Question:
Can goats get grass tetany?

Mine (boer goats)are getting eye blisters and itching. Is it possible they have had too much good food? (greengrass and alfalfa orchard hay). I've found nothing on the subject on the internet.

A:  Have your veterinarian take a peek at the herd.  Pinkeye or trauma is more likely than grass tetany in goats.

Theoretically goats can get grass tetany (hypomagnesemia), although it is usually described in sheep on lush pasture after lambing.  Goats don't typically have access to lush pasture enough to cause the problem. The eye lesions should not be related to the feed.

~Dr. Page Wages (with the help of Dr. Sam Galphin, a local dairy veterinarian)

Oberlin Animal Hospital

Response:

I wanted to send some follow up thanks to the Dr.s about my goats. Their good advice coupled with local consult resulted in an end to the blistering and scabs - replaced with good healing skin. Switching to Tetracycline opthalmic ointment over polymycin opthalmic ointment seems to have done the trick!