How to Flush a Horses Eye – Top Tips, Tactics, & Techniques!

Sharing is caring!

Last Updated on March 17, 2023

In a medical emergency, there are some skills we should all learn, and how to flush a horses eye is one of them. If your horse has a problem with his eye, it is vital that you can take care of it quickly and without causing any further harm. Let’s find out everything you need to know about how to flush a horse’s eye!

Why Should You Flush a Horse’s Eye?

The eye of a horse is a sensitive and very complex part of its anatomy. If your horse sustains an injury to its eye or develops an eye infection, it can quickly escalate into a very serious problem.

For this reason, when it comes to equine eyes this is one area where you should not hesitate before seeking veterinary advice. A minor eye problem can develop into something that may affect the eyesight of the horse, and even potentially result in blindness. So, when it comes to eyes, it is better to be safe than sorry!

When to Flush Horse’s Eye

So, when might you need to flush a horse’s eye? Sometimes your veterinarian may advise you to flush the eyes, and this may need to be done several times every day. There are also some situations where it is appropriate to flush a horse’s eye without checking with your veterinarian first.

If your horse’s eye looks dirty and you are tempted to flush it, is this a good idea?

First of all, let’s remind ourselves what a clever organ of the body the eye really is. The eyeball is constantly exposed to dirt and dust, but it is self-cleaning! The eye constantly produces a steady supply of tears, that rinse the surface of the eyeball. These are then drained away through the nasolacrimal duct – a thin tube that takes tears from the eye to the inside of the nostril.

If your horse has a dirty eyeball, this may mean that this system is not working properly. It is important to give the eye a thorough visual examination – do the eyelids look red or swollen? Is the horse holding its eye open normally, or squinting? Can you see any discharge from the eye? If you spot anything out of the ordinary, it is best to contact your veterinary clinic straight away.

Once you have completed your inspection and are completely satisfied that the eye looks normal, it is time to think about whether it needs flushing or not. The most common reason why may want to flush your horse’s eye is that it has been exposed to high levels of dust. This may be from turnout in a dry, dusty paddock, or dust from hay, straw, and bedding in the barn.

(3 Pack) Vetericyn Plus All Animal Eye Wash, 3 Ounces Per Pack

If this sounds like your horse, then a gentle flush once or twice a day can help to prevent more serious eye problems. However, prevention is better than cause, and it is a good idea to stop dust from getting into your horse’s eyes in the first place. This can be achieved by reducing the dust in the environment and putting a dust mask on your horse to protect the eyes.

What to Use to Flush a Horse’s Eye

There is one golden rule when it comes to horses’ eyes, and that is to keep germs at bay! You should only use a sterile solution to flush a horse’s eye; this can be sterile saline or a commercially-produced eyewash solution. Never use contact lens storage solution to rinse a horse’s eye.

Don’t be tempted to flush your horse’s eyes with water from the tap, or anything other than a sterile eyewash solution. The horse’s eye is very sensitive, and you may do more harm than good by using the wrong solution. You may also come across a lot of suggestions for different ways to make homemade eye wash for horses – if made incorrectly these can also harm your horse’s eye, so it is a good idea to check with your veterinarian first.

How to Flush a Horse’s Eye

To flush your horse’s eye, you will need a way of squirting the eyewash into the eye, whilst also holding the eye open and keeping the horse’s head still. This is much easier with two people! The horse’s eye is quite large, so you will need to get a reasonable amount of eyewash into the eye.

If you are using sterile saline, this can be squirted into the eye using a syringe with the needle removed. Eyewash solutions sometimes come in a dispenser or dropper that makes it easier to get the solution into the eye. To make this process more comfortable for the horse, avoid squirting the liquid directly onto the eyeball, and trickle it along the eyelids instead.

Common Eye Problems in Horses

If you’re not sure whether to flush your horse’s eyes or not, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek veterinary advice. Many common eye problems in horses start as something quite small but can develop rapidly into a severe problems that can lead to recurrent issues or loss of sight.

Your veterinarian will have specialist equipment to enable the eye to be assessed fully, but you can also look for tell-tale signs that indicate common eye problems in horses:

• Horse eye infection white discharge

White discharge from the eye is one of the most common symptoms of eye problems a horse owner will come across, but what does it mean? White mucus is produced by the eyes in response to an irritant, such as dust, flies, or hairs. It is a natural response that is intended to ‘flush’ dirt and debris from the eyes.

However, in some cases, white discharge can be the first sign of an eye infection in your horse. If the discharge is accompanied by any other signs, such as swelling of the eyelids, squinting, or excessive blinking, it is a good idea to contact your veterinary clinic for advice.

• Horse eye infection yellow discharge

If you see yellow discharge in and around your horse’s eyes, this is a clear sign that they have an eye infection. Yellow discharge is characterized as purulent material, or pus made up of dead bacteria and inflammatory cells. You will normally see other symptoms such as swollen eyelids or the eye held tightly closed.

Any yellow discharge from your horse’s eye should be taken seriously and warrants a call to your veterinarian. A short course of antibiotic eye drops for horses may be sufficient to sort the problem, but if left untreated it could quickly become much more serious.

• Horse-blocked tear duct

The tear duct is a thin tube that runs from the inner corner of the eye down to the inside of the horse’s nostril. Its function is to carry excess tears, dirt, and debris away from the eye, helping to keep the eye clean and lubricated. Unfortunately, sometimes the tear duct can become blocked, leading to a range of eye problems.

The most common reason for a blocked tear duct is a plug of mucoid material that becomes lodged in the narrow tube. When this happens, excess tears can no longer leave the eye via the tear duct, and instead will spill over the eyelids and onto the face. This can lead to a higher risk of eye infections, and also cause sore areas on the skin around the eye.

If your horse has a blocked tear duct, the first step is for your veterinarian to attempt to flush out the blockage with a thin catheter. The tube is passed up from the nostril end and gently flushed with sterile saline. When the blockage is cleared, topical antibiotics may be administered to reduce the risk of infection.

How to Flush a Horse’s Eye Summary

So, as we have learned, finding the best way how to flush a horse’s eye is not always easy! You may need two people for this job, one to hold the horse’s head still, and the other to flush the sterile saline or eyewash into the horse’s eye. Eye washing should only be used to remove dust from the eyeball, and if any other eye problem is suspected then veterinary advice must be sought.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on how to flush a horse’s eye! Have you had problems treating an eye condition in your horse? Or maybe you’ve got a great trick for flushing a horse’s eye? Leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!

FAQs

Sharing is caring!