Can puppies still nurse when the mother has mastitis?

Absolutely. Puppies can continue nursing from their mother even if she has mastitis, as long as the infection is treated promptly and appropriately. Mastitis occurs when bacteria enters one or both of a mother dog's mammary glands and leads to inflammation, swelling, and pain. If it isn't treated quickly with antibiotics some cases can become very serious—so it's important to seek veterinary care right away if you suspect your mother dog might have mastitis.

Once the infection has been identified and an appropriate course of treatment commenced, puppies can still nurse safely from their mom while she receives treatment for her mastitis—provided that the infection is not too severe and no ulcers are present in either of her nipples. In more advanced infections where ulcers are present, puppies should be bottle fed with special formula made just for puppies until mom's condition is improved enough to start nursing again without putting either herself or the babies at risk.

Finally, it's important for puppy owners whose moms have mastitis to keep a close eye on their little ones after they've done nursing sessions during this time period; since puppies are especially vulnerable when exposed to an infected environment, checking them periodically for signs of any illness or physical discomfort is always recommended in these situations!