Silage eye

jimini0

Bloody Never knew it existed until this morning. Cow had 2 very cloudy eyes. She is half blind. Got the vet out he gave 2 injections into each eye lid and another in the neck.
He was rushing off to a funeral down the country so didn't say much.
Basically said silage eye, these injections will sort her.
Tried ringing him earlier to get him to explain things but phone off
What exactly is the procedure afterwards?

tellmeabit

Injection into eyelid should cure it once off. Have had it from bales a bit maybe 2 years ago. was advised to open the bale the nite before feeding it to animals. Was also given a mix, will check if have it written into diary, that could spray into eye or under eye lid when spotting it. Found that some cow that weren't cleared of it weaped for a good bit over summer after. Is it just one animal? Others might follow same so maybe be usefull to get a dose for a few or them. You can get tubes also but bit more expensive and the mix I got was probably quicker to cure it and easier to administer when giving them meal just squirt couple mls into eye.

jimini0

tellmeabit wrote: »

Injection into eyelid should cure it once off. Have had it from bales a bit maybe 2 years ago. was advised to open the bale the nite before feeding it to animals. Was also given a mix, will check if have it written into diary, that could spray into eye or under eye lid when spotting it. Found that some cow that weren't cleared of it weaped for a good bit over summer after. Is it just one animal? Others might follow same so maybe be usefull to get a dose for a few or them. You can get tubes also but bit more expensive and the mix I got was probably quicker to cure it and easier to administer when giving them meal just squirt couple mls into eye.

I only have 2 cows at present. The other one seems fine will be keeping close eye on them. She is eating and drinking so that doesn't worry me but the blindness does. I don't mind the expence at all.

Who2

A wee squirt of a dry cow tube in the eye usually works either.

greysides

Tubes will only work early on as the infection goes deep very quick. Then injections are the answer. It's the same bacteria that causes meningitis and while it's unusual to see both together its worth bearing in mind.

Farmer

In my experience, don't ever feed nuts on top of silage. The cattle follow them right down to the concrete, burying their heads in the silage and making the eye contact that does the damage

jimini0

Is it mouldy silage that causes it? One or two bales had mould on the outside but I always peeled away as much of the mould as possible before feeding.
So the sight will come back after a few days?

tellmeabit

Depends how bad it is. But injection will set her right. Keep an eye on her.(no pun intended) I would saw can be very sore.as with most things the earlier you catch it the better.

greysides

It's caused by a bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, a soil bourne microbe, which likes the low oxygen environment often present in wrapped silage bales. Mould likes the same set up so although it isn't responsible its presence is a warning to beware. Pit silage isn't immune but tends to be better preserved.

greysides

Given time, most eyes will heal despite how they look. Rupture of an ulcerated cornea is rare. The visual changes take time to revert to normal but a less swollen peri-ocular area and absence of tears is a sign treatment has worked.

f140

I always take the plastic off the bales the day before feeding them. This doesn't cause the problem then I think?

sonnybill

f140 wrote: »

I always take the plastic off the bales the day before feeding them. This doesn't cause the problem then I think?

I had it before and used optilox tube on her and a couple of mls of antibiotic into eyelid and rump sorted her.. Eye was pure cloudy blue.. Think wee spot on her eyeball since .

Had one on hill this year eye closed and weeping and blue/cloudy also, she was not convenient to get to chute and I was up to my eyes , she fought it herself and cleared the finest !