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Discussion on Puffy Eyelids
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 - 11:12 am:
I'm resurrecting this thread because my daughter's new horse (same 18-year-old gamer mentioned in other posts) is having quite a reaction in the pasture. We are having an unusually dry summer here in SE Minnesota, and the flies are nearly nonexistent. Yet, his eyelids this morning were all swollen and he had mild clear tearing. There is no clouding of the eyeball. He is rubbing his eyes on his front legs a lot. Like the first person who posted here, the swelling comes and goes and affects the eyes differently. A few weeks ago, I tried the vet's ointment for eye infections, and it made no difference. Today is the worst I've seen it. This horse has never been pastured until coming to our place. I might add that I am personally experiencing my worst case of noxious weed attack ever, however, and have every reason to suspect our pasture. Any chance his problem could be plant life as well?
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 - 1:13 pm:
I want to point out that this horse is the only one having problems. The four mules and 1/2 Arab yearling are doing fine. I plan to buy a fly mask this afternoon, just to see if it helps.
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 22, 2006 - 6:15 pm:
Heidi -- I just read that Lantana consumption can cause keratitis, which would make eyes drain and be swollen. Make sure you don't have your horses eating Lantana, because eye problems would soon be the least of your worries. Does your horse have any areas of hair loss on his face? One of mine gets an itchy face in the summer months that causes him to scrub his face and eyes. MTG application helped relieve his itchy fungus face, and thereby helped his eye problem as well.
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 8:20 am:
Thanks for the insight, VIcki. I had to look up Lantana on Wikipedia, and fortunately for us Minnesotans it grows only in tropical regions. Our bane here is wild parsnip, and we currently have none in the pasture.
I have yet to check FIrefly's eyes after putting on the flymask yesterday. I will report back when I see how he's doing.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 9:54 am:
I believe I have seen lantana growing wild in NC and Va mountains but with lantana toxicity you should see considerably more than just weepy puffy eyes as it is a photosensitizing plant (toxin: lantadene). For more see the Poisonous Plant page and use the link to the Illinois poisonous page site. I do think irritation is possible Heidi and the mask sensible to try.
DrO
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 12:17 pm:
I've seen Lantana growing in various places around the world -- including Madagascar (and NOT a tropical area) Minnesota is less hospitable than many environments, but I don't take the word of weed books about where things grow at all because there have been so many blatant errors. Several species are very widespread throughout Florida while not listed as being here. And new species continue to arrive. With global warming you will probably see some new things up there too. You can be very glad not to have Lantana, however.
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 1:01 pm:
Firefly's worse eye is back to normal and the other is a little less swollen. I did put ointment on the worse eye last night before putting on the mask. If the other eye doesn't improve, I'll do the same to it. I don't think the original swelling is the result of infection, but he rubbed his eyes so much it's hard to tell what else may have been introduced.
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Member:
Kathleen
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 2:46 pm:
I didn't realize that Lantana is toxic. It is planted extensively in our area because it one of the only plants that flower that deer won't eat. That should have given us a hint. Luckily the horses don't have access to it.
Kathleen
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Friday, Jun 23, 2006 - 6:16 pm:
Most horses (mine included) do not care to eat Lantana, but there are some individuals that acquire a taste for it and seek it out. It can and does kill cattle, horses and other animals (including dogs). I have friends who have lost horses to Lantana and have observed horses eating it. I've also watched horses eating stinging nettle, (no, they were not starving -- just an act of opportunism) which seems very unlikely!
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 29, 2006 - 11:59 am:
We have no Lantana in our pasture. We do have nettles, though. What's weird is that I would expect the other mules and horse to be affected as well. Anyway, the flymask is providing enough protection to help Firefly. Our dilemma now is that we prefer to pasture our horses at night, and horses cannot see through flymasks then. Dr. O. or anyone else, can you recommend similar head gear that won't impede his vision?
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Member:
Heidim
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 1, 2006 - 1:31 pm:
I talked to my vet again, and it occurred to him that my horse would probably do well with a racing hood and accompanying goggles for nighttime grazing. He is a former race track vet. I found all this online for a reasonable price, and thought I'd pass it along in case anyone else has a similar need.
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New Member:
Ella
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006 - 2:12 pm:
Happened to find this thread and thought I would also add that I have found a hood from the track with tinted goggles. I have a mare with an eye injury and she is sensitive to light on one side. I was amazed...sunglasses for my horse. (It laces in so she only has the goggle on the injured side)
Oh, by the way, this lists me as a new member. I am the same Ella who has been here before. I guess I rejoined in a way that didn't keep previous information. Alas...
Ella 
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