very sore eye - help please

[cloang]

Our pony has had a runny eye since Monday, Anyway vet was coming out to do her vaccine today so asked if he could have a look. Top eylid is quite swollen, but when he tried to put dye drops in to see if there is anything in there Audrey was having none of it. She was rearing right up, (had to get the yard owner to help hold her). She has never done anything like this before so am sure she must be in pain. She had the farrier last week and the dentist yesterday and was a little angel so dont think she was just playing up.

Vet managed to get one lot of drops in but they need doing twice a day minimum.

Any advice on making this easier for both of us please:D

[Jessey]

Our old chap gets runny eyes quite alot in the summer, he is now fairly good with them but I found if you cover the eye with your hand then just pop the drops right in the corner when he opens the eye they then run along the lid and get right in, worked for our boy but he is an old hat at it now.

J x

[cloang]

Thanks, have to go and do 2nd lot of drops at 4.30 so will try that:o bit nervous actually which probably wont help:o

[Jessey]

Don't worry, just cup your hand over his eye so he closes it (scratching his head with your finger tips at the same time if you can) then he won't be able to see the scary thing aiming straight for his eye, if you can just gently open the corner of the eye slightly and that should help to get it right in.

[cloang]

Thanks Jessey, Bathed audrey's eye with salty warm water first which she loved and must have found soothing cos she leant all her weight on me and dozed:D

Then tried the eye drops:eek: Jumped all over the yard, luckily another lady at the yard who is used to dealing with big horse helped and managed to get some drops in so will try again in the morning.

By the way she is only 12.1 hh so feeling a bit foolish for needing help

[popdog]

I used to bath my old TB's weepy eyes with a used cold teabag, he loved it.

He soon learned that when I touched his eyes I made them feel better. Once I'd gained his confidence with the teabag he would let me put eye ointment in without objection :D

[PePpAcOrN]

My old horse had an eye ulcer, very weepy. He actually used to get them alot. The vet would prescribe ointment for him, i'd make sure my hands were very clean, put a large dollop of ointment on my finger.. pat around his eye, pull the lids in the corner apart and quickly poke the ointment in there. (i have short nails like i suspect most of us do)

He hated having anyone near his eye while it was sore, and would put his head right up and go sideways and backwards. but he learnt after a while it was to help him.

Anyway on the last eye ulcer case, it was very bad, seemed to be healing. but was really festering up on the inside, massive infection. i had to get him put to sleep :( If he was younger i'd have had the $3000 operation to remove his eye, but he was turning 34 this year and had a heart murmer so i couldn't put him through it.

Just make sure, if she needs the drops, get them in there as often as possible. Also if you can get ointment from the vet i find it easier to get in.

Good luck i hope her eye gets better.

My horse is always in a fly mask now. (stop grass pricking his eye)

[cloang]

thank you for all the info, went to do her eye early this morning, looking a bit less angry, bathed it with the warm salty water again, then thought ok eye drops and she stood like a little lamb:D . Maybe not so sore or maybe just realized we were not going to hurt her! Have got ointment as well as drops so will try that tonight.

[Jessey]

Glad to hear she got the idea, she must know its to help :)

J x