Our bitch had pups 4 days ago (2nd litter). Last time, she has one teat that is a 'dummy'. looks like a teat but did not work as such.

Today she seemed off colour and her temp was up to 38.9 (later rising to 39.6), so I took her straight to the vets and was seen by a lady who has had pups herself. It appears this 'dummy' teat and surrounding area has become swollen/hard/hot. She has been given antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and I have been advised to do hot/cold poutlice. The rest of the teats are fine and not affected. My bitch is eating and drinking when I take it to her, and is feeding the pups (almost constantly). I am a vet nurse but I do understand that us vets and VN's don't know the most about breeding.

I would value any thoughts or experiences on this. I am so worried about the bitch as she is my baby. Pups are doing absolutely fine.

You will probably find this will settle in a couple of days, sometimes when the main milk comes in at 3/4 days the glands all become really full and if this teat has no "exit" holes then the milk is unable to escape, it should be reabsorbed into the body but there is a small possibility that it may turn into an abcess so keep a careful watch as you are doing.

Sounds like this teat is blocked...it can also happen with cows aswell, although easier to detect in a cow than a bitch...

My bitch had Mastitis in my most recent litter.

All the usual hot and cold compresses when congestion started failed to work, and there was no drawing anything off (unlike a bad infected case some years ago).

She was put on AB;s and the gland burst and lots of pus came out the hole.  I cleaned with warm saltwater and it healed very quickly and the gland shrank down within days.

She carried on feeding pups, and as from the previous experience and advice from a goat breeding locum vet, the pups would not touch the infected teat.

I managed to stave off infection and disperse congestion in one or two over the years by due diligence with the alternating compresses on the hour or more and several times a night.