Calves mysteriously going blind?

[sizmic]

Any thoughts on this, one died tonight, taking it to be worked up tomorrow. Seems to be neurological. Vet said there are some things that could cause this but couldn't begin to give a hard diagnosis. He gave a shot of thiamine to the one still alive. They seemed to just want to stand around and hang their head on something. No fever, even though, I treated the first one with nuflor this morning thinking his snotty nose and frothy mouth was BRD. I tubed him also with some milk replacer, that seemed to help just enough to let him hit things in the barn a little harder. He still won't nurse or take a bottle.

Sizmic

 

[NoCO]

Sounds like possibly Blind Staggers. Usually caused by plants containing high selenium but may also be caused by high sulphur content in water. Thiamine is basically blocked by selenium so this is probably the doc told you to administer thiamine. Google Merck Vet Manual and search Blind Staggers and of Polioencephalomalacia (PEM). Hope this helps.

 

[grannysoo]

Get the vet involved immediately.

 

[randiliana]

Get your water checked. Sounds a lot like too much sulphates. Have seen that before, and have saved some pretty bad cases. Thiamine will help, but you may have to tube them with water (make sure it is good water though).

 

[hillsdown]

I agree with the above, but lead poisoning also causes blindness.

 

[dyates]

Any thoughts on this, one died tonight, taking it to be worked up tomorrow. Seems to be neurological. Vet said there are some things that could cause this but couldn't begin to give a hard diagnosis. He gave a shot of thiamine to the one still alive. They seemed to just want to stand around and hang their head on something. No fever, even though, I treated the first one with nuflor this morning thinking his snotty nose and frothy mouth was BRD. I tubed him also with some milk replacer, that seemed to help just enough to let him hit things in the barn a little harder. He still won't nurse or take a bottle.

Sizmic

How old are these calves, what are you feeding them, and did they come from a salebarn? I assume they are small calves. Give them a big dose of probios, get some calcium in them (give them pepcid if you can't find anything else) and do not feed them corn glutein until they are well on their way on feed. Use a starter ration formulated for small calves. Someone mentioned sulfur toxicity, which I think is a good guess. Also make sure they get plenty of fluids even if that means tubing them.

 

[sizmic]

Necropsy came back as lead. I had a real hard time buying that one until I found the battery. Don't know how it got there or anything but the drought must have exposed it enough for the sunlight to crack the case just enough to get to it. Got one on EDTA now and watching all the others. I was really worried I was going to have to punch a hole in the pond dam and drain it.

Sizmic

 

[dyates]

Necropsy came back as lead. I had a real hard time buying that one until I found the battery. Don't know how it got there or anything but the drought must have exposed it enough for the sunlight to crack the case just enough to get to it. Got one on EDTA now and watching all the others. I was really worried I was going to have to punch a hole in the pond dam and drain it.

Sizmic

Glad you found out. More relief to know than not. Shows the value of guessing vs. testing.