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Ask the Vet

Q & A

Ask The Vet

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Dr. Julie Mason is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently interning at Wilhite & Frees Equine Hospital in Peculiar, Missouri. To submit your questions please email her at jnmdvm@gmail.com.

QMy horse has a swollen eye and there

is some white discharge coming from that eye. What caused this to happen, and what should I do about it?

A: A swollen eye always justifies a call to your veterinarian. Eye injuries may not appear severe at first, but they can become complicated if treatment is delayed. There are many reasons a horse could have a swollen eye. First, horses are prey animals and their flight instinct is high. This means it is common for a horse to spook and then hit their eye on something. Second, just like with people, horses’ eyes can become irritated by dust and pollen. Third, horses can develop a swollen eye from foreign bodies. Since horses are grazers, their heads are down at the ground around plants. It is very common for an insect or grass seed to get trapped near a horse’s eye, which can lead to pain and irritation. Once your vet arrives, he or she will probably look at your horse from a distance to see how swollen the eye is, and how both eyes look compared to each other. They will then use an ophthalmoscope to look closely at the eye, to determine if there is any inflammation or damage inside the eye. During the exam, your vet should use a fluorescein stain

By Julie Mason, DVM, Contributor

Photos provided.

strip, which will help detect corneal ulcers or defects on the outer surface of the eye. This is an interesting test to watch, because the tear film that covers the surface of the horse’s eye will appear a neon green color for a short period of time.

The next step of the examination is a digital exam. What this means is your horse’s eye will be temporarily numbed with medication so your vet can use a finger to feel along the surface of the eye and under the eyelids. This allows us to find any foreign body that could be causing the eye condition. The type of medication chosen will depend on whether a defect is seen on the surface of the eye. If so, your horse will need to have medication placed on the surface of their eye several times a day to help them get well and feel better. Your horse will also need a medication called Banamine, which is like Advil for people. This will decrease the swelling around the eye, and will need to be given for several days.

The majority of eye problems, once treated correctly, heal well. However, a swollen eye is always a cause for concern, so call your veterinarian. n

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