Nele Sabbe, [13 Dec 2023 at 04:33:42]: Does anyone have any advice if there is an oral treatment for tearing eyes of giraffe? My experience is that I get very good results with a single treatment with Draxxin when eyes are tearing due to a transport (giraffe weren't blindfolded at all, just due to dust during transport I guess). But in this case, injecting the giraffe (pole syringe or dropout dart) is not an option. Also, darting the giraffe for topical treatment is no option. Any inputs are welcome. Bossie Boshoff, [13 Dec 2023 at 07:17:48]: Not sure if dose going to be practical but doxycycline in the food or something similar. Henry Labuschagne, [13 Dec 2023 at 07:36:06]: Nele. Provide more info. If it is animals that are kept in a boma for eg. export and they are seen regularly, I would consider putting vitamins in the drinking water to boost natural defence. Also, good fly control is important. If epiphora is just due to irritation (dust and wind), it should clear within a few days. If it is due to an infection that will need antibiotics, I would consider chlortetracycline in food as an option, provided they eat the medicated food. Ulf Tubessing, [13 Dec 2023 at 07:38:27]: Hi Nele. I personally find masks kept on for a long time during transport cause more eye problems than they solve (often induce ulcers!) and avoid them for anything other than short trips from capture to the transport trailer. We routinely transport giraffe for 5-7 days by road and have no eye problems Nele Sabbe, [13 Dec 2023 at 09:52:37]: No. They are animals that arrived after export (airplane) and now have irritated eyes due to dust/change of air humidity. It is impossible to dart them or to use a pole syringe due to the enclosure they are in and not used to the enclosure yet (so will start running when a dart hit them with all ugly consequences as a result). I can't imagine they have an infection. I also already suggested to put vitamins in the water. Hi Ulf, I totally agree, so they never got masks put on. Richard Harvey, [13 Dec 2023 at 13:11:16]: Flaxseed/linseed oil is a good adjunctive therapy for eye irritation/corneal ulceration. Papers have been published describing its use in other species and regularly prescribed after human ophthalmic surgery. I agree with doxycycline as well. Good broad spectrum, but also modulates tear film production and can improve dry/irritated eyes from that perspective. Linseed dose in people for corneal ulcer is 1-4 grams daily, not sure on giraffe dose, but will be quite a few capsules! Nele Sabbe, [13 Dec 2023 at 15:57:52]: Thanks a lot! I will definitely try it out Henry Labuschagne, [13 Dec 2023 at 18:14:58]: In horses > 450kg I use linseed @ 100ml per day in food to supplement omega 3 in diet. Bart Gazendam, [14 Dec 2023 at 07:55:38]: The bioavailability might be different, though giraffe are ruminants? But worth a try!
