Expert: Karin - 2/27/2011

Question
hi i have a cow with a bad eye its red at both the top an bottom and in the center of the eye is white cloudy grey even looks like it is puss. how an what do i need to treat this i have 3 other cows n their eyes are good

thank-you
kelly

Answer
Hello Kelly,

This sounds like Pink-Eye to me, but it could be something else as well, like a premature onset of Cancereye or she has some foreign body in her eye that's causing the inflammation.  Please see your veterinarian about this immediately, as he/she is the best source of information and advice on this sort of thing.  

If it's pink eye, the spot on the eye will almost always be in the centre.  There are many causes to this condition, but a bacterial agent called Moraxella bovis is the most commonly-involved infectious agent. The tissue around the eye does tend to get swollen and the cornea will ulcer, causing temporary blindness.  It can spread to your other cows as the disease is highly contagious, so you may have to quarantine her away from the others.

There are many different methods of treatment, from injections in the eye with penicillin and topical treatments to the eye to systemic injections under the skin with such medicines as LA200 or Biomycin, Nuflor, or Excede.  From what I know, the eye-injections are more effective than the topical treatments since it has a shorter withdrawal period.  However, since these are cows that obviously/probably not using for milk production or going to sell for beef right away, the best thing I would suggest is the systemic treatment: the good ol' SubQ/IM injection.  Eye injections can be pretty finicky and risky to the cow as you have to get the injection in the right place (under the conjuctiva of the eye), trusting the cow won't jerk her head around on you as you do it (which most usually do).

But if I were you, I would go see your local large-animal veterinarian for suggested methods of treatment that may help her.  Also, have the vet check to make sure it is pinkeye and not something else before you begin treatments.

Another thing: you must wash your hands after each time you've touched anywheres near the eye so you don't spread infection to your other animals.

Good luck with her!

-Karin