Pendular Nystagmus in Calf?

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whisperingpinesnh

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Hi Everyone,
I've got a 2 month old holstein heifer that is exhibiting sudden onset pendular nystagmus for one week now with absolutely no other symptoms. We lost our only vet for the area and are on our own. I'm thinking it's likely congenital. It's unlikely she got into anything, as well are fairly snow covered and she is still penned and not with other cattle yet. It seems like it came out of nowhere, but it could be i didn't notice it where it's so subtle. I gave her a thiamine injection just in case, which made no difference. Aside from the nystagmus, she's perfectly healthy. I've just not seen this before. Any thoughts?
 
Hi Everyone,
I've got a 2 month old holstein heifer that is exhibiting sudden onset pendular nystagmus for one week now with absolutely no other symptoms. We lost our only vet for the area and are on our own. I'm thinking it's likely congenital. It's unlikely she got into anything, as well are fairly snow covered and she is still penned and not with other cattle yet. It seems like it came out of nowhere, but it could be i didn't notice it where it's so subtle. I gave her a thiamine injection just in case, which made no difference. Aside from the nystagmus, she's perfectly healthy. I've just not seen this before. Any thoughts?
@wbvs58
 
Pendular nystagmus in calves is a congenital eye condition that causes the eyes to move back and forth in a pendulum-like motion. It's caused by an abnormality in the visual pathway and is not associated with other neurological issues.
Pendular nystagmus is seen in various breeds of dairy cattle. Pendular nystagmus is caused by a congenital abnormality in the visual pathway. No other neurologic signs are present, and the condition is nonprogressive and of no clinical significance.
 
Pendular nystagmus in calves is a congenital eye condition that causes the eyes to move back and forth in a pendulum-like motion. It's caused by an abnormality in the visual pathway and is not associated with other neurological issues.
Pendular nystagmus is seen in various breeds of dairy cattle. Pendular nystagmus is caused by a congenital abnormality in the visual pathway. No other neurologic signs are present, and the condition is nonprogressive and of no clinical significance.
That's what I thought. I asked a vet online and they told me that it was "likely meningeal worm or lyme disease", which obviously has some other, relatively obvious symptoms, that do not include nystagmus from what I've read. It made me 2nd guess myself I guess.
 
I don't know anything about it but googling it showed up what @Travlr posted, from what I read it is not that harmfull to the animal however nystagmus is a sympton of many neurological conditions so be alert to any progression is a good idea and giving her the thiamine was probably a good idea.

Ken
Thanks Ken. Yup. I'm watching her very closely and have been taking daily temps, which have all been normal, knock on wood. There's been no deviation to her appetite, coordination, or behavior to date, and its really only apparent outside in the sun. I've got meds on hand, and am hoping that I don't have to give them. I don't want to mess with her underdeveloped rumen unless absolutely necessary. They say it's a common thing, but I can't find a single rancher or dairy farmer that's ever seen it themselves. Weird.
 
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