we got 3 goats with pink eye. we got some drops from the vet that SEEM to work but very expensive. Does any one know if it is ok to use pink eye medication for cows? there is a spray and a injectable vaccinee to prevent others from catching it. should we or could we use the med.s for cows on our goats?

-- Marie (jolly_old_goat@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002

Answers

Hi Marie, I prefer the Terramycin ointment (small tube, about $8 typically) for pinkeye cuz it's easy to pull back the lower eyelid and run a "line" of ointment into the lower lid a couple times a day for several days, and it stays put in the eye, doing it's job. It's basically a form of Oxytetracycline, same as LA200 or Biomycin (the non-sting version) antibiotic. Some folks just use the injectable Oxytet to squirt in the eye with a syringe without the needle, but I'd think that would be a bit harder to do...that's why I prefer the ointment form. I've been told the "puffer" products aren't good, and in fact are harmful, and I'm not familiar with the injectable vaccines. Just one opinion.. :) patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak visit our message board! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats moderator

-- Patty Putnam (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 19, 2002.

Never had had pink eye in my goats ( keeping fingers crossed here) but have used the ointment for other reasons. It's easy to use and if you don't think you actually got the ointment into the eyes wipe a little around the eye opening and it should melt sort of and go into the eye too. Kind of like giving eye drops to children....if they keep their eyes closed you can run the drop over the eyes and when they open them enough will fall in. No sense fighting with children or goats over this. I have also actually heard of putting injectable penicillin in a dropper into the eye but I would check this out again with a vet. Good Luck !!!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), January 19, 2002.

I agree that the puffers do not seem very effective with a full blown case. I have used it to treat eyes at the first sign, especially if another goat nearby has a case of it. LA200 works as an injectable. Or use the other form of the same drug mentioned in previous post. When we had a particularly bad case of it, we used the injectable and an ointment.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Hearsay evidence says flush eyes with cheap red wine. Dairygoat forum might have some answers.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 19, 2002.

You can also use collidal silver drops. Much cheaper, and safe for kids(human) as well. I finally got all the components to make my own but haven't assembled the generator part. Maybe this week. Won't do me much good to have the supplies if I don't have ready-made solution when I need it!

-- Jody (ruready@cin.net), January 19, 2002.

Try baking soda water,cheap,effective and SAFE!We use an old bottle w/adjustable opening(ie.mustard or the like)Put a few T.soda in pt.of luke warm water.Use a few times/day.Stings a bit but is natural.Another friend told me she uses CUCUMBER JUICE,never tried it myself but do trust her judgement.Good luck.Don't forget to wash your hands,equipment etc.after each treatment.

-- shelly in WV (shitwhistle69@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

A bottle of LA 200 at the feed store is 18 or so dollars. I use 5cc per 100 pounds, every 3 days, till pinkeye is gone. It is usually gone in a day or 2. Even the worst bluesh eyes just clear up. My goats got it from the cows next door a few years ago. I give them the shot in the butt, and it does make them sore, but it works.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 19, 2002.

For future reference:

Joel Salatin has a few paragraphs in his SALAD BAR BEEF book about pink eye and kelp. Did a few experiments with kelp as a mineral mix compared to manufactured minerals. Never had any pinkeye, even in animals sharing a fenceline with infected animals.

I took his advice years ago and used seakelp as my only mineral source for all manner of critters on my farm. Never had one single case of pinkeye, or much of anything else for that matter.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

No the vaccine for cattle is for cattle pinkeye only. All the treatments, terremycin ointments, LA 200 or tetracycline drops, port wine, and all the others keep infection at bay by changing the ph in the eye. Stop using it and you have it right back, so keep it up awhile. There is a new gentomycin eye spray that is in jefferslivestock.com lots of folks say it is wonderful, but like all the others, stop using it and the symptoms come right back. We haven't had pinkeye in awhile, I simply use a weak vinegar/water mix in a spray bottle. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 19, 2002.