Eye problems can affect all animal species.
- Eye injuries are especially a problem in camels, as their eyes protrude and they gaze on thorny bushes.
- The three most important conditions affecting the eyes of livestock in Kenya are Pink Eye, Thelazia Eye Worms and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the eye.Â
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Introduction
Different types of eye problems may have different causes such as:
- Insect bites in the eye
- Ticks attached around the eyelid
- Eye worms
- Foreign bodies in the eye
- Injury to the eye, for instance by thorns aor herders' sticks
- Infectious diseases such as pink eye or camel pox
- Irritating sap from plants such as Euphorbia candelabrum (Luo: bondo, ojouk / Kikuyu, Meru: mathori / Kamba: ndau / Maasai: olpopongi)
- Snake venom
- Sun induced cancer
- Cataract
The most common signs are:
- Watery or yellowish discharge from the eye
- Partially or totally closed eye
- Swollen eye
- Reddish eye
- Thick, whitishfilm covering the eye
- Abnormal growths in the eye
Prevent eye problems by doing following:
- Apply tick grease or other repellants around the eyes.
- Manually remove ticks.
- When spraying make sure NOT to spray directly into the eye.
- Do not hit the animal especially not around the eyes
- Do not herd where there are many thorny plants or plants with irritating sap
- Use only leafy trees and shrubs for fencing in the animal pen
- Separate animals with infectious eye diseases from the rest of the herd
- Control Camel pox
Review Process
1. William Ayako, KARI Naivasha. Aug-Dec 2009
2. Hugh Cran, Practicing Veterinarian Nakuru. March-Oct 2010
3. Review workshop team. Nov 2-5, 2010
- For Infonet: Anne, Dr Hugh Cran, private veterinary practitioner
- For KARI: Dr Mario Younan KARI/KASAL, William Ayako - Animal scientist, KARI Naivasha
- For Department of Veterinary Services: Dr Josphat Muema – District Veterinary Officer Isiolo, Dr Charity Nguyo - Kabete Extension Division, Mr Patrick Muthui - Senior Livestock Health Assistant Isiolo, Ms Emmah Njeri Njoroge - Senior Livestock Health Assistant Machakos
- Pastoralists: Dr Ezra Saitoti Kotonto - Private practitioner, Abdi Gollo H.O.D. Segera Ranch
- Farmers: Benson Chege Kuria and Francis Maina Gilgil and John Mutisya Machakos
- Language and format: Carol Gachiengo, Journalist and editor.
4. Review by Dr Mario Younan, Regional Technical Advisor VSF-Germany (2013)
Information Source Links
- Blood, D.C., Radostits, O.M. and Henderson, J.A. (1983) Veterinary Medicine - A textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Goats and Horses. Sixth Edition - Bailliere Tindall London. ISBN: 0702012866
- Blowey, R.W. (1986). A Veterinary book for dairy farmers: Farming press limited Wharfedale road, Ipswich, Suffolk IPI 4LG
- CABI International 2007. Animal Health and Production Compendium. Wallingford UK: CABI International.
- Hall, H.T.B. (1985). Diseases and parasites of Livestock in the tropics. Second Edition. Longman Group UK. ISBN 0582775140
- Hunter, A. (1996). Animal health: General principles. Volume 1 (Tropical Agriculturalist) - Macmillan Education Press. ISBN: 0333612027
- Hunter, A. (1996). Animal health: Specific Diseases. Volume 2 (Tropical Agriculturalist) - Macmillan Education Press. ISBN:0-333-57360-9
- Merck Veterinary Manual 9th Edition