think). We were applying it 2 times a day and she started to do better. Her production went up to 3/4 quart and her demenor went up. on monday we noticed her milk started going back down. she now has a “leathery” bag with almost dry skin bumps, is walking slowly, and when she goes to lay down she is laying very gingerly. this morning she didn’t want to get up on the stand to be milked, and when we do milk her she lifts her leg up. I didn’t know if you had any suggestions. I was planning on upping the oils to 3 times a day and trying to do an extra milking.
This is an interesting situation. I am sure you may have resolved it by now, but it there warm areas to the touch that feel like maybe an infection? These oils can help with many situations so more frequently certainly cant hurt.
Our oldest goat had twins and one udder was huge and had about a one inch laceration. (Btw, not using caps but that’s all it’s showing)
I had debated doing a treatment with essential oils and la-200. I have a couple of epi-pens, but bambi is big and I worried about it being enough to combat shock, so I decided to go with just the oils, keeping a close watch, and calling the vet if I needed a shot given. I used about a cup olive oil with 5 drops tea tree, 4 drops lavender and 3 drops peppermint, rubbed on twice the first two days. It helped the laceration but the size wasn’t reducing much and it was still a bit hot. I added another drop of tea tree and we did the third day. It reduced some and the heat left. Also the second Twin put on some weight. I increased the tea tree by one more drop (still adding to the same original mixture with only a bit used each time). Finally it shrunk down and started leaking a somewhat clotted looking milk. We stopped treatment and are watching. Udder is still staying smaller and shows leaking. Will probably milk out before re-introducing oils. But they’ve done the trick so far.
Note of importance: the essential oils used should be fairly new (especially the tea tree) in a dark brown or blue container and 100% oil. Your carrier oil should be freshly purchased oil in a can or dark bottle. Buying fresh oils is still cheaper than a vet and using nothing but compresses is potentially preferable to using rancid oils.
Just wanted to add a comment on a successful treatment.
i have a pygmy goat that had a male 2 years ago. Baby in good health; no nursing problems. Her udders are still swelled after all this time. No sign of infection; she us HEALTHY and active. Baby goat was sold at 13 weeks so she is not nursing. I have been giving her sage on and off over the past couple of years. No luck; she still engorged. Advise please.
Karen,
Wow after 2 years she is still lactating? What a producer! However I can see that that would be a problem. This is sort of not common and I have not come across it myself but this is what I would try. Milk the excess off to reduce the engorgement. Then I would use sage, peppermint and oregano essential oils (like 1 drop of the oregano) and 2-3 drops of the others in about a tablespoon of carrier oil (like olive or or other) rub that all over the udder area 1-3 times a day until it starts decreasing. I hope that works. If you can please update as to what happens.
Best of Luck