You don’t mess around with eyes. I’ve learned that over the many decades having horses and dogs. When something seems amiss, an eye is draining, squinting or puffy, you call the vet. Pronto. In fact, just last weekend I judged an IEA horse show that included a one-eyed horse. I don’t know how he lost his eye, but I imagine it was something that could have been prevented with proper care earlier in his life. That horse is now a cherished member of his show stable—and did remarkably well jumping around—but it reminded me again of the fragility of eyes.
When Poppy’s right eye began to have noticeable discharge a few weeks ago, I monitored it, cleaned her face and carefully observed any changes in her behavior. But when she began rubbing her eyes with her paws and shaking her head more often, I knew it was time to take action.
So, yesterday we took her to Cam’s vet clinic, the Animal Eye Institute, for a check. I was relieved that all the many tests were normal (much like a human eye exam with a Schirmer tear test, corneal stain and glaucoma pressure check. They suggested a nasolacrimal irrigation, which we did to be sure there was no blockage (there wasn’t). So, the end result was a mild case of conjunctivitis to be treated with antibiotic eye drops for a few weeks.
Poppy didn’t seem too stressed about her trip to the clinic, and I think having Cam there to hold her and be by her side comforted her. She went home a little groggy, but it was a small price to pay for a clear diagnosis.