Keeping an eye on eyes

farmhelp Making farming a little easier

Focusing on Eye Health

By Cheryl Kepes Detecting and treating pink eye

When pink eye strikes a herd, it can be a pain. Not just for the producer tasked with treating the outbreak, but especially for the infected animal. “It is an irritating and painful disease,” Barry Whitworth, DVM, specialist with the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension, said.

SIGNS

The first signs associated with pink eye are discharge and tears running from the animal’s eye. Other indicators of infection include a water stain below the eye, squinting or keeping the eye closed. The next stage of pink eye is inflammation of the eye. “As the disease progresses it is obviously going to get that typical redness, bright red color because the sclera (white of the eye) and the conjunctiva (thin membrane that covers the white of the eyeball and the eyelid) are infected,” Whitworth explained.

The most obvious sign of the disease is the cloudy, hazy, bluish or grayish color of the cornea. Veterinarians say this is when most producers realize their livestock has pink eye. When the animal’s eye starts to show discoloration, the disease has significantly progressed.

If producers catch pink eye in its beginning stages, then the easier it is to successfully treat it.

“If you can treat early most of the time you are not going to have any trouble with it,” Whitworth added.

CAUSES

Conjunctivitis commonly known as pink eye, is caused by bacteria called Moraxella Bovis.

The bacteria are a common inhabitant of the eye. “We think something has to happen to that eye that lowers the immunity and that gives the Moraxella Bovis a chance to take a hold in that eye and start an infection,” Whitworth explained.

If a different virus is already infecting animals within the herd, then producers may see pink eye spread rapidly through the herd. However, typically pink eye cases are isolated to a few animals.

Flies are another culprit in the spread of pink eye. When flies feed near an animal’s eye, it can pick up the Moraxella Bovis bacteria and spread it to other animals.

TREATMENT

Dr. Whitworth recommends examining the eye before taking any other action. Many times, a grass seed, thorn or other foreign body gets lodged in the animal’s eye. The foreign body in the eye creates irritation which can lower immunity and trigger the infection.

The exam should include prying open the upper eyelid, lower eyelid and the third eyelid to look for a foreign body. Producers may want to use a large cotton tip applicator to swab under the eyelids in order to remove anything that should not be there.

what do you say?

How do you provide shade for your livestock?

“Shade is no problem on this farm, which is half pasture and half woods. The pastures have some mature trees scattered throughout and some cedars by a pond that also provides shade.”

Danny Abshier Washington County, Ark.

“Trees. We have a wooded area in our pasture that our cattle have access to.”

Dori Davenport Benton County, Ark.

“With our cattle, when it’s super-hot, we move them to pasture with a wooded area. The ponds are there in the woods, too.”

Clay Osbon Madison County, Ark.

“We make sure to have an adequate amount timber in our pastures. It’s more cost effective than to invest in lean-tos or other structures.”

Hannah Walker Baxter County, Ark.

farmhelp

Producers need to keep forceps or tweezers handy in case it is necessary to remove the foreign body. In some situations, veterinarians numb the eye with eye drops prior to an exam and treatment. Most cases of pink eye are treated with injectable antibiotics, tetracycline and Draxxin are mostly commonly used. A patch placed over the infected eye helps to protect it from dust and sun.

In addition, producers will want to consider administering a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine to ease the animal’s pain. “I think we forget that this is a painful disease,” Whitworth added. “It is really important that we give those cows some relief with some type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. I think that is important.”

If pink eye is left untreated, there a chance it will eventually clear up on its own. However, severe cases result in permanent damage to the cornea, leaving it scarred and white. “I like to tell people it is like putting on a pair of glasses and painting a while spot on those glasses and see how well you can see after that,” Whitworth shared.

In the most extreme cases, the cornea ruptures and the internal components of the eye protrude through the ruptured cornea. This leads to blindness in the damaged eye.

Veterinarians recommend isolating the animal or animals with pink eye from the rest of the herd until the infection is gone. This will reduce the spread of the disease.

www.powellfeedstores.com

jh

Berryville • 344 Hwy. 21 North 870-423-4245 Flippin • 9095 Hwy. 62 East 870-453-4400 Green Forest • 181 West Main 870-438-5184 Harrison • 502 Hwy 62/65 N. 870-741-0855 Huntsville • 304 Labarge Ave. 479-738-6814 Imboden • 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-2644 Jasper • 402 E. Court Street 870-446-5381 Salem • 115 Mill Street 870-895-3249 Siloam Springs • 1629 East Main 479-524-3511 Yellville • 801 Hwy. 62 West 870-449-4966 Proud Supporter of Future Generations of Ag Business through the Future Farmers of AmericaHarrison 502 Hwy 62-65 N. 870-741-9084 Green Forest 181 W. Main St. 870-438-5184 Mtn. Home 1312 E. 9th St. 870-425-5530 Siloam Springs 1629 E. Main 479-524-3511 Flippin 9095 Hwy. 62 E. 870-453-4400 Huntsville 304 Labarge Ave. 479-738-6814 Berryville 344 Hwy. 21 N. 870-423-4245 Yellville 801 Hwy. 62 W. 870-449-4966 Lincoln 700 W. Hwy 62 479-824-3291

www.powellfeedstores.com

Imboden 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-2644

To learn more about our products and locations, visit www.powellfeedstores.com Learn More About Our Products And Locations By Visiting www.powellfeedstores.com

Harrison Be sure to like our Powell Feed & Milling Co. Inc. Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, coupons, giveaways, and MUCH MORE! Be sure to like our Powell Feed & Milling Co. Inc. Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, coupons, giveaways, & MUCH MORE!

502 Hwy 62-65 N. 870-741-9084 Green Forest 181 W. Main St. 870-438-5184 Mtn. Home 1312 E. 9th St. 870-425-5530 Siloam Springs 1629 E. Main 479-524-3511 Flippin 9095 Hwy. 62 E. 870-453-4400 Huntsville 304 Labarge Ave. 479-738-6814 Berryville 344 Hwy. 21 N. 870-423-4245 Yellville 801 Hwy. 62 W. 870-449-4966 Lincoln 700 W. Hwy 62 479-824-3291

To learn more about our products and locations, visit www.powellfeedstores.com Learn More About Our Products And Locations By Visiting www.powellfeedstores.com Be sure to like our Powell Feed & Milling Co. Inc. Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, coupons, giveaways, and MUCH MORE! Be sure to like our Powell Feed & Milling Co. Inc. Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, coupons, giveaways, & MUCH MORE!

Visit our website to fi nd a Powell location near you!!Imboden 5564 Hwy 63 East 870-869-2644

NORTH ARKANSAS LIVESTOCK AUCTION, INC.

Call 870-438-6915 For Sale Information & For Special Sales For on Farm Appraisal or Hauling Contact One of the Following:

“We Know Cattle, and we Know the Markets” Kirk Powell (870) 654-2205 • Kooper Logan (870) 654-3911

Community Owned and Operated with Consistency, Uniformity, and Convenience

• Online Auctions with bidding • Hay and Water pens • On Farm Appraisals • Free Parking • Hauling and Delivery • Professional staff and services

• Cattle sorted by size, weight, type • Receiving day before and day of

PREVENTION

Dr. Whitworth advises producers to make sure their herds are current on their vaccinations. Proper nutrition also plays a role in prevention. In addition, Vitamin A serves as a critical supplement due to its importance in producing healthy epithelial tissue.

Keeping flies to a minimum is another prevention measure. In areas where tall, fescue seed heads are present, cut those areas to minimize the chance of a fescue seed scraping or getting caught in an animal’s eye. Lastly, offer animals spaces with shade that are free of dust and debris.

Restaurant on Premises

Auctions on Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Special auctions to be announced.

304 West Main Street • Green Forest, AR 72638 Offi ce (870) 438-6915 • Fax (870) 438-5223

www.northarkansaslivestock.com