BLINDNESS IN SHEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 9

BLINDNESS IN SHEEP

CURING SEASONAL MALADY. CAREFUL HANDLING NEEDED. Information has been received that several sheep owners are now experiencing blindness in sheep due to the formation of a greyish white film over the front of the eyeball. This trouble is not new, and is frequently seen at this time of the year. Occasionally cattle are also affected, especially after driving on dusty roads, but sheep are quite commonly affected (states the •■Journal of Agriculture"). The originating cause would appear to be irritation of the eyes from dust or foreign matter, or irritation from the seed heads in pasture. Sheep have been found affected in long overgrown pasture, and when moved to short, succulent feed no further trouble is experienced. Once the disease has become established in a flock it is necessary to treat the matter seriously to prevent the spread of the trouble to all the sheep on the farm. From this angle, the, condition must be considered to be contagious, and control measures will include the separation and isolation of all affected sheep from the healthy members of the flock. A careful inspection of all the sheep should be carried out. The affected sheep should be carefully handled, as, being partially or completely blind, they may cause serious damage to themselves. A level paddock, free from drains, logs and water should be selected for their grazing until recovery takes place. Although some affected animals may recover without treatment, it is not advisable to wait for Nature to bring about repair of the eye. The use of a suitable eye' lotion will assist in removing the grey film which has formed on the anterior surface of the eyeball. An eye lotion may be prepared by mixing G grains of sulphate of zinc in an ounce of distille'd water. Some prefer to use a nitrate of silver lotion made up at the same strength. The use of powdered glass or sugar is cruel, and should be condemned.

A few drops of the selected eye lotion should be placed on the surface of the eye, the sheep's head being held to one side to enable the drops to cover the area affected by the film. This treatment should be carefully carried out once or twice daily with all affected sheep. If a large number of sheep are to be treated, a small clean oil can will be found useful to take the place of the eye-dropper. The same lotion will be found suitable for the treatment of affected dairy cattle. It is impossible to treat run cattle, as severe damage is likely to be caused through yarding and handling. The eye lotion will be found useful in treating the film on the eye of a horse or a cow due to the presence of an awn of chaff. Frequently the film forms over the chaff, making it difficult to remove the latter. In this case, it is important to get the foreign matter removed as soon as possible.