Equine conjunctivitis | Pet MD

What is equine conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis in horses causes swelling of the conjunctiva, or the thin mucous membrane that lines the whites of the eyes and eyelids and protects the eyes. Swelling may be caused by an infection or by other causes other than infection.

Conjunctivitis is most common in young horses with weak immune systems, but it can occur at any age.

It is important to note Eye abnormalities in horses should be considered a medical emergency And you need to call a veterinarian immediately. Eye problems in horses can quickly become serious.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis in horses

Horses with equine conjunctivitis may experience the following symptoms:

• Eye discharge/eye discharge

• narrow your eyes

• Excessive itching or eye rubbing

• shake your head

• Redness in and around the eyes

• swelling in or around the eye

What causes conjunctivitis in horses?

Conjunctivitis can be infectious or non-infectious. Common causes for each type are:

• infectious

  
  
  

• non-infectious

  
  

  • uveitis

  • Trauma (facial cuts)

  • Allergic reactions/irritants (dust, pollen)

  • Nasolacrimal duct obstruction (the part responsible for draining tears through a very small passageway from the inner corner of the eye to the nostril)

  • cancer

Most commonly, horses develop pink eyes due to trauma or infection.

Direct contact of young horses with flies that have been in direct contact with infected horses can cause conjunctivitis.

How do veterinarians diagnose conjunctivitis in horses?

To diagnose conjunctivitis in horses, your veterinarian will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical and eye exam. They may also recommend diagnostic tests, such as blood tests.

Your veterinarian may ask questions such as:

• “How long has it been since you noticed new eye symptoms?”

• “Has the horse traveled recently or been around new horses?”

• “Is this the first time this horse has had eye problems?”

• “Have you noticed your horse exhibiting any other unusual behavior lately?”

Veterinarians also want to know: Horse vaccine and deworming history.

physical examination

Your veterinarian will complete a physical exam by:

• Observe mucous membranes/gums

• Listen to your heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract

• Measure your body temperature,

• Observe the horse for unusual swelling or other physical abnormalities

Finally, your veterinarian may also ask you to walk your horse by hand to ensure there are no lameness or neurological signs.

ophthalmological examination

Once the physical exam is complete, your veterinarian will perform an ophthalmological examination of the eyes and surrounding area.

First, check both eyes for comparison and look for any visual abnormalities.

After taking a good look at the structure of both eyes, your veterinarian will stain the eyes (using fluorescein eye stain) and examine the corneas for any scratches or cracks. Fluorescein eye stains adhere to damaged cells on the cornea and are (usually) easily visible with a green tint.

If there is dirt ingestion, your veterinarian may diagnose your horse with a corneal ulcer and plan from there.

Based on the findings of the eye exam, your veterinarian may advise further diagnosis, such as:

• Virus test

• Blood tests such as a complete blood count

• Chemistry to search for systemic diseases

• Specific tests for bacterial diseases

Treatment of conjunctivitis in horses

Treatment of eye infections in horses varies depending on the underlying cause and severity.

Horses are typically given multiple medications, including both topical and oral medications, to treat the symptoms and underlying cause.

Topical broad-spectrum antibiotics neopoly back (BNP) is one of the most common drugs used to treat conjunctivitis in horses when ulcers are present. If not, BNP ointment containing steroids may be used to reduce inflammation.

Conjunctivitis can be very painful due to swelling and inflammation of the eye. Therefore, oral systemic anti-inflammatory drugs such as: Banamine® (flunixin meglumine).

Other drugs that can be added include:

• topical steroids (etc.) Dexamethasone) Steroids are prescribed only if a corneal ulcer is not present, as they can delay or prevent the healing of the corneal layer.

• Serum (the clear part of the blood that your veterinarian can collect from your horse)

It is important to follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding how much medication to give, how many times to give it per day, and the intervals between doses if you are asked to give more than one medication at a time. It is often important to wait at least 2 to 5 minutes between doses.

Some medications, such as atropine, are given to relieve pain, but they can also cause the eyes to dilate and make the horse very sensitive to light. During treatment, it may be important to keep your horse in a barn out of sunlight during the day, or at least keep him there. wear a fly mask.

Treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction

The nasolacrimal duct is a tube that runs from the inner corner of the eye to a small opening just inside the nostril.

If your veterinarian diagnoses your horse with a blocked nasolacrimal duct causing conjunctivitis, your horse may need to be sedated to relieve the blockage, as this procedure may be slightly uncomfortable. There may be.

A small tube is placed in the nose just inside the nasolacrimal duct opening, and a sterile solution is carefully pushed into the nasolacrimal duct to remove the blockage. It’s not uncommon for this duct to become clogged with debris, and it’s usually an easy fix.

Commercially available eye washes include: Vetericyn® EyewashIt may help clear eye discharge.

Before using these methods, ask your veterinarian whether they are suitable for your horse.

How to put eye drops in a horse’s eyes

1. Gently and carefully remove the secretion using wet wipes, cotton balls, or eyewash.

2. Place the tube or bottle of topical eye drops in one hand, tip down, between your index finger and thumb. If possible, place your wrist against the horse to prevent the eye drop bottle from accidentally sticking in the eye and causing trauma when the horse throws its head.

3. With your other hand, gently pull your lower eyelid down to reveal a small pocket on the inside of your eyelid.

4. Place the prescribed amount of topical eye drops on the lower eyelid. Be careful not to touch the tip of the medication tube with your eyes. This prevents bacteria and debris from sticking to the medication and transmitting it during the next use, or accidentally irritating or damaging sensitive eye tissue.

5. Allow the eyelids to return to their normal position. Your horse will probably blink a few times to ensure the eye drops are distributed throughout the eye.

6. If your horse is on multiple medications, or if medication is difficult to administer, your veterinarian may recommend a sublid lavage system (SPL) in some cases. This involves placing a small plastic “plate” under the eyelid and running a tube back through the mane, ending in an opening that can be used to apply the medication from a safe and easy distance. Masu.

Recovery and management of conjunctivitis in horses

Conjunctivitis in horses can heal in as little as 5 to 7 days, but it can take several weeks depending on the underlying cause, severity, and how quickly treatment is initiated.

If left untreated, equine conjunctivitis is likely to worsen and can cause permanent damage to your horse’s eyes and vision loss.

Preventing conjunctivitis in horses

Conjunctivitis can generally be prevented in several ways:

• Fly control in barns and pastures: If you live in an area with a lot of flies, using a fly mask is a great way to keep your eyes clean and the flies away. Not only can flies transmit infectious agents from horse to horse, they can also cause eye irritation and trauma. there are many Horse fly control products that can be used to keep these pests away.

• Establish a preventive health program: It is important to keep your horse updated on vaccinations and deworming. Consult your veterinarian to develop the best protocol for your horse.

• reduce environmental allergens: If your horse stalls, dusting the dusty shavings with water can help.

• Treat underlying or systemic disease This can make your horse more susceptible to conjunctivitis.

• Limit sun exposure for horses with lighter pigments: This may reduce the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the eye and eyelids in horses. SCC is the most common tumor affecting the eyes and eyelids of horses and the second most common cancer in horses.