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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #23: Bovine Mastitis

Cattle veterinary case - Easy - March 26, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. A recently calved dairy cow shows reduced milk yield from one quarter.
  2. The affected quarter is swollen, warm, and painful on palpation.
  3. Milk from that quarter appears watery with clots.
  4. The cow is mildly febrile and resents udder examination.
  5. California Mastitis Test results are strongly positive in the affected quarter.
  6. Inflammation and infection of the mammary gland cause abnormal milk and udder pain in lactating cows.

Diagnosis

Bovine Mastitis

This case is most consistent with Bovine Mastitis because the cow has quarter swelling, painful udder inflammation, abnormal milk, and a positive mastitis test. The most important clues are the local udder changes and altered milk appearance, which strongly support mammary gland infection.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cattle case supports the provided diagnosis, Bovine Mastitis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: A recently calved dairy cow shows reduced milk yield from one quarter.
  2. Clue 2: The affected quarter is swollen, warm, and painful on palpation.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: Milk from that quarter appears watery with clots.
  2. Clue 4: The cow is mildly febrile and resents udder examination.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: California Mastitis Test results are strongly positive in the affected quarter.
  2. Clue 6: Inflammation and infection of the mammary gland cause abnormal milk and udder pain in lactating cows.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cattle case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Bovine Mastitis?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Bovine Mastitis?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.