blind calf

[Toby Bunkelman]

Well, to follow up with the other post-this calf was born with a white orb in place of his eyeball. His Mom didn't take him, but I don't think it was the eye. I could be wrong. She was slow to get up after what I thought was a normal bith (one hour of pacing, etc and one hour of up and downs and hard pushing at the end). She didn't get up until I went down to see if my husband was right about the baby being out. I said no way because Mom would be lickinghim-she never really took to him. So anyway, the area was pretty swollen at birth. This white eye is really blood shot now. There is no iris that I can see at all. Vet said maybe glaucome but he had never seen it in utero. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[chicken fruit]

Could it be white-eye syndrome? It is present in the US, especially in the north west. among other things it brings on congenital cataracts. Its brought on to the calf by a mother who's been infected during gestation- its a virus. Might explain why she was unwilling to first get up, and why she abandoned the calf. Its generally fatal in calves- they end up being immuno deficient and die of secondary infections such as scours or pneumonia eventually, even some time after birth.

I dont know much about it, and I've never witnessed an infected animal. But its what comes to mind.

I suppose congenital cataracts can be an affliction unto themselves- but it doesnt seem that the mother should abandon the calf for them- then again she is a first time mom and abandonment is not unheard of. Some cows become repeat abandoners.

 

[Toby Bunkelman]

Wow! I will look into it. I am in the west, in Colorade about 16 miles from the Utah border. He is very vigorous right now. He is a beef cow should I be concerned about the meat? I will see what I can find on it. Vet said he had never seen one like it but we're a tiny town.

Mom immediately stomped on his left front hoof and tore it off, so I asked the vet to give him 7 way when he came out. The calf was 3 days old at that time, will that protect him from pneumonia and staph infections and later fatality of the white eye syndrome?

The hoof piece has shed and is healing up nicely. He is still a little gimpy, but the hoof looks good.The eye is pretty gross. I just don't see why the vet is hesitant to remove it. Maybe give the calf a few more good days under his belt before removing an eye! heh The eye is dripping murky brown and I am assuming it's blood shot from sun because it now has a large red dot on it that is blood for sure. Mom may have gotten ahold of it, but I'm betting it's sunburnt. Thanks for your input!

 

[Toby Bunkelman]

Infectious keratoconjunctivitis of cattle

I found this on Merck's web site. This is exactly what his eye looks like, but it makes it sound like something they get well into life, not at birth! Isn't conjunctivitis pink eye?

It's Colorado...not Colorade-heehee I'm sleepy I guess. Is there spell check on here