Mastitis is the most common and economically significant disease in dairy cattle worldwide. Its welfare impacts are severe, yet prevention and prompt treatment can substantially reduce suffering.
Mastitis causes severe acute pain that significantly impairs dairy cow welfare. Clinical mastitis affecting the whole cow, called toxic mastitis, is a life-threatening emergency causing fever, collapse, and without prompt treatment, death within hours. Even non-toxic clinical mastitis causes substantial pain requiring prompt antibiotic treatment and appropriate analgesics. The welfare case for early detection and treatment is strong, as untreated or delayed-treated mastitis causes greater suffering and more severe long-term consequences. Prevention through excellent milking hygiene, housing management, teat scoring, and nutrition reduces incidence and is the most welfare-effective approach. Pain management in mastitis treatment remains inconsistent despite strong evidence that analgesia improves recovery rates and welfare outcomes, representing an ongoing welfare improvement opportunity.