Runny eye in calf

[Stubbornhillfarm]

We have a couple of 9 week old calves. One of them since day one has had a runny eye on occasion. Clear looks like tears. Some days it's there, some days its not. For about the past week, he has had a little yellow goo in the front corner of his eye. Much like a person would if you had an eye irritant or eye cold. The pollen is pretty heavy in these parts right now. People are complainning about alergies. Do cows get allergies or are their eyes effected this way. Any ideas? He is eating, drinking, playing, sleeping all normal.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Anyone? Just trying to catch something before it is serious.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

It is likely that it could be some sort of infection from a foreign object in his eye. And it could also be the pollen as well. A few of the dairy calves that the renter of our property brought over have runny eyes as well (but no pus), and it is due to the pollen since the spruce, pine and poplar trees are really letting loose their "stuff" into the air.

A piece of hay or grass in the eye can also cause the eye to be runny.

But you should check with a vet just in case.

 

[redtailgal]

............

 

[his1911]

I was going to suggest rinsing the eye with a sterile saline solution just to help remove the irritant. If it turns red and swollen it could potentially be pink-eye ( conjunctivitus).