January 2011

added 31st January 2011

Horses are very prone to various conditions affecting their eyes.  Some are more serious than others, but all have the potential to be painful and difficult to manage.

Conjunctivitis is a very common condition, often seen in the summer months when flies are abundant.  It can be contagious, but in general seems to affect individual horses rather than an entire yard.  Bacteria are generally to blame, but sometimes fungi and viruses have been implicated. Some cases of conjunctivitis are caused by allergic reactions.  It is thought that flies carry the germs onto the eyes whilst feeding on the normal secretions found around the eyes. 

Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the soft pink tissue around the eyeball- the conjunctiva.  It doesn’t affect the surface of the eye- the cornea.  A horse with conjunctivitis may have swollen eyelids and want to rub the eye.  It can be difficult to see what is going on underneath all that swelling.  In milder cases the eye produces more discharge and this is often white or yellow rather than watery like tears.   Conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes- the latter is often seem in a case of conjunctivitis caused by an allergy.

Any condition affecting the eye requires veterinary advice at the very least.  This is because there are a lot of “nasties” out there that can look like simple conjunctivitis in the first instance, only to go on to be a major problem- such as an ulcer or scratch to the cornea or uveitis- a very painful condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated.

Conjunctivitis normally responds very well to antibacterial eye drops or ointment.  The frequency of application depends on the condition and your vet will instruct you on this, but often it can be up to 3 times a day.

Steroid eye drops are occasionally prescribed if the inflammation is severe, but care must be taken to ensure the surface of the eye is not damaged, as steroids delay healing of any surface damage and can make matters worse.  Your vet will put an orange stain in the eye to check for ulcers or scratches.  If the cornea is damaged the stain shows up green on the damaged areas. 

Conjunctivitis can also cause the tear ducts to become blocked.  So tears run down the face instead of via the tear duct down the nose.  Again, the special stain mentioned previously can be used to check to see if the tear ducts are open.  If intact, the dye will appear in the nostrils after a few minutes- indicating that the tear ducts are working!  It is important to control inflammation and preserve the tear ducts, as permanent blockage leads to tears continuously running down the face.. This can scald the skin and also increases the risk of future episodes of conjunctivitis as flies are attracted to all the extra secretions around the eyes.

If the eyes are very swollen, vets will often describe an anti-inflammatory pain killer such as phenylbutazone (bute).  This brings the swelling down very quickly- making it much easier to get the medication into the eye.

There are several things you can do to try and prevent conjunctivitis.  Regularly clean the eyes with clean cotton wool and boiled, cooled water or a weak tea solution (no milk!)  Weak black tea has antiseptic properties and wont hurt the eye.  Wipe the eyes clean starting at the outer corner nearest the ear and wiping across to the front.  In summer use a good fly repellant and fly hood to protect the eyes from flies.  Make sure the hood doesn’t sit too close to the eyes as it can be irritating so go for one that appears to have protruding “bug eyes!”  Regularly wash the hood to avoid any accidental introduction of infection via the hood itself.  If your horse has conjunctivitis in one eye, make sure you wash your hands after treating the eye and preferably clean the good eye first.  Wash your hands between dealing with each horse to prevent possible spread of germs.

Finally- don’t put anything in a horses eye that you wouldn’t happily put in your own eye!  A lot of lotions and potions can be irritating to the eye and actually make matters worse. 

Always speak to your vet about a sticky eye.  I can’t stress this enough! There have been many occasions when I have seen a nasty case of corneal ulceration that the owner thought was “just a conjunctivitis” so left for a few days before calling us.  From a vet’s point of view, serious eye conditions such as ulceration do so much better if treated early on in the process.  We are fighting an uphill battle if we only see the eye after a few days when all manner of complications may have set in!

added 6th January 2011

When you own a pet and watch them get older and become more frail, the thought about when it is time to say goodbye to them is never far from your mind.  On the one hand you want to keep your beloved friend with you as long as possible but on the other you don't want them to suffer unnecessarily.  So how do you know when it is time to say goodbye?

Our pets are as attached to us as we are to them and so they should always be pleased to see us when we have been away, be that at work or just over-night.  If your pet no longer seems bothered that you are there or not or only raises their head to say hello, especially if this is out of character, then that is an indication that something is very wrong.  Cats in particular will can become very withdrawn if they feel bad and will hide away rather than interact with you.

We all know our pets will always try and make themselves as comfortable as possible; from dogs sneaking onto the sofa when we aren't looking to cats lazing in the sunshine!  However, if an animal is feeling poorly, especially over a long period of time, they start to not care about where they are lying and simply flop down wherever they happen to be.  For some aged pets moving around becomes difficult, often due to arthritis, and they find even getting up and down too painful.  One of the symptoms of this is urinating or defecating on their beds or where they are lying.  If this starts to happen then that is a significant concern, no happy, healthy pet would dirty themselves in this way.

All animals are very attached to their stomachs and most have healthy appetites throughout their lives.  So, if your pet starts to go off their food then there is likely to be an issue.  Often older pets suffer from illnesses such as kidney disease or dental problems which make eating difficult.  A loss of appetite can be a gradual problem, starting with pets refusing their own food but still eating treats or human food  and progressing to them not taking anything at all.  Once an older animal stops eating entirely, there is often very little that can be done for them.  Also, many illnesses which affect older pets will cause them to drink more, so just because they are still taking in water does not mean they are well, in fact an increased water intake coupled with a decreased appetite is a big concern.

Of course, the most important measure of an animal's quality of life is whether they are enjoying it or not and this is something which you, as a pet owner, are in the best place to judge.  Any pet showing the signs we have discussed above should be taken to a vet and given a check over.  You will be able to discuss your concerns with them and f there are treatments which might help, they will be able to start those.  Often people are afraid to take older pets to the vets in case they do advise euthanasia but no vet would offer this unless they thought it absolutely necessary.

It is never an easy decision to come to, saying that final goodbye, but for a pet you have owned and loved a long time, you get to know them very well and can see when the sparkle has gone out of their eyes and their life is no longer the joy it should be.  It is a cliché but it is true, you will know when it is time and you will know you are doing the right thing.  The kindest thing you will ever do for beloved pet is to stop any suffering before it becomes to great and to stay with them until the end.