Runny/Gunky Eyes

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Sjb1

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Hiya
I just need some advise please.
My 19 year old mare seems to get gunky eyes everyday.
Every day when i go to see her she has like clear crusty eye snot (sorry that sounds gross)around the corner of her eyes both sides. I clean it off every day with a clean damp cloth but it always comes back.
She has no allergies that i know of - she is kept outside 24/7 - the flies have all gone now its autumn/winter.
there doesn't appear to be anything in them and she doesn't seem like it effects her in anyway.
Just wondered if anyone has this issue before?

Thanks :-)
 
My old girl - who is 18 - also has runny eyes. No difference in summer or winter and I asked the vet to check them when he did her teeth recently. He said he couldn't see any sign of infection and just to keep wiping them over, it's just "one of those things". The only issue I find is that it does attract flies more so you need to be vigilant in summer and use a fly mask or fringe if necessary.

I have a sneaking suspicion she may be very early stage Cushings though, and one of the problems my very old Cushings pony had was runny eyes. No that I've heard of it being a symptom but once you've had one Cushings horse you get a bit paranoid!
 
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i think often the tear ducts just don't drain so well in older animals, both my elderly dogs get gunky eyes-no infection and i think it bothers me more than it bothers them TBH - both have been checked out by the vet on a few occasions and they think the same. i would keep an eye on it and when vet next on yard ask them
to check for you
 
Try wiping them with cold t bags. My girl has one runny eye on and off, much worse in the wind. I just wipe with the t bags and it settles it right down. Golden eye for humans is another that Ive used in the past. You get it from the pharmacy but don't say its for your horse:)
 
is the gunk yellow? or is it clear?

My boy has a blocked tear duct - he had it flushed around this time last year which cleared it for a few weeks but it kept coming back. We tried treating with antibiotics - as the tears can't drain down and out of the nostrils, infection builds up - none of the antibiotics worked long term as the blockage was not cleared. There was talk of being able to operate and redirect his tear duct above the blockage into his sinus however this was not possible. We tried a lavage system on 2 occasions in which neither worked.

I now just bathe his eye everyday and have his tear duct flushed every few months to keep it as clear as possible. Is it worth getting them flushed to see if it could help? some horses only need it doing once. Or maybe just talking to your vet about it as they will know more than me :)
 
claribella said:
Try wiping them with cold t bags. My girl has one runny eye on and off, much worse in the wind. I just wipe with the t bags and it settles it right down. Golden eye for humans is another that Ive used in the past. You get it from the pharmacy but don't say its for your horse:)
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I use also use tea, but I normally make tea let it cool doen and use a clean cloth to clean the eyes ( like the thought of boiled water as is sterile) work wonders on my mare dirty eyes
 
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