Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK or pinkeye) causes painful eye disease in cattle, with prompt treatment being critical to preventing permanent blindness.
IBK causes significant and clearly visible pain. Affected cattle squint, avoid bright light, and show obvious behavioral changes reflecting eye discomfort. The corneal ulceration can be excruciating as the cornea is densely innervated. Without prompt treatment, pain escalates as the ulcer deepens and the risk of corneal rupture and permanent blindness increases. Blinded cattle face a lifetime of reduced welfare from inability to see approaching hazards, difficulty accessing food and water in competitive environments, and the fear responses of an animal that cannot observe its environment. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics is both humane and economically beneficial.