askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Oh dear, my horse has something wrong with his eye!

Oh dear, my horse has something wrong with his eye!

Horses have beautiful, large, and expressive eyes. With those eyes, they can almost see all around them. They can perceive any enemy or gnome, often long before their human has seen anything. But those beautiful horse eyes are also vulnerable. Here is an overview of the most common eye problems in horses.

Organs

Others

13 April '22 • 3 min reading time

Because horses have large protruding eyes, it is relatively easy for something to get in them. Sand, bacteria, branches, another horse's tail... In general, eye problems in your horse should not be ignored or 'waited out'. Always consult your veterinarian. Sometimes it is harmless and easy to treat, but often you need to intervene in time to prevent worse. So do not try to doctor it yourself or endlessly use boiled water!

Eye inflammation: conjunctivitis

A common problem is inflammation of the eye's mucous membrane. This is also known as conjunctivitis. You can recognize it by excessive tearing or some pus at the corner of the eye. The eye mucous membranes are then red and somewhat swollen, but the pupil reflex is good. Eye inflammations often occur in summer, due to flies or dust. It is important to make sure there is not (also) a corneal abrasion before treating the inflammation. The veterinarian will give you drops or an ointment if your horse has conjunctivitis. A fly mask can help prevent these types of eye inflammations.

Corneal abrasions

If something gets into your horse's eye, like a branch, sand, or even a hair, it can cause a small or larger abrasion of the cornea, or the outer layer of the eye. Your horse will often squint and tear excessively. A larger abrasion can be seen as a blueish or greyish spot on the cornea. It is important to call your vet immediately if you think your horse has a corneal abrasion! Prompt treatment with eye drops or ointment is necessary to prevent worsening. Large inflammations can also occur with major abrasions. In severe cases, it may even be necessary to remove the eye!

Wounds

Wounds near the eye or on the eyelid should be kept clean and treated immediately or stitched. Especially a tear in the eyelid should be neatly stitched to prevent dust and other debris from entering the eye, which can lead to recurring eye inflammations and corneal abrasions.

Moon blindness

Moon blindness is a condition of the deeper part of the eye, affecting the iris and its surrounding parts. It is likely an autoimmune disease. Moon blindness is characterized by flakes in the eye, a small pupil, and a lack of pupil reflex. The eye often tears or shows a blueish glow. Moon blindness is very painful, usually affects only one eye, and is the most common cause of blindness in horses. It is recurrent. Call your vet if you suspect your horse is suffering from moon blindness. They will provide eye drops or ointment and painkillers for your horse. Treatment is often long-term.

Other eye problems in horses

Tumors on the third eyelid are occasionally seen in Haflingers. If you notice a pink flap in the eye corner, it is important to seek veterinary attention. Sometimes the tumor may even be on the eyeball itself.

Conclusion: Pay attention to teary eyes

If your horse has teary eyes and is squinting, be vigilant. Make sure to check if both eyes are affected or if only one eye is causing problems. See if you can still observe a pupil reflex. If your horse has just stood in a dust cloud, there may not be much to worry about. But if in doubt, call your vet or send them a photo of the affected eye. Remember, when it comes to eye problems, the sooner you address them, the better!

Also interesting:

Skin

Mites

Autumn, winter, mud and rain... The perfect combination for dirty, wet horse legs. Often, we have the tendency to shave off all the hair of horses. Trim the legs neatly, tidy up the beard, make the ears look nice, and so on. A sleek horse, looking neat without much hair, standing like a real model. But is it really wise to shave everything off?

Did you know that the feathers of the horse keep the legs dry?

Autumn, winter, mud and rain... The perfect combination for dirty, wet horse legs. Often, we have the tendency to shave off all the hair of horses. Trim the legs neatly, tidy up the beard, make the ears look nice, and so on. A sleek horse, looking neat without much hair, standing like a real model. But is it really wise to shave everything off?. Hair has a purpose! By now, it's (hopefully) common knowledge not to touch or shave off the whiskers of a horse. These whiskers are extremely important and serve a crucial function, preventing horses from bumping into things. But the hair in and around the ears also has a purpose: it prevents dirt and water from getting into the ears and protects them from external influences. Never cut/shave the ear shells, leave the hair on the inside intact! The same goes for the hair on the legs of horses, t...

Digestion

Feeding

Does your horse frequently have a dirty tail and does a lot of water come out with the manure? This is usually the result of disrupted gut flora. Not all horses can handle the slight acidification that occurs with packaged hay or pre-cut silage. The fermentation process in this packaged hay then leads to poor digestion and the formation of manure water. What is the solution?

Packaged hay/pre-cut hay is often the cause of manure water in horses.

Does your horse frequently have a dirty tail and does a lot of water come out with the manure? This is usually the result of disrupted gut flora. Not all horses can handle the slight acidification that occurs with packaged hay or pre-cut silage. The fermentation process in this packaged hay then leads to poor digestion and the formation of manure water. What is the solution?. Many horse owners try everything when their horse walks around with a dirty tail and constantly has manure water coming out. Unfortunately, supplements usually have little (or only a temporary effect) on this problem. By the way, manure water is not the same as diarrhea. Difference between unpackaged and packaged (pre-cut) hay A good bale of roughage smells fresh, is nicely stemmy, and the grass inside it is in bloom. It is important that the grass is dry enough at the time it is baled, otherwis...

Nettle

Almost every horse owner feeds their horse nettle at some point since nettle is known for its healing properties and because horses find it very tasty. But is it a suitable supplement for your horse? And is it better to give nettle fresh, dried, or in liquid form?

Do you choose dried or liquid nettle for your horse?

Almost every horse owner feeds their horse nettle at some point since nettle is known for its healing properties and because horses find it very tasty. But is it a suitable supplement for your horse? And is it better to give nettle fresh, dried, or in liquid form?. Nettles have been praised for their healthy properties since ancient Greek times and have been used for centuries as a medicinal herb for both humans and animals. Many beneficial effects are known from science. However, nettles still have a bad reputation with many people. It's a weed, it stings, it causes itching, and it's an annoying plant that spreads along roads and meadows. But nettles are really super healthy, both for humans and horses. People often make tea from them, cook nettle soup, o...

Questions? AskHELTIE!

Are you looking for advice about your dog or horse? Or do you want to know more about conditions or ingredients? Feel free to contact AskHELTIE, and we will be happy to assist you! .