Horses’ eyes naturally produce tears for lubrication and protection. But when you notice persistent tearing, discharge, or “weepiness,” it’s a sign something needs attention. In this article, we’ll explain what causes watery eyes, ways to manage horse eye discharge, and how your veterinarian can help.
Common Causes of Weepy Eyes
- Irritation. Tears are the eye’s first line of defense against environmental irritants and allergens such as wind, dust, flies, and pollen. Affected horses might have clear, watery discharge from both eyes and squint or blink more than normal.
- Blocked tear duct. Horses tear normally, but if the nasolacrimal duct that drains tears into the nasal passage gets clogged, you’ll see excessive watery discharge without obvious irritation.
- Conjunctivitis. Infection, trauma, and allergies can trigger this inflammation of the thin membrane lining the eyelids. Signs include discharge, red or swollen inner eyelid tissue, and rubbing or head-shaking.
- Corneal injuries. Branches, hay stems, or irritants can scratch the eye’s cornea (its clear front surface). These injuries can worsen quickly if untreated. Signs include a cloudy or bluish eye surface, pain, squinting, and thick discharge.
- Equine recurrent uveitis. Also known as “moon blindness,” this immune-mediated inflammation is a serious cause of tearing and can lead to vision loss over time. During episodes, horses might be sensitive to light, tear excessively, and squint painfully.
How to Manage a Horse With Weepy Eyes
First, know what’s normal and what’s not. When you groom your horse every day, take time to assess his eyes. A healthy eye has a bright, clear surface, no swelling or redness, and only a small amount of clear tearing.
If your horse has mild, clear discharge, clean the area around his eyes with a clean, damp cloth and/or sterile saline. Wipe gently, from the inner corner of the eye outward. Switch to a fresh, clean wipe for each eye. Avoid touching the eye itself or using cotton swabs, which can easily scratch the eye’s sensitive surface. Don’t apply ointments or over-the-counter meds unless specifically instructed to by your veterinarian.
For the horse that’s prone to tearing up, you can take steps to provide relief. Try to reduce dust in stalls by using low-dust hay and bedding and making sure your barn is well-ventilated. Outfit your horse in a fly mask during warm months to prevent irritation from flies attracted to the watery runoff. Fly masks can also protect against allergens and wind.
As part of your regular grooming regimen, gently clean and coat the skin under your horse’s eyes (on the teary paths) with petroleum jelly to prevent irritation from the continual drainage. Your vet might also recommend a prescription cream to alleviate irritation.
Related Reading: Choosing the Right Fly Mask for Your Horse
Clogged Tear Ducts
Absent any other signs of trouble, a horse that consistently has tears running down his face might have a blocked tear duct. Technically called nasolacrimal ducts, these tiny passages drain excess tears from the eyes through the nose. When these ducts become blocked, tears collect and spill over the bottom lid. Ducts become blocked for a variety of reasons, including the mucus in equine tears and the simple fact that some horses have narrower ducts than others.
Your veterinarian can flush a duct by running a small tube up through the horse’s nose into the end of the channel. Then a squirt of saline will usually clear the blockage—you will know it has worked when you see fluid bubble up from the eye like a fountain.
After flushing, some horses will never have the problem again, but others may develop another blockage within days. In these cases, you might opt to simply leave the duct blocked. It will cause no harm to your horse, even over the long term.
When to Call the Vet
Mild tearing is usually not cause for concern and can be managed with gentle cleaning and eye protection. Equine eyes, however, are highly sensitive, and most eye problems are considered emergencies. So work with your veterinarian to resolve the issue and make sure it’s not masking a more serious condition. It’s always better to have a professional check your horse’s eyes right away than risk long-term consequences, including vision loss.
Related Reading:
Part of this article originally appeared on Equus.
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