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  Discussion on My horse has undeveloped tear ducts
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 16, 2001 - 10:14 pm:

I have owned this mare four almost four yrs. She is now 6 .I have always been concerned about here eyes because the water all the time. Have had her vetted for this and there was nothing conclusive figured out the vet thought maybe aclogged tearduct and even though he tried that stuff in her to see it come out the nostril we could'nt tell any way today I took her to an equine vet that I use for major stuff. he also thought a blocked tear duct. This vet used a snall Hose to go through the teeny passage in the nostril to test iff it were clogged. well after trying to pass this tube through either side he cuncluded that her ducts were nver completly formed he called it something in vet talk that I can't remember and said she would be ok That I just needed to treat her eye with ointment when I notice red irrtated conjunctivitus I think it's called.Dr.O do you know anything about this condition? thanks for any info

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2001 - 6:28 am:

Congenital atresia of the tear ducts has been reported in horses and I have seen it is mules. In that case there was not even a ventral opening of the duct.

However I am not sure I would give up just yet. The tear duct tends to get more narrow as the duct goes up to the eye where there are generally two openings on the inside corner of the eye lids at the mucocutaneous junction. If they have been chronically clogged it may have become too firm to retrograde up the narrowing tube. In cases like this running a very small tube down from the top can sometimes be accomplished when it could not be done frone the bottom up. If may require an opthamologist and even short duration general anesthesia to accomplish this.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2001 - 7:01 am:

Morning Dr.O when you say opthamologist do you mean th e kind people use? thanks Daryl.

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2001 - 8:05 am:

Dr.O do you mean the human opthamologist?

Posted on Friday, Aug 17, 2001 - 3:47 pm:

No a veterinary opthamologist.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 18, 2001 - 5:37 pm:

Dr.O, I am still trying to get the hang of this computer world. And the more I learn about horses the more I realize I know nothing. I should have waited to post my ? but I couln't help it, I just love this sight you created!! I knew that the Dr. was going to fax me about the findings as he didn't have the time . So this is exactly what his exam determined,My horse has an atretic lacrimal duct on both sides. The Dr. didn't seem alarmed about it, I love this horse & hope to have her as long as we both may live.My ? about a people eye Dr. may sound crazy but it had been suggested to me before by a vet assistant who also raises horses.The ointment is a steroid reccomended daily for one week. I don't know where to find a veterinary opthamologist. Thank you I will try to have more patience before posting. Daryl

Posted on Sunday, Aug 19, 2001 - 7:50 am:

Has has your vet differentiated clogged ducts from atretic ducts? Concerning the vet opthamologist your vet can make a recommendation and I recommend one that is experienced in equine issues.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 25, 2001 - 11:28 am:

Yes my vet did differentiate.Thanks Daryl
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