Eye infection

[JadeWisc]

My brand new 4 month old mini colt had a little matter in his eyes when I bought him last week. It has become much worse with the matter turning gunky green now. Our vet siad that he suspects he has allergies????? I found this puzzling, but I am no expert, so i am usung the medication perscribed. I have been given a gel that is a treatment for the allergy as well as an anibiotic. I am wondering if anyone has an opinion on this diagnosis, or experience with allergies in horses of this sort. Also If your horse has these symptoms , do they tend to be chronic. Being so tiny and young I thought he simply had developed some sort of cold?????

 

[Snowberry]

not really much help to you but there is a HUGE epidemic over here (or at least up our way LOL) and every horse seems to have gunky eyes!!!
I've just had the vet out to Glen who said every yard he's been on this week at least one horse has an eye infection

 

[JadeWisc]

well I am concerned. If it is allergies then it should not be contagious to my other horses. If it is not (like the epidemic may be on your area) then I will have some concerns. I am keeping him quarrantined (sp) anyhow until it clears. Could it be allergies in your area as well? maybe a pollen out at the moment or something?

 

[Snowberry]

nope our lot have got conjunctivitus (sp) plain old eye infections!!

I am really peed off that the other liveries on the yard didnt think to tell anyone else their horses had it so its spread like wildfire - literally 30/40 horses on the yard have it now

 

[JadeWisc]

Hmmm. I trust my vet I suppose, but I am standing firm on the isolation though. I am more leaning towards your type of issue. At least the medicine he is giving me is to treat infection as well. I suppose I will have to see if Charlie gets it too, as he is the only pony to have gone near the little guy.

 

[Snowberry]

fingers crossed he gets sorted soon and the other one doesnt get it!!

(new pony is very cute btw)

 

[Tia]

3 of mine had it since they were put on hay. Conjunctivitus AKA Pink Eye. Doesn't sound like an allergy to me sorry. Loads of horses in our vicinity have it since going onto hay. I don't think I would be going down the antiB route personally - just used drops for pink eye and the infection disappeared within a couple of days.

 

[JadeWisc]

I am confused. Wouldnt going onto hay be more likely allergy related? Why would going onto hay cause conjunctivitis? And are eye drops for conjunctivitis not to treat infection as well as my anitibiotic gel?
ditto in questioning the allergy diagnoses. I was wondering about that as well.

 

[Tia]

Oh sorry I thought you were feeding him antiB's. It's just the cream? Well that will be okay.

My guys got it from sticking their heads deep into huge round bales - all the little leaf particles etc clogging up their tear ducts.

 

[JadeWisc]

that part of the hay issue makes alot of sense for developing an infection. This would explain why my aunts mare last fall had the same thing. She had been on grass all summer before my aunt bought her....takes her home....puts her on hay.....gets same symptoms.


THE SAME VET diagnosed her Horse with allergies too! ?????

 

[JadeWisc]

UPDATE
medicine is working wonders!!!!!!! Lil guy is all cleared up already!!!!!!!