Q & A With Stacey

Q: I own a 10 year old appaloosa gelding who always has runny eyes. He has been this way since I purchased him 3 years ago and I was told that this is a typical appaloosa trait. It does not seem to bother him at all, but I�m wondering if this is something I should concerned about?

A: Weepy eyes isn't necessarily a trait found in just Appaloosa, I would call that a myth. There are many reasons for a horses eyes to run. Tears serve two function: They cleanse and lubricate the surface of the eye, and they contain immune substance to help prevent eye infections.

The type of discharge comming from your horses eye can help define its cause.

- a watery or mucus-like discharge without redness or pain indicates a problem with the tear drainage system. The horses tear ducts can become blocked by mucus and dirt and thus tears cannot drain into the nasal passage as normal and sre then seen draining onto the face. This problem is easily correct if caught early. If left for long periods of time the duct can be very difficult or impossible to unblock.

-any discharge accompanied by a painful eye should alert you to the possibility of cornea or inner eye involvement.

-discharge from both eyes can suggest conjunctivitis or, if the horse also has a fever, bilateral discharge may be related to a viral respiratory illness (ex. strangles).

Always contact your veterinarian with any concerns you may have, a horses eye sight is a precious sense, and loss of this sense can be fatal in some instances.