Runny Eye

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rafty

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Went to the field to bring in pony for a brush and some pampering and saw that she has a very runny eye. I cannot see any obvious signs of injury, but it is like she is crying, not completely shut but obviously irritating her. My YO (where she is usually kept) said not to worry about it she has a pony who is often like this, just wash it with a serum (for eyes). So I have just washed it with warm salty water, and put some serum drops in.

I feel unsure about leaving her eye like this though, these things can go bad pretty quickly I would imagine. I am going to call the vet tomorrow, but is there any other tips I could do to make her more comfortable.

My dog suffers with runny eyes, but hers are usually pusey. I have a prescription for her which is valid for 1 year so I can get her eye drops when I need them. Obviously have animals with dodgy eyes as my last horse was blind in one eye!!!:p
 
Get your Vet out to check your horses eye, not worth the risk of any damage to it. Its probably the flies bothering her, my horse has had trouble with them. In the meantime, get a fly mask on her, that will help whether its flies or even just the wind causing it.
 
Your course of action totally depends on why your horse is suddenly half closing her eye, which is weeping. She could have scratched the cornea in which case she may need antibiotic drops (and you need fresh, horse specific ones). Or she may still have a foreign body in her eye in which case she needs help immediately if you don't want to make the problem worse. I'd do what you're doing for 24 hours only. No change after that, or eye worse = vet. And you should bathe the eye only with plain boiled, cooled water, not salt water. Try this test - wait until you've got a sore eye then bathe it in salt water and feel how much it stings. Gauze, not cotton wool as the tiny fibres in cotton wool can break off and irritate the eye even more. Not sure what you mean by "serum" - across the counter products can only ever soothe a tired eye. They don't contain antibiotics so can't control an infected eye.
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
Your course of action totally depends on why your horse is suddenly half closing her eye, which is weeping. She could have scratched the cornea in which case she may need antibiotic drops (and you need fresh, horse specific ones). Or she may still have a foreign body in her eye in which case she needs help immediately if you don't want to make the problem worse. I'd do what you're doing for 24 hours only. No change after that, or eye worse = vet. And you should bathe the eye only with plain boiled, cooled water, not salt water. Try this test - wait until you've got a sore eye then bathe it in salt water and feel how much it stings. Gauze, not cotton wool as the tiny fibres in cotton wool can break off and irritate the eye even more. Not sure what you mean by "serum" - across the counter products can only ever soothe a tired eye. They don't contain antibiotics so can't control an infected eye.
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^^^^This.

Also, cooled teabags, ordinary or camomile, are good for soothing irritation. My vet once suggested this to me for a runny eye and my horse loved it. Just had to stop her trying to eat them afterwards.
 
Hi, if there is no sign of injury then it's likely a wind or allergy reaction, if it was an infection you would expect to see puss. My pony often gets this, sometimes his inner eyelid is partly closed. I bathe it with cold tea which he loves and it goes within days, usually by the next day. I have never needed to call the vet. Give it a try, I'm sure it will work.
 
A fly mask is a must. Flies seem to relish eye secretions & will be VERY attracted to it, causing constant irritation to get the liquids they are after, which can lead to conjunctivitas. Prevention is always better than cure.
 
Hi, thanks for all your replies. The teabags sound good so am going to give this ago. She does have a fly mask, one of the dangly ones that attach to a headcollar. Would a mesch one be better? Sorry about spelling and grammar, am chatting to my six year old at the same time as writing this!!!
 
my boy just had this - found him one day (having had a bit of nice weather for a few hours!) with two swollen, sore and weepy eyes with flies crowded around. Got the vet out as it looked sore and he's been on antibiotics, painkillers and has had an antibiotic injection too. It looks much better and a fly mask has been ordered (originally didn't want to put one on a 2yo but I suppose I'll have to). You definitely need a mesh one as it is guaranteed to keep the flies off their eyes without touching their eyes itself. I just bought a shires one with some padding but no ear covers as the vet recommended a visor type for such a young horse, my other horse has the one with ear covers.
 
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