Problems of the eye

Problems of the eye

Symptoms

- Eyelids are pink.
- Eyes are swollen, itchy and watery
- Animal keeps eyes closed.
- Eyes are covered with dried material.
- Animal tries to stay away from direct sunlight.

Cause

- Bacteria, viral or systemic diseases.
- Object stuck in eye (such as dust, etc.)
- Vitamin A deficiency.
- Insects.
- Eye worms.

Bacteria can be spread by direct contact with infected animals or by flies or other insects.

Prevention

- Separate animals with eye problems from herd.
- Control flies and gnats by keeping the animals' surroundings clean.
- Feed green roughages as a source of Vitamin A.

Eye problems can affect animals of any age, any sex and during any season, but mostly during the dry season.

Treatment

Use any of the following treatments:

- Burn and grind 1 pod of Sterculia foetida, 1 handful of snail shells and 1 thumb-size piece of red limestone. Grind 1/2 teaspoon of alum very fine. Mix the ashes and alum thoroughly. Blow the powder into the affected eyes—a light dusting each morning—until symptoms disappear. (Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Boil about 500 g tender leaves of Leptadenia reticulate (corkswallow) in water. Feed the leaves and cooking water twice a day until symptoms disappear.(India. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

- Boil 1 kg of fresh Morifolium leaves in 3 liters of water until 2 liters remain. Strain and cool. Give 2 cups as a drench to the affected animal 3 times for 3 days. Used in central and northern Cambodia to treat conjunctivitis, coughs and colds.(Cambodia. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Bruise a fresh leaf of Annona squamosa (custard apple) and roll it like a cigarette between the thumb and forefinger. At a distance of about 10 cm from the eye of the animal, blow through the rolled leaf. Repeat each morning until symptoms disappear. Used in Cambodia to treat keratitis, the inflammation of the comea. (Cambodia. 1, 2, 3, 4)

Any of the following treatments can be used as an eye wash:

- Rinse affected eyes with milk each day until symptoms disappear. (Cambodia, India. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Rinse affected eyes each day with sea water until symptoms disappear. Instead of sea water, you can dissolve 1 flat teaspoon of salt in 1 liter of water.(India, 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Make an infusion using 1 teaspoon of tea leaves and 1 cup (250 ml) of water. Let stand overnight.. Strain the tea and rinse the affected animal's eyes each day until symptoms disappear (India. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Pound and squeeze the juice from 2 teaspoons (10 g) of fresh ginger rhizome and leave it overnight. Rinse the affected eyes in the corning. Repeat the treatment for 23 days until the animal is cured.(Northern India. 1, 2, 4)

- Boil 3 leaves of betel (Piper betle in 3 liters of water until 2 liters remain. Strain and cool. Rinse affected eyes each day until symptoms disappear.(Cambodia, Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Rinse affected eyes with coconut water each day until the animal is cured. (Philippines, Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4)

- Squeeze 1-2 drops of juice from the fleshy seeds of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit directly into the eyes of the affected animal. Repeat this 3 times a day for 3 days. (Thailand. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

- Make a powder from dried leaves and stems of ophthalmic burberry (Berberis aristata). Boil 1 teaspoon of the powder in 1 glass of water, strain and cool. Drop in infected eyes 3 times a day for 7 days.(India, 1, 2, 3, 5)