Aboutgoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
Experience 17 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Expert: goatlady Date: 7/13/2008 Subject: Goat with possible pink-eye
Question My husband and I are new to goats and recently we bought several. One developed runny eyes, then they began to cloud over. After lots of research, we began treating the eyes with LA-200 (in the eye) and terramycin ointment. We've been doing this for several days. Most of what we've read said pink-eye will run its course in about 2 weeks. In the meantime, do we continue to treat it for this long, continuing with the LA-200 and terramycin or have we done enough to cure it and now just wait for it to get better?
Thanks so much!
We just want to help the goat - I don't think she can even see right now. Will her sight come back?
Michele
Answer Hi Michele,
Her sight may come back if you get it treated properly and quickly. I have personally never seen LA200 work in cases of pink eye. Keep the goat affected in a shady area until her eyes get better-
The treatment for pink eye I use is Tylan200 (not the same as LA200) dripped in the eye ONLY of there is NO ulcer in the eye- This works the best for pink eye of any other antibiotics, usually clears it up in a day or 2 when applied at least twice a day directly into the eye using a syringe with no needle. Pink eye will NOT run it's course, (soremouth (orf) will) but not pink eye and it can get so bad that it can ulcerate and the goat can lose an eye over it. It is HIGHLY contagious as well so wash your hands each time you touch the goats with pink eye. And it spreads from one goat to another via flies.
While early stages of eye ulceration are not visible to the goat producer, a badly ulcerated eye can be diagnosed easily; the colored part of the eye (cornea) looks like it is sticking out of the eyeball on a stem, preventing the goat from fully closing its eye. It is worth repeating that ulcerated eyes may rupture and collapse into the eye socket. If this occurs, the infection will travel throughout the goat's body and will become "systemic." If left untreated under such conditions, the goat can die. To prevent this from happening, any goat with a suspected ulcerated eye should be taken to a vet. The vet can use an immunofluorescence stain test to determine the extent of damage that the ulcer has caused. This is a simple test involving touching the white of the eye above the cornea with an over-sized Q-tip that has been saturated with a special stain. This procedure is preferable to culturing the organism, because it is quicker and less expensive.
If the eye has ulcerated (colored part of the eye has risen outward from the surface of the eyeball), Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Bacitracin Zinc Opthalmic Ointment (Triple Antibiotic Opthalmic Ointment) is the required medication. Although a long name, this is a single medication available through your veterinarian. Buy several tubes and keep them on hand; the tubes contain only 1/4 ounce.
