Hi, We had a Boer doe kid yesterday morning giving us two nice kids.One doe & 1 buck.I was checking the does teats and noticed that one of her 4 teats is plugged.I tried serveral times to get milk out of it but nothing.Is their something I can do for this or should I just let it be? Thanks Jack Murdock

-- Jack Murdock MO. (jrm@salemnet.com), February 24, 2002

Answers

Jack, plugged as in there is a hole but you can't get anything out of it, or plugged as in it is a blind teat without a hole (orifice)? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 24, 2002.

If there is an orifice but it is plugged, you can flick the end of the plug with your fingernail and it should come out, or wash the end of the teat until the plug softens.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 24, 2002.

Can't be sure doe teat is same as ewe but I had to use a sterilized nail(not a nail but like one) yesterday to unplug one of my ewes. Generally I do nothing or just strip a little and the babies are nursing but this girls' teat(just one of the two) was plug deep and it took two people to do it. Never seen anything like it before. She is nursing quite well today and the whole process was in a sterile condition for her.

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), February 24, 2002.

Jack, Did yo say the doe had 4 teats? Well they are only supposed to have two, so if these are extra teats, they often don't have orfices or don't work properly. I had one that consistently had a plugged teat and it took my dh to force pressure it out, I never could do it. If this is an extra that is small and not fully formed I'd leave it alone the kids won't need all four, that is as long as it doens't swell up and cause problems.

-- Carol in Tx (Carol_in_Tx2001@yahoo.com), February 24, 2002.

There is an orifice.I was able to get about 1/2 drop out of it.It is the larger teat on that side that is plugged.There is a smaller one on that same side that is milking fine.The other two on the other side are fine also. Should we try and soak it in some warm water? I flicked it with my finger but it didn't seem to help. Thanks all. Jack Murdock

-- Jack Murdock MO. (jrm@salemnet.com), February 24, 2002.