Colloidal Silver usable for Small Ruminants?

Colloidal Silver is a homeopathic remedy that is gaining popularity.  It is rising in use for treatment of many human ailments and is recommended for veterinary use.  Silver Education Coalition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA put out a Colloidal Silver Handbook describing the history of its use as a medicine, the current uses, and information about medical studies and testing.  The handbook has a section on veterinary uses. 

The Silver Education Coalition in the handbook states that "Colloidal Silver is non-toxic to mammals, reptiles, plants and all living things that are not of a one celled structure."  This is because, "One-celled life uses a different method of Oxygen metabolism." 

The handbook describes known veterinary uses which could be beneficial to the small ruminant herdsman:  The following conditions in animals, birds and fish have been successfully treated with Colloidal Silver:
* Bacteria and parasites in house pets, farm animals and birds.
* Parvovirus in dogs.
* Revival of belly-up goldfish.
* Scours and undulant fever in cattle.

This year was the first we, at our sheep ranch, had any on hand to explore with.  We had an opportunity just recently to try it on a stubborn eye infection on our 15 year old dog whose eye had become so inflamed that it had swelled shut and was exhibiting external swelling along the same side of her face.  We mixed about a teaspoon of the colloidal silver with about a 1/2 cup of lukewarm water and used it to flush the eye.  A notable decrease in swelling was visible in hours.  We flushed the eye three times a day for about a week, observing the infection and severe swelling subside.  This colloidal silver solution worked faster than chamomile tea, the other traditional herbal remedy we've used in the past.

We have decided to test colloidal silver with a limited number of lambs next lambing season for the difficult to treat ailment of chronic pneumonia in orphan lambs.  We plan to keep detailed notes and will publish the results of the usage late spring 2012.

A copy of the colloidal silver handbook can be reviewed here.