Sometimes it is tempting to only blog about the good things happening on our farm, but the fact is, that we have problems too. I have just been reminded that I don't know nearly as much about raising goats as I sometimes think I do. I am currently dealing with my first (and hopefully only) case of staph mastitis. Shortly after I bought Mabel, she developed a knot in one teat that soon made milking impossible, and that side dried up. Twice when she has kidded the vet has opened the teat surgically. It would stay open for a week or two, then gradually close again as that half of her udder dried up. I thought this was scar tissue from an injury received at her former home, as did our vet, but last month I noticed that side of her udder swelling suspiciously. When I felt it, I knew something was drastically wrong. It was hard, with round lumps- not at all normal. It was not hot, so I hoped it wasn't mastitis, but some research and talking...