Eye Injuries, infections and conjunctivitis

5.4.1 Eye Injuries, infections and conjunctivitis Note: Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the pink membrane surrounding the eye.

Symptoms: An injured or infected eye is unusually red, the animal squints, and the eye may have excessive tears or pus coming from it.

Treatment:

If the problem is chronic (i.e. has been there for a long time), warn the owner that the eye will probably not improve much with treatment.

If the problem is acute:

- Restrain the animal properly and wash hands well.

- Look in the eye for a foreign body; and remove it, if possible.

- Look for cloudiness in the colored part of the eye. Cloudiness is a sign of infection or injury in the eye. Red and/or swollen conjunctiva (pink membrane around the eye) is a sign of conjunctivitis.

- Wash eye well with boiled, cooled water. If available, add boric acid at a ratio of one-part boric acid to 100 ml water.

- Put antibiotic ointment in the eye at least twice daily for seven to ten days. Be sure to use only ointment that is made for use in the eye. Often eye ointment for people can be found in the local market and is safe to use in animals.

- Keep the eye clean. Regularly rinse the excess discharge from the eye and protect it from flies.

- If the eye is injured, put atropine drops or atropine ointment in the eye (if available). This will help relieve much of the pain and may prevent permanent damage.

Caution: Avoid getting the atropine drops or ointment in your own eyes or your eyesight will be blurry for a while.