Successful management of a delayed case of a corneal foreign body in a cow

A crossbred Jersey cow had been suffering from severe pain for 3 days due to a corneal foreign body. Tranquilization using intravenous trifluprom azine (20 mg) followed by Peterson nerve block with 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (13 mL) facilitated examination of the eye and removal of a 12-mm-long (7 mm penetrated plus 5 mm protruding out) dry plant awn from the cornea. Corneal opacity was noted around the puncture site. Direct ophthalmoscopy did not reveal any abnormality in the ocular media. Topical gentamycin (3 mg/mL) and systemic gentamycin (5 mg/kg), along with meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) for 3 days, followed (on the basis of antibiotic sensitivity) by topical chloramphenicol (5%) for 2 weeks healed the site. Complete resolution of the opacity took an additional 15 days.