Pinkeye Treatment for Horses

Pinkeye is an older term for what is now referred to as conjunctivitis. Pinkeye and conjunctivitis both refer to an eye infection that affects the inside of the eyelid and the eye surface. Pinkeye can occur in one or both eyes. It is considered by the "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook" to be the most common equine eye ailment.

  1. Types of pinkeye

    • Pinkeye in horses can be serous or purulent. The serous type of pinkeye causes reddening of the eye and slight swelling. It can be brought about because of equine viral respiratory diseases and viral arteritis. There is a clear discharge.
      Sometimes the purulent type of pinkeye evolves from the serous type but later becomes a bacterial infection. Equine viral arteritis may also cause purulent pinkeye to develop.The discharge from purulent pinkeye is sticky and thick.

    Treatment

    • Apply an antibiotic ointment to your horse's eye three or four times a day for at least a week. The symptoms should be better within 24 hours; if not, the problem is serious enough for a visit from your veterinarian. If the eye does not start clearing up, it may be because the cornea has been injured or there is something stuck in the eye. It's also possible the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic you're using.

    Signs of Other Ailments

    • If your horse is squinting, the eye is tender to touch and/or you can see your horse's third eyelid, the ailment may be in the cornea or the horse's inner eye. Pinkeye does not affect the eye this far under the surface, so call your veterinarian for an exam to find out what is wrong with your horse.