I've searched the archives & read all about how to treat pink eye, but no one seems to describe what pink eye looks like. I've searched on the web, but same thing... all about treatment and not about diagnosis. I had a doe with eye drainage a week ago. Applied triple antibiotic ointment for a few days and it cleared up. She had it in both eyes so I though it was irritation from something. Now I have 4 goats with it! Two pregnant does, a 9 month old doe, and a 2 week old kid!! Some of them have it in one eye and some have it in both. The discharge definately looks like an infection- yellowish crusties around eyes. Does this sound like pink eye? (This may sound dumb, but their eyes aren't pink...) Maybe I've caught this early? I've read about pink eye causing cloudy corneas and blindness... mine don't have any of these symptoms... yet.

Also, I've read that LA 200 (or other tetracycline) shouldn't be used in pregnant does. Does this include as drops in the eyes? What is safe to use on a 2 wk old kid??? I work at a vet's office (dog & cat vet), so I can easily get the tetra. oint. Thanks everyone!

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), February 20, 2002

Answers

The old rule of thumb is that bacterial infection scause crusting and viral infections are more watery. I'd like to hear what your Vet boss thinks on this.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

Yellow, goopy, then crusty eyes goes along with upper respiratory problems in goats, and also can be chlymydia. If you have an abortion now you will have your diagnosis. Pinkeye is really just that, wet weeping clear fluid, the under the eyelid is swollen and blood red, the whites of the eye are pink. Let it go, and let secondary infection set in the eye can ulcerate. I doubt the pinkeye diagnosis because of the 2 week old.

Tetracycline not being used in pregnant stock is one of those people stories. Women should not use tetracycline during pregnancy because it can cause discolored bones and teeth, whether these discolored places are actually weakened, haven't a clue. Obviously you wouldn't use any antibiotic without really needing to anyway, and especially in a pergnant doe. Using it in the eye is not going to effect the kids, since it will not enter the blood stream.

I would actually put them on injections of Tylan 200, not LA200, since it is more help if this is chylymdia and won't hurt if it is not, and/or is mycoplasma, which could also present with swollen knees in the next few days. Symptoms of all pinkeye continue for 10 days, though we have had mycoplasma pinkeye, which hung on for weeks.

Start taking temps and really listen to them breathing. Tylan will also help if this is upper respiratory. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 20, 2002.

Well their temps are all normal and so is their respiration so far. I've been flushing/wiping them out with saline and started them on tetracyline drops (in the eye). One of the pregnant does is due in a week and the other is due in 3 weeks. Thanks for your help.... I'll give an update in a few days or so.

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), February 20, 2002.

BC, my boss (small animal vet) says that bacterias are typically cloudy runny fluid which causes crustiness, and viruses are typically clear runny fluid, however that viruses can take many forms and most fluids typically become crusty anyway. So I guess as a general rule you are right, but as with most things there are exceptions. :o)

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), February 22, 2002.