How to Give Eye Medications to a Horse
How to Give Eye Medications to a Horse
Have you ever tried to give eye medications to a horse? Well, it is not as simple a task as it may sound! Most horses are sensitive around the eyes, which makes putting medicine on his/her eyes, especially if a painful ocular condition is present, difficult. The fact that horses have a pretty strong eyelid muscle makes this task even more difficult, as they will fight to keep their eye shut (while you struggle to open their eye). With that in mind, it is always a good idea to get your horse used to having the area around his/her eyes manipulated so he doesn’t associate it with a painful process. You can do this while grooming your horse, during daily training, and with any interactive sessions.
Most medications used for ocular conditions are topical and should be applied directly on the eyeball. Your veterinarian may prescribe either ointments or drops to be administered to the eye. When dealing with equine patients, ointments have an advantage over eye drops due to the lateral position of the horse eyeball. Getting the horse to look up to put eyedrops in adds an extra level of challenge to the task!
To apply ointments, consider the following tips: Stand to the side of the eyeball to be treated and slide your hand nearest to the eye to be treated under the cheek portion of the halter. Place the heel of your palm near the inside corner of his eye and use your index finger to open the upper eyelid, while your thumb gently pulls the lower eyelid down. Holding the ointment tube with the opposite hand and directing the tip of the tube towards the inner corner of the eye (instead of towards the center of the eyeball), gently apply 1/4” strip of the medication on the inner corner of the eye, closer to the lower eyelid. In some cases, just pulling the lower eyelid down (without simultaneously elevating the upper eyelid) might be sufficient to ensure proper placement of the medication. Be careful not to touch the tip of the tube to the eyeball to avoid trauma and contamination of the tube. As an alternative method, you may put the medication first on your index finger (instead of holding the tube) and apply it directly in the inner corner of the eyeball. Be sure to have clean hands or wear gloves if using this technique. Regardless if you use the tube directly to dispense the ointment, or use your fingers, a gentle massage on the eyelids and the blinking movement should be enough to spread the ointment. In fact, the warmth of the globe will melt the ointment and assure proper distribution over the eyeball.
Some topical medications are only formulated as an eyedrop, and those can be slightly more challenging to deliver to a horse. Some very well-trained horses will allow the caregiver to place his/her head on their shoulders and slightly turn his/her head to have the treated eye facing upwards. One drop of the solution can then be directly applied to the globe. However, most horses will not cooperate that way, and using a small syringe (1cc/1ml) will be your best bet to deliver the drug to the eye. First, withdraw 0.2ml from the original vial using the syringe and provided needle. Be careful to avoid any contact of the needle with any surface or object to prevent contamination. After you have the correct amount of medication into the syringe, break off the needle (careful not to stab yourself) and use the syringe + needle hub as a “squirt gun”. Using the same technique as while applying an ointment with the tube, direct the needle hub to the inner corner of the eye, and never squirt directly into the center of the globe. Aim for the “pink” or “white” portion of the globe instead.
In case of fragile eyes or when the frequency of medication is high, your veterinarian will likely recommend the placement of a subpalpebral lavage (SPL) to facilitate the administration of the medicines. This device consists of a flexible tubing that passes through the eyelid, with a “plate” (something like a “shower”) in one end (positioned in the inside portion of the eyelid), and an injection cap on the other end (where the medication is administered from). Usually, this flexible tube is long enough, secured through the mane, and the injection site sits around the neck level – far away from the eye. Imagine the SPL as a catheter, where you inject the medication in one side, and the drug is delivered on the other end of the tube. The SPL can be used in any horses, regardless of its size or age, and should always be placed by a veterinarian. This device can be left in place for a couple of months, if well maintained, and permits that medication (solutions) are delivered to the horse without touching their eyeballs. It ensures that the drug is administered correctly and delivered onto the eyeball. It also minimizes any force applied to fragile eyeball, avoids trauma to the horse (opening a painful eye), and is safer for the caregiver.
If you are treating a horse with an SPL in place, keep in mind that the injection port should always be kept clean (you can wipe it with alcohol daily and allow it to dry before injecting the medication). Using a clean (preferably sterile) small syringe and needle, inject 0.2ml of the drug through the injection port, followed by 2-3ml of air. Do not use water, saline, or eyewash, as those will dilute the drug. If there are several drugs to be applied at the same time, do not mix them up on the syringe or on the tube, as they might neutralize each others’ effect. It is important to apply them individually, followed by air, and wait 5 minutes for proper absorption of the drug. Only then the next medication can be applied, and the same process should be followed for each solution.
Regardless if you are applying an ointment, a solution, or dispensing a medication using the SPL, the horse’s reflex is always to throw their head upwards and away from the handler once the drug hits the eye, so positive reinforcements should be encouraged and always performed. So keep the bag of treats full and a positive attitude! If you have any trouble giving medications to your horse, don’t hesitate to talk to your veterinarian or ophthalmologist, so it can be ensured that your horse will receive the treatment needed to preserve his globe and vision.