Is there an effective, but natural way to treat pink eye in Nubian and Saanan bucks?

Thanks!

-- Kevin R (kreffitt@dark-star.com), February 24, 2002

Answers

Hi Kevin, What do you have on hand, I use a Terramycin ointment that you can purchase at farm supply stores and on the internet from goat supply places, but if your goat has pinkeye, you need to start treating immediately. This can cause your goats eye to ulcerate, and they can go blind. Do you have any antibiotics on hand at all? Tylan 200 can be used, put one or two drops in each eye for at least 5 days, Pencillin can be used the same way. I also will take a bucket out with warm water in it, a few clean rags, and wash each goats face with gentle antibiotic soap, taking care not to get soap in their eyes. I think the drainage on their face can help spread the infection, so I take precautions to stop the spreading, It can spread fast....They have a tendency to rub their faces on things when they have pink eye, it hurts. Keep them out of bright sunlight also. Barbara

-- Barbara (vozarbi@sensible-net.com), February 24, 2002.

In very mild cases and as a comfort measure, cleaning the eyes well with a boric acid solution will work. If the infection progresses at all I'm afraid I usually resort to an ophthalmic antibiotic ointment also.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 24, 2002.

My herd quite freq has pink eye in the summer time, also this winter we have had to treat eyes, we have found some times the goats are sticking hay in their eyes while eating holes in round bales. I give penicillin 4 cc Sub Q (i give all meds subq) for 4 days, i've had goats with solid white eyes that i thought would never see again, it takes 14 days to run it's course, then it's all clear again. Good Luck.

-- Venoma Lee Johnson (Venomalee@aol.com), February 25, 2002.

Table salt is an old remedy--cupping it in your hand and applying it directly on the infected eye. Sounds cruel, but it has worked in my experience.

-- (temporaryme@cs.com), February 27, 2002.

Baking Soda water a few times/day for a few days works.Also have a friend who has lots of goats and swears by CUCUMBER juice.

-- Shelly in WV (shitwhistle69@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Kevin there is as many remedies as their are folks with goats. Anything that changes the PH of the eye will help with symptoms, stop using it and the symptoms come back. 10 days is about what it takes to run its course. I just take vinegar in water and spary it into the eyes, changing the PH will lesson the chance of secondary infection setting in. For goats who are already clouding over, their next step is cataracts, I use the teremycin ointment. Using LA200 on everyone who doesn't yet have it will give you some help, but using antibitotics during the time you have it is only going to further upset the goats rumen. If your goats are on pasture as their soul sorce of nutrition, you have to feed hay or something when they won't go out into the sunshine, because it hurts their eyes. Goats who are blind need water and hay right in front of them. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 27, 2002.

I've used salt with some success. I prefer baby shampoo. One part shampoo to ten parts water. Wash the eye with it 2 or 3 times a day. Make fresh each day, though it usually works in one day. Works on kids, too.

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.