Eye Problem

[Feathers-N-Fur]

An 8 month old doe started squinting in one eye a few days ago. I've see different goats do this before and it has always cleared up in a few days. Tonight I went down to check everyone and it looks like her eye is clouded over. I haven't seen that before. A $500+ vet bill is not a possibility for a $50 goat. I thought of trying her on Biomiacin in case it is an infection of some type. Any other suggestions?

[pookshollow]

It could be pinkeye - oxytetracyline dripped into the eye is very effective. Easiest way to do it is pull some up into a syringe, take the needle off (!) and use the syringe to put it in her eye.

Systemic antibiotics aren't helpful - they don't get into the eye very well.

[Chaty]

I put drops of Biomycin in the eye also for at least 3 to 4 days. Also if you dont have that you can use triple antibiotic and smear it in the eye or place on the eyelid and it melts into the eye. Me personally use the Biomycin. Yep it sounds like pinkeye to me also and put here in somewhere that is shady as the sun hurts the eye. It is contagious so watch for it in your herd also.

[copperpennykids]

OW! We never put Biomyicin in the eye. It burns like crazy.

If it is an infection, they get two to three days of Biomyicin SubQ.

They get either Tomorrow drops in their eye, or Neosporin ointment until the eye clears. That's it.

[fishhead]

Some people treat pinkeye by blowing some table salt into the eye. I'm sure it stings a while but probably no worse than some antibiotics.

[copperpennykids]

Originally Posted by fishhead

Some people treat pinkeye by blowing some table salt into the eye. I'm sure it stings a while but probably no worse than some antibiotics.

Again, OWW! If you want to use a saline solution to wash out the eye, then boil some water, add some salt and let it cool. Then put the saline solution in the goats' eye.

Honestly folks, you can cure an eye infection/pink eye without causing your goat pain and possibly further damage - biomyicin and salt in sensitive membranes in the eye is just not necessary. A tube of Today (the stuff used for mastitis) is inexpensive and gentle and effective. Comes out liquid form too and you could do 5 or 6 goats for at least 5 days (or more if you are good at getting only two drops out at a time).

[LaManchaPaul]

A Mexican rancher helped me with the cloudy-matted eye. He cut a lemon (very green lime from the Mexican store - he calls lemón) into halves. He squeezed one halve into both eyes and then rubbed the lime's inside husk onto the matted eye. He returned in the afternoon and did it again.

Next day she was clear eyed.

It returned some months later so I use the same method. It doesn't seem to burn the eyes and it works for us.
Paul

[Cyngbaeld]

An oral dose of cod liver oil will usually clear it up. You should give it to all your goats. Pink eye is contagious, is spread by flies and is a symptom of vit A deficiency.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

An oral dose of cod liver oil will usually clear it up. You should give it to all your goats. Pink eye is contagious, is spread by flies and is a symptom of vit A deficiency.

Interesting...how much in a dose?

[Cyngbaeld]

About 5 cc for a regular sized goat.

[Feathers-N-Fur]

So I got some Oxytetracycline and squirted about 1 cc in her eye, some rolled out of course. I did the same tonight. How long will it take to start to see improvements? If anything, I think she looks worse tonight, 24 hours later. Interestingly, she isn't squinting anymore since it clouded over, but I do believe she still sees out of it.
To make the situation worse, I've only had her about 3 weeks and she is finally to the point of letting me pet her while she eats, so now I have to catch her daily and mess with her eye. Wrong direction I think for trying to make friends. I moved her and her sister to a dog run so I wouldn't have to chase her around the pasture.

[Chaty]

I would also give her a shot also for bout 5 days. That is what my vet did with the cow that had pinkeye. He said when it dont go away it can be Chlymidia in the system and it needs to be treated also.

[cathleenc]

Originally Posted by Chaty

I would also give her a shot also for bout 5 days. That is what my vet did with the cow that had pinkeye. He said when it dont go away it can be Chlymidia in the system and it needs to be treated also.

Chlmydia is a sexually transmitted disease that CAN spread to humans, including human eyes. Ask me. I spent maybe 9 months with a chlmydia infection that did not respond to any medications that I picked up from a sick stray cat.

[Karenrbw]

We had a doe that started squinting and then her eye clouded over and matted closed. I bought a puffer at the farm store (NFZ Nitrofurazone Pink-Eye Puffer) and started treating it twice a day. She also got antibiotics (combi-pen or oxytetracycline - can't remember) and in a couple of days it was clearing up and in a week or so she was as good as new.

[Feathers-N-Fur]

Anyone know the dosage for Oxytetracycline, or should I use Biomiacine for the injection?

[fishhead]

If I need to catch one of my boys several times for shots I put a dog collar on them the first time I catch them. A cracker afterwards makes them forget all about it.

[Feathers-N-Fur]

I have bee putting the meds in her eye for 7 days and giving it SQ as well for 5 days. Her eye is looking better. There hasn't been any discharge for a while, but it is still clouded over, but better than it was. I believe she still sees out of it. Should I continue giving her the Oxytetrcycline, or stop and see what happens?

I saw my FIL over the weekend and ask him how he treats pink eye in his sheep and he said he puts a powder in the eye then a "shut eye" patch over it, but I didn't see the patch at the farm store. Is this something that is still done? Just curious.

Thanks all.