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  Discussion on Horse Tears
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2000 - 2:32 am:

Dear Members,
What is the problem and why horses rub their eyes ?
My horses have tears coming out from their eyes very frequently but there are no redness in their eyes .
Best Regards ,
Don

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2000 - 3:06 am:

Horses' eyes water from irritations caused by dust/dry grass/or similar, or this could be an infection.

Horses' eyes should be bathed twice daily with distilled or boiled water.

You should get your vet to check out their eyes as if it is an infection, they need treatment.

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2000 - 9:57 am:

My horse is very sensitive to flies. Hers eyes will run even if just one fly is irritating them. I use a fly mask daily, take it off at night, and her eyes don't run. I use the fly mask even "off season" when there aren't many flys. We live in the Southwest so even in winter there can be a few pesky ones around.

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2000 - 5:56 pm:

Another possible cause is blockage of the tear ducts and flushing them may help. Alexa, distilled water may be irritating because of the lack of salts, better would be sterile saline or artificial tears as routine treatment. When foreign material is in the eye clean or distilled water would be warranted.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 1, 2000 - 6:34 pm:

Dr.O,

Is it okay to use the same saline solution contact lens wearers use?

Some time ago, my dog had something in his eye that puffed it up quickly - in a panic I washed it out with contact lens saline and he was good as new very quickly.

Just curious.

Chris

Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2000 - 3:37 am:

Thanks for that information, Dr. O, it is good to know that. I myself always use boiled water, but had been told that distilled water was good. Now I know that is not so.
Alexa

Posted on Thursday, Mar 2, 2000 - 9:50 am:

Hello All,
Yes, I think our tears and their tears are similar.
DrO
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