Getting eye drops in horses eye

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silverstar

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My horse has a gunky eye with some cream gunk coming out of it. Vets been today and given me fucithalmic drops but I accidentally squeezed most of it out of the tube (need to get some more) anyway he keeps moving his head up when I put the drops near his eye. Today I managed to get most of the contents of the tube on his face.

Has anyone got any ideas how to get the eye drops in his eye? The vet did say put some drops in (didnt say how many) in his eye twice a day. I cant even get them in once a day never mind twice a day.
 
I stand next to his head and in his shoulder, and lean up a if im putting a headcollar on, but wrap my hand around underneath his chin and onto the nose, and use my other hand to open and put the eye drops in.

Of course it helps that robs a star :)

he didn't like it t first, but after a few goes he got the idea an now I can do it one handed without touching his nose at all :)

Hope that helps!!
 
It is difficult because of the angle of the horses eye and being concerned about bopping them in the eye with the drops! Box_of_Frogs gave me some very useful tips on here when my youngster had an eye problem and she will no doubt be able to give you some very handy hints.

The eyelids are very strong and you need a steady hand - it may be worth haing somebody else around to hold him so you can concentrate on what you need to do. I taught my lad, "Wait" which I use for everything when I need him to stand without moving - for feed, hay, general medical stuff. Until I say, "go on then" he doesn't move. He would protest with his eye at times as it was sore, but generally him stopping and waiting gave me the time to get the stuff in his eye. Aim to get the drops in the lower eyelid as there is a little "shelf" which it will absorb into when your neddy blinks.

If he really is getting stressed and you can't get them in, call the vet and see if they can show you [I did this initially] or give you any hints and tips.
 
As long as you make sure you have clean hands, put some on my index finger and apply it that way, you are less likely to poke the horse in the eye and generally are able to aim a bit better! My vet told me to do it this way.
 
TicTac said:
As long as you make sure you have clean hands, put some on my index finger and apply it that way, you are less likely to poke the horse in the eye and generally are able to aim a bit better! My vet told me to do it this way.
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I might do this thanks. Where do I aim for the corner of the eye? He probably wont keep his head still though but its worth a try. Also how much do I put in his eye 1 or 2 drops?
 
I use disposable gloves and use them once to put eye drops in, much easier to use a finger tip

Then being skanky I save the gloves for other non-sterile jobs
 
Hi, my mare is currently on 3 lots of eye drops 3x a day, so I've had to learn to put them in!
First, it does help to tie them up fairly short (don't give them a Haynet, you're far more likely to poke them if they're constantly moving).
Take hold of the cheek piece of head collar (or wrap your hand under their head and rest it on their nose.
Pop the end of the eye dropper into the corner of their eye (don't worry, it's very difficult to cause any actual damage with those things!) and squeeze a few drops in.
Also, mind out, in case your horse is like mine and then tries to rub it all over me!

Hope this helps a bit!
 
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