“I was very nervous. I noticed she didn’t have any milk and I knew something was very wrong,” recalls Cindy, a licensed breeder. For many years, Cindy has been a breeder, but in 2017, three-year-old Bella, one of her Lab moms, developed mastitis after giving birth. “She was a first time mom, and it was a long labor. I’ve seen mastitis in dogs before, but nothing like this. She had a lot of drainage and her breasts felt very hot and hard,” she says.

It took 36 hours for Bella’s milk to come in. “I was bottle and tube feeding her puppies. I had another new mom who was also nursing so I had her nurse some of Bella’s puppies as well,” she recalls. But even after her milk came in, the mastitis didn’t go away. Cindy took Bella to her veterinarian where she was told to try three different rounds of antibiotics. But none of them worked. “I didn’t know what else to do. I felt like I was at a dead end. I had to try something,” she recalls.

She then called Revival and talked to Dr. Bramlage, Revival’s former Director of Veterinary Services. “He suggested calling my vet for a prescription of sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim or a penicillin injection with clindamycin. He told me to inject oxytocin three times a day. When I called my veterinarian and told him this is what Dr. Bramlage suggested, my vet told me, ‘If Dr. B said to do it, then do it!'” she says.

Within two days after following Dr. B’s advice, Cindy began to notice a difference. “Bella now has normal nursing mom breasts. She has plenty of milk. I know how bad Bella must have felt going through all this, but throughout it all she remained an excellent mother caring for her puppies,” Cindy recalls.

When it comes time to breed Bella again, Cindy already has her prevention plan in place. “I will start her on an antibiotic before whelping and monitor her closely to ensure this doesn’t happen again. If I do ever have any other problems, Revival will be my first call. Dr. B won’t steer you wrong,” she says.

Share Your Pet Care Victory With Us

You strive to raise healthy and happy pets. You love the feeling of holding that newborn puppy and seeing the joy a new pet brings to a child’s face. At Revival we want to celebrate these wins because we understand that keeping pets healthy comes with challenges.

In our series, Pet Care Victories, we are highlighting YOU and your pet care wins! We know that even the best of us sometimes struggle with the health of our animals. And while at that time it can feel frustrating and devastating, it’s important to remember you are not alone. When we share our knowledge and passion with each other, we can all be on the winning team.

Want help solving tough pet health problems? Call one of our Pet Care Pros today at 800.786.4751.