Vet's vision with Phil Rennie Tauranga Vets

Pink eye is a disease that usually occurs in the summer and autumn seasons, causing sore inflamed eyes.

The disease is caused by highly contagious bacteria called Moraxella bovis, which can be transferred easily from animal-to-animal by way of flies or simply brushing up against common things like the seed heads on long grass.

Pink eye can range from a mild irritation to painful eye ulcers, and if advanced can lead to irreversible blindness. Any sign of eye irritation in your animals deserves a closer look, especially during these warm late summer months.

An important part of control is to separate out affected animals from the rest of the group and contact your local vet clinic for assistance.

Blindness can develop as soon as two-three days after the initial infection, so time is of the essence in terms of tending to pink eye in individuals. Fortunately, there is effective medication for this condition that can be provided by your local veterinarian.