Eye Health

Entropion

The first signs of entropion include watery eye(s), cloudiness of the eye(s) and, in some cases, it may even lead to blindness. Closely examining the eyes of young kids—particularly if they show signs of excessive tears—will help with getting early intervention and avoiding blindness or other eye damage.

A veterinarian can often treat entropion by injecting 1 cc to 2 ccs of procaine penicillin under the skin of the eyelid. This is slowly absorbed, causing the eyelid to swell and pull the eyelid out so the lashes no longer irritate the eye. This procedure is not recommended for the goat owner with no veterinary training.

In more difficult cases of entropion, the veterinarian will need to suture or staple the eyelid into proper position. Finally, in the most severe cases, surgery is needed.

Ectropion

Ectropion is not as common an eye problem in goats. In this condition, the eyelid (most often lower) turns outward, rather than inward. The pocket causes by ectropion can collect bacteria and other debris, which can lead to eye damage. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to remove some of the skin around the eyelid, along with antibiotic treatment. 

Pinkeye (also called infectious keratoconjunctivitis) is a common problem in goats. It is an inflammation of the eye that may have a variety of causes, including irritation, which can lead to eye infection in goats. Irritants can include entropion, hay dust, bright light, or wind (often occurring during transport), among others. Once the eye is infected, flies or secretions from the eye can contaminate hay and bedding, leading to an outbreak of pinkeye among the herd. This is why it is more common after goat shows, when the animals are exposed to other unrelated goats and come into contact with common irritants.