What to Do If a Cow Has Mastitis

Antibiotic therapy continues to play an important role in the control of mastitis in dairy cows. Lactational therapy is effective against Streptococcus agalactiae but less successful against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and other causes of mastitis.

How do you treat mastitis in cows?

There are two options: intramammary antibiotics, the classic mastitis tube and systemic antibiotics given by the intramuscular or subcutaneous route. Intramammary antibiotics should be the first-line treatment for cows with mild uncomplicated mastitis in a single quarter.

Is mastitis curable in cows?

Common sense and individual herd history should determine the course of therapy for mild clinical mastitis cases in dairy herds. Use of approved commercial intramammary infusions is the best option. The foundation of success is bacteriologic cure but will be more practically based on return to normal milk.