Heifer with pink eye?

DamnearaFarm · #1 03/20/14, 10:14 AM

Talk to me about long range effect.....
I have been offered a fantastic deal (totally bartered, too....she wants my now two month old mouflon ram lamb, a Muscovy for eating and some seedlings...possibly some duck eggs for eating or a few baby ducks once they're hatched. That's it) on a yearling red/dun (not sure which yet...looks red to me but owner says she can see a line on her back. Regardless...not an issue with me) dexter heifer.
The entire herd had pink eye this past summer and basically was untreated....every cow in the herd has spots in their eyes. This little girl has a spot in one eye and the other is clouded. I figure she's blind in that one but I will know more once I lay hands on her. Calm girl for not being handled...quiet and seems healthy other than the pink eye issue.
I want her for a milk cow and to raise her calves for meat (males) or to sell (females).
She would be pastured in a smaller area and as soon as she gets here I intend to stall her until I can get familiar with her and her with me. I also plan on treating her for pink eye....if it will help, this late in the game.
Thoughts?

G. Seddon · #2 03/20/14, 11:01 AM

There is lots of info on the Internet about pinkeye in cattle and I myself have posted some of it on this board. Here's one article that references treated vs. untreated:

http://mcdowell.ces.ncsu.edu/Treatme...eye+in+Cattle/

What a shame that people don't care enough to treat their cattle for a problem like that. I realize that color or registration status may not matter to you with this heifer, but you should insist on at least having her tested for PHA so that she does not pass this on to any future calves. If you get her, I hope you'll do right by her and that she can become a good little family cow for you! Please let us know what happens, will you?

DamnearaFarm · #3 03/20/14, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the link

It basically reiterated everything else I've read....but nothing speaks to the cow's life AFTER pink eye....you know, whether treatment after the fact helps, if it causes any long term issues (other than possible blindness) in either the cow or any resulting calves.
She um....treated....by putting cod liver oil in their eyes. She read/was told pinkeye was a nutritional deficiency caused by a lack of vitamin A....that cows that eat mostly hay and no grass get it. And that cod liver oil is high in vitamin A so......

Reading up on PHA, thanks.

notwyse · #4 03/20/14, 01:33 PM

A spot could indicate a corneal ulcer. May be something that can be treated now and resolved. The clowdy eye might improve some.. But if she has had for awhile think cataract.

DamnearaFarm · #5 03/20/14, 01:37 PM

But wouldn't the spot more likely be pink eye, since ALL the cows in the herd had pink eye too and all of them have the spots?

G. Seddon · #6 03/20/14, 01:40 PM

You might want to talk to your vet about treating after the fact and what possible long-term effects there may be.

Cod liver oil in the eye? Eating hay and no grass is a contributing factor? Yikes!

Here's some info that might be helplful if you decide to get this animal....won't hurt to read it (Buyer's Checklist):

http://dextercattle.org/adca_buyers_check_list.html

And here's the info on PHA (I finally found it under "Articles" on the ADCA website:

http://dextercattle.org/adca/adca_article_pha.html

DamnearaFarm · #7 03/20/14, 09:33 PM

Thanks again

randiliana · #8 03/21/14, 03:18 PM

OK, so, we've had a few cows over the years who have had eye damage from pinkeye. Other than the fact that they may not be able to see 100% they have gone on to be productive animals, and have perfectly healthy calves.

DamnearaFarm · #9 03/21/14, 09:23 PM

Thank you!

I got the heifer home today and can see that the clouded eye is indeed bulging.

G. Seddon · #10 03/22/14, 07:49 AM

Sorry to hear that, but hope she's able to see and get around okay.

Here's the article from VA Tech with photos of various stages of pinkeye; you may already have seen this article.

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/400/400-750/400-750.html

Might be worthwhile to pass it along to the people with the entire pinkeye herd?

DamnearaFarm · #11 03/22/14, 05:52 PM

I hadn't seen the pictures/stages like that before, thank you.

Yeah.....wouldn't do any good to pass the link on...they do no meds, dewormers, minerals, vaccinations or feed other than hay/grass.