Advice needed on eye injury

[Mulligans Run]

My weanling filly, Mage, ripped her eyelid off over a week ago. We had it sewn back on, kept her in a stall with a fly mask on - applied ointment twice a day.

Almost a week into healing, she rips it open by rubbing it. Our vet had to reopen it and resew it. This time we tried harder/stiffer fly masks to keep the mask from laying on the eye. And we moved her outside into a grassy paddock. She's created an ulcer on the eye by rubbing it.

Yesterday she started to rip it open AGAIN!! I don't know what to do with her. Now we're at applying ointment every two hours, in addition to other meds for the corneal abrassion. I know that there are halters with eye protection on them for BIG horses, but I can't find one to use as a pattern.

Someone on this forum has to have some experience in this - help!!! I don't want her to be scarred and I don't want her to lose her lid. We had hopes of her showing....

:

All advice is appreciated! If you don't want to post here - drop me an email [email protected]

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Hi Heather,

We've had a number of eye injuries over the year (two eye removals last year alone!).

Ask your vet first, but the one this past summer we kept her on a low dose of banamine for the pain (and fast track for her gut) so she wouldn't rub her injured eye. Just enough to keep the pain done for about a week.

I actually found the fly mask caused more problems (the ulcerations) than a very liberal amount of fly spray around her eye.

This mare fortunately didn't lose her eye, but does have a small star from the ulcer caused by the fly mask. It did take close to a month for her to finally be healed. I hate eye injuries as they seem to take forever to fix.

Best of luck.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Also ask about the anaesthetic that goes straight in the eye- I had a mare with an ulcerated eye recently and stood my ground about Bute in the face of a very irate young Vet who told me firmly there was NO reason it could not be used in Minis.

Then she went back into the surgery and talked to someone in there who obviously told her that arguing with me was pointless as she came out and delivered another lecture on how Banamine is useless and anyway much stronger yaa de yaa etc- I told her Yes but the way it acted was different and she gave in and gave me the locals for the eye!!

IF Bute had truly been the best way to go, as it is in laminitis, I would have used it.

Our Vets are still in the dark ages when it comes to Minis.

Sorry about that, Off Topic!!

Anyway the local will remove the itch/pain and therefore the need to rub.

They are used in humans all the time, and it is the human ones that I was given.

Worth asking.

 

[horsesmakeubroke]

I've emailed you. Drastic measures but might give you some ideas.

Kate

 

[Jitterbug]

Heather,

Ask Aubrey - I'm sure he came up with a good way to deal with this when Lily got hurt

last year.

Justine

 

[ChrystalPaths]

That BRAT! I'll try again but maybe have Bonnie talk to her. It REALLY hurts and I would quit with the fly mask. My Rose had something similar and we had to keep the mask off. We got one of those human eye cups and taped it on. At first she was terrified but I explained she could go out and play and graze if she wore her "jewelry" and she settled down and got better.

 

[targetsmom]

I had this happen to a filly last year - she ripped it open twice, in her "safe" stall. Where there is a will, there is a way. The vet stitched it twice and then we gave up - but it did heal fine. I used the ointment too. I made a cover to cover go over the eye to protect it. You are right - they don't make them for minis but they are available for big horses. I will e-mail you.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Aha!!!- You know the head gear racehorses and trotters use???

The Cup -Blinders??

Do the do that for minis- or could you adapt a full size one??

I put a full sized fly mask on Pagan when she ripped her eye- no stitches though- and it stood out a lot further form the face.

She also looked ridiculous as it had the ear things and she looked like a well bred Donkey but the others were warned about sniggering- on pain of death!!

I think the "cups " would work, though.

 

[targetsmom]

Yes, Rabbitfizz, the thing that I made looks like the things they use on racehorses, only one eye piece is open. And the covered one is perforated for ventilation, but is hard plastic. I had to make it myself from various parts.

 

[Mulligans Run]

Thanks everyone for all your advice.

Targetsmom - check your email.

Debs - keep trying - she's a fiesty one, but we'll look for the human eye cup. Is it metal?

Rabbitsfizz - we thought about using a bridle with blinders so if she rubbed on it - it would only push on her eye, but even those are large and not sure I could replace just the blinder.

Kate - thank you for your suggestion too - but I agree, it is a little extreme and I will leave that as a last resort, but I do appreciate it.

Jitterbug - I'll email Aubrey - suprised he hasn't seen this post...those busy college students, geez.

Hmmmm....sounds like there may be a market for miniature horse medical equipment.

 

[littlesteppers]

We used the Guardian mask and LOVE it!

Guardian

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Plastic but Christine has the perfect solution with her eye mask! I remember being VERY impressed with it when she got her Trooper!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

That Guardian mask is the best I have seen yet!!!

 

[Reble]

Ok, just thinking here after seeing that mask, great ideal.

What about somehow attaching water googles to a fly mask?

Maybe someone can ad to this?

 

[targetsmom]

I sure wish I knew about the guardian mask when our filly ripped her eyelid open. I searched the internet and so did my vet and we never found that website. Anyway, the mask we did use is in the overnight mail to Mulligans Run! My experience was that you need something that fits fairly tight because our filly kept trying to rub the eye. We gave her Bannamine too, I might add. Plus the eye ointment.

Good luck!!

 

[honeycomb max]

Heather - have you tried the collar the vet puts around a dog's neck - I forget what it is called. It looks like a lamp shade.

Also we have used an antibotic ointment on both Poppy's and Cache's eye problems and it works get.

I can get you the name if you need it - it is in the medicine chest in the barn.

Millie

 

[Mulligans Run]

Wow - what wonderful advice from everyone. We ordered the Guardian mask (one of each size) and we're going to try the one on it's way from targets mom - God Bless you all!!!

Millie - we thought about the E-collar, but I think she'd still rub it. I think we're going to have to do the banamine too, and gastroguard. Why do they have to be so difficult?

:

 

[HGFarm]

That guardian mask looks terrific! I could have used one years ago!

I dont think the dog collar thing would work- dogs scratch with hind legs, wipe with front legs, etc.. and dont seem to be so darned prone to rubbing their head viciously on everything as horses are!

I think that Guardian thing would work well with Rabbits idea of the stuff to put on the eye that sort of numbs things and stops that itching (it is just because it is healing is why)

 

[Mulligans Run]

:aktion033: :aktion033: We got the fly mask from Target's mom yesterday and from what I understand (I'm not home right now) She's doing great with it. The Guardian masks on on their way as a back up, but Shannon has commented on how wonderful this one is because it would fit any size horse...I wouldn't need two or three. :bgrin

Mage is on cam #3 if you want to peek in on her. I'm out of town on vacation and it's the only way I can keep track of what's going on, besides word of mouth.

Anyway - big thanks to everyone and here's the link to check on her. Mage's Cam I thought you might like to see your mask in action Targets Mom.

:

Hugs!!!!! From Heather, Shannon and Mage!

 

[zacharyfarms]

Well I'm excited about this thread...haven't had the need yet but I am sure it is only a matter of time..

: so many good ideas and experiences..the guardian mask looks wonderful and I went to your webcam Heather and the little begger was in the lower right hand corner and you couldn't see her head.. :new_shocked: but I am sure she is doing great. Good luck and prayers for a successful recovery.