MARANOA vets are warning producers to remain vigilant for possible pinkeye cases after a “dramatic increase” this year of the highly infectious condition.
Roma Veterinary Clinic has noticed more producers requesting pinkeye treatment over the last month than previous summer months.
Pinkeye is highly infectious and is spread by flies, particularly during conditions when heat, dust and UV exposure are high.
Roma Veterinary Clinic owner and veterinarian Will Nason said medications such as aerosol sprays were no longer recommended as they often made the situation worse.
“They look good but tend to not work very well because they have a short contact and in some cases they do more harm than good,” he said.
“The best thing you can do is treat them with eye cream you put in the eye every two days and depending on how bad it is sometimes put a patch over the eye as well.
“Also treat both eyes even if one eye is affected.”
Pinkeye can see weaners lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight with Bos Taurus cattle most at risk.
Mr Nason said it was important that producers treated any cattle suffering from pinkeye early.
“It can affect anywhere from a few of your weaners through to 30 per cent of them in bad cases,” he said.
“Usually this time of year everyone is branding so it’s a good time (to check cattle).”
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
