weeping horses eye

[sasha_b]

one of my horses eyes have been weeping for a while. the other does slightly but one is quite bad. just thought I'd join up and ask if it could be the change in weather? It isn't sore yet but if I didnt wipe it everyday, i could immagine it would dry and become sore

 

[Goldenstar]

It may be a blocked tear duct give the vet a call it's easily treate

 

[suffolkmare]

My boy often has a slightly weepy Rt eye, and I noticed it was a little worse the other day, so agree it could be a change in the weather. He is out 24/7 so I think it may be the wind, and unless it gets a lot worse will manage it by wiping clean with mild salt water solution.

 

[SKW]

Goldenstar what treatment do you know of for a blocked tear duct? My boy has a weepy eye. Vet said it was a blocked duct and that while they could do all sorts of complicated stuff, best to leave it alone if not causing irritation. I'd be interested to know about any simple management options.

 

[Goldenstar]

Steroid drops cured my boy.

 

[Bayneddie]

My mare's eyes dribble year-round and continuously but my vet said so long as it is clear and not gooey, no treatment is needed. I just baby wipe them every day to make them not crusty and comfortable.

 

[OldNag]

Our Welshie's eyes do yhis when it's windy. I make sure to keep them clean.

 

[OldNag]

Sorry didn't mean to stop there. One eye got worse over winter so she had some ointment from vet and stayed in until it had cleared.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can you put a dab of Vaseline under his eye to protect the skin? I bought something specially I'm sure it was by gold label or similar and was brilliant but that was years ago and I've not seen it since.

 

[OldNag]

Ooh that is a good idea. I forgot to say that I did put a barrier cream under the eye so the skin didn't get sore.

 

[melbiswas]

Our vet also said he didn't think our old boy's weepy eye needed flushing.

The first vet had put some fluorescent green drops in his eyes and waited for them to appear out of his nostrils which they did after a delay. He looked like an alien horse for a few hours!
She suggested sedation and flushing.

Our usual vet said that he found that this often didn't change things, especially in older horses and often only improved matters for a short time anyway.

Agree with the above cleaning/ Vaseline. Fly mask in Summer as his forelock is wispy.

 

[melbiswas]

Forgot to say we were given steroid drops in the first instance. They didn't make much difference and so she decided to do the fluorescent thing to check the ducts.

 

[Archiepoo]

you could try hayfever eye drops they are very good for irritated eyes. it could be from bits of hay blowing into their eyes. if theres any thick or greeny muck then use golden eye antibiotic eye ointment from the chemist

 

[melbiswas]

Don't mention it's for a horse if you get chloramphenicol drops from the chemist- they won't give them to you.

I was like some sort of druggie, going round different chemists buying it for 'my kids with conjunctivitis' when I needed it for one of the ponies.

 

[DuckToller]

I have a pony who had a weepy eye on and off for some time.

While the vet was waiting for a nerve block to work on another horse I mentioned it and she got out a long thin tube and flushed out the tear duct.

He didn't mind the thin tube going up his tear duct (I never knew they had a little hole in their nostrils!) but he wasn't so impressed when the gunk came out into his eye. It only cost around £35.

Six months later I had it done again as it was slightly weepy, and this time he knew what was coming so kept throwing his head up and had to be lightly sedated - cost was around £70.

For him it is worth doing every so often as it has cured him of head shaking which I did post on here in case it helps anyone else. And it is annoying seeing the weepy eye, so maybe have it flushed once to see if it helps.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Both my horses get blocked ducts, they are always worse as it gets warmer in the cold weather they hardly notice, I have had them done several times but it just comes back I just use baby wipes and they wear masks in the summer as the wet eyes attracts flies.

 

[Love]

My lad is currently being treated for a blocked tear duct - tried drops and flushing but neither worked so he currently has a lavage in, is having it flushed 1-2 times a week and is on oral antibiotics too. Surgery was suggested but hopefully won't be needed. PM me if you want to know more details

Here you can see his eye when it was at its worst after the drops didn't work:

And here you can see the lavage system in place: