6 Signs of Calf Wellness- Understanding Eye Discharge

You may have heard the saying, “You can tell a lot about someone by looking into their eyes.” Well, much the same is true with our calves!  The eyes can tell us a lot about how they are feeling, and give us indication if there may be another serious condition taking place in their bodies. Include regular observation of the eyes, and note weepy or pussy eyes in your daily health assessments.

Diagnosis

Calves with eye discharge should be more closely examined to determine the cause. 

• Physically restrain the animal. Sedate or use a topical anesthetic if needed.
• Examine in a well-lighted area.
• Determine whether it is a single animal, or multiple animals that are being affected.
• Watery discharges are usually from irritation, dust, ammonia, or upper respiratory tract viruses.
• Yellow, thick pussy discharges are usually from foreign material such as grass seed, chaff, sawdust, or fodder fines.
• Identify if the discharge is from one or both eyes.
  • Discharge from only one eye often means a local inflammation.
  • Discharge from both eyes may indicate a systemic disease or environmental irritants.
  • Discharge accompanied by closed, partly closed, or excessive eyelid movement, indicates pain in the eye from ulceration, a foreign body, or both.
• Inflammation may result in prominent blood vessels, and reddening of the eye.

Common Causes

• Environmental irritants
  • Dust, flies, grass seeds, sawdust, fodder fines.
• Foreign bodies, or trauma
• Pinkeye
  • Most common during the summer.
  • Sudden onset.
  • Excessive flow of tears
  • Animals hold the eye partially closed, rubs the eye, and seek shade.
  • An ulcer develops in the center area of the cornea, and an opaque ring forms around the ulcer.
  • Within 48 hours the entire cornea becomes cloudy.
  • The lining of the eyelids become red with mucus and pus.
  • Eventually the eye ruptures, looses fluid, and the eyeball collapses.
  • May affect one or both eyes.
  • Infected cattle should be isolated and immediately treated according directions given by a licensed veterinarian.
• Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
  • Transmitted tough the air, and can spread quickly through a herd.
  • Causes upper respiratory infection.
  • Most prevalent in fall and winter.
  • In the early stages cattle may develop cloudy corneas that look similar to pink eye.
  • The cloudiness spreads inward from the outer edge of the cornea.
  • No ulceration.
• Cancer Eye
  • Often appears as smooth plaques on the eyeball, and ulcers or horn lesions on the eye lid.
  • Occurs most frequently in cattle with no eye-pigment, and those constantly exposed to bright sunlight.
  • Excessive flow of tears.
  • Growths spread to internal lymph nodes and organs.
  • Early detection is necessary for heating and freezing therapies, and surgical removal.
• Photo Eye (Photosensitization)
  • Hypersensitivity to sunlight after eating certain plants or administration of certain drugs.
  • Cloudy cornea.
  • Sunburn of non-pigmented eyelids, nose, teats, vulva, and areas of the head, body, and legs.
  • Affected cattle that are exposed to sunlight for long lengths of time, may experience blindness and severe skin damage.

Treatment and Prevention

Take the time to reduce the incidence of environmental eye irritants. Implement a fly control program, minimize dust, and avoid aerial dispersal of sawdust and chaff. Doing so will help to reduce the incidence of weepy eyes. Also, work with your veterinarian to establish vaccination and treatment protocols for common eye problems encountered on your farm.

Written by: Mariah Gull, M.S.