UDDER TROUBLES 



255 



Udder Troubles. After the lamb is born, if the shepherd does 

 not give close attention to the ewe's udder serious disorders may 

 gain considerable headway before they are discovered. The udder 

 may become very much inflamed and so sore that the ewe refuses 

 to allow the lamb to suck. This condition, known as garget, may 

 be brought on by bruises, colds, chills, lying on wet ground, and 

 inability of the lamb to take enough of the milk. 



As soon as the trouble is discovered the udder should be thor- 

 oughly milked out, and if the swollen part is feverish it should be 

 reduced by the applica- 

 tion of hot compacts 

 wet with a solution of a 

 tablespoonful of equal 

 parts of lead acetate, 

 zinc sulfate and boric 

 acid in a quart of water. 

 Keep the compacts in 

 place all the time by 

 placing over the udder 

 an apron which can be 

 held in position by at- 

 taching it to a harness 

 fitted to the body of the 

 ewe (Pig. 172). 



In case the swollen part is not feverish it can be reduced by 

 rubbing twice a day with tincture of iodine until the swelling 

 begins to subside. Thereafter one application daily is sufficient 

 until the treatment can be discontinued. This treatment is also 

 good for feverish, swollen udders. Since tincture of iodine is rather 

 expensive, it woi^ld not be recommended were it not powerful in re- 

 ducing inflammation. Should pus form, an opening should be 

 made in the udder to permit drainage and the diseased part should 

 be thoroughly disinfected once a day with a one per cent carbolic acid 

 solution or some other effective antiseptic wash. If mortification 

 sets in the discolored portion should be kept painted with iodine. 



Whether or not garget is contagious seems to depend on whether 

 it results from bruises and colds or from erysipelas. If due to the 

 latter, the disease may spread very rapidly. Since it is difficult to 

 distinguish one form of garget from the other it is best to isolate 

 all ewes whose udders are affected. It is also well to wash the udders 



Fio. 172. An apron over the udder to keep compact 

 in place. 



