The Main Conditions That Involve the Mammary Gland Indirectly Are Passive Transfer of Red Blood Cell Agglutinating Antibodies by the Ingestion of Colostrum (Mare) and Hypocalcemia Caused by the Transient Drain of Calcium That Occurs with Initiation of Lactation (Dairy Cattle) or During the Perinatal Period (Dog)
An immunological disease associated with the mammary gland involves the transfer of red blood cell agglutinating antibodies to the fetus through the milk. The situation is most common in the horse, in which fetal red blood cells (RBCs) pass into the maternal system and elicit antibody formation against the fetal RBCs.
These antibodies tend to be concentrated in the colostrum along with other immunoglobulins. At birth the foal is able to absorb the RBC agglutinating antibodies (as well as other beneficial immunoglobulins) for up to 48 hours. Foals often go into a hemolytic crisis between 24 and 48 hours after delivery and can die unless given vigorous therapy, including blood transfusions. If fetal RBC antibody formation is suspected in a mare, the disease can be handled by muzzling the foal at birth through 48 hours and feeding with colostrum saved (frozen) from other preparturient mares. A similar condition has been reported in kittens born to queens sensitized by a previous litter with dissimilar blood type.A disease associated with the mammary gland and life threatening to the dam is hypocalcemia. At parturition the acceleration of lactogenesis causes a great increase in the movement of calcium from the blood into the milk. Both cows and dogs are particularly susceptible, with some dams unable to respond immediately to the calcium drain from the blood by the mobilization of calcium. As a result, the animals lose their ability to maintain normal muscle activity, are often unable to stand, and become prostrate with the appearance of being comatose. The syndrome occurs in cows at parturition and in dogs during the last weeks of pregnancy or the first few weeks postpartum, when lactation reaches its peak. Inappropriate prenatal nutrition, often with calcium supplementation, sets bitches up for this condition by inhibiting normal parathyroid gland development, necessary to meet the demands for mobilization of calcium by lactation. The systemic administration of calcium to hypocalcemic cows often produces a dramatic recovery in K) to 20 minutes.