hope someone has a answer. We have never had this problem before, our calves born in april have watery eyes. as we use all organic, would anyone know of a herb that could help?

-- lexi Green (whitestone11@hotmail.com), May 19, 2001

Answers

I know folks who use eyebright on their goats before shows, most showrings are dusty and the girls walk around them getting teary eyed. This is going to be totally dependant upon why your calves have watery eyes, obviously if it is something benign like dust from the hay or ground, than anything, even sterile water will work. If this is bacterial than all any of the remedies, port wine spray, vingegar spray, throwing salt in the eye etc. will do is alleviate some of the sypmtoms, the bacteria or virus would have to be treated either with antibiotics (terremyacin eye ointments, or systemic shots) unless the calves own immune system kicks in before the virus blinds the calf. Using any of the eye ointments, even the bacatracin as an eye ointment, doesn't go systemic in the calves system harming the meat in any way. There is no milk or meat withdrawl on any eye drops, even LA200 used as eyedrops, it doesn't work that way. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 19, 2001.

Herbs that contain berberine (e.g., barberry root, goldenseal root, or oregon grape root) can be helpful to dry up runny eyes, used in combination with an emollient herb such as marshmallow root or chickweed. You can make an infusion and wash the eyes with it. However, it's important to find out what is causing the runny eyes. Is it a bacterial infection? Also, overuse of astringent herbs like those mentioned above can actually irritate mucous membranes further, so keep that in mind if you do decide to use barberry root or goldenseal root.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), May 19, 2001.

I think I read in a book that kelp added to the ration helped with watery eyes . Sure helped with one of my mares. Jay Central NC

-- Jay Vance (jay.l.vance@worldnet.att.net), May 19, 2001.