What should I check if my horse's eye looks bulging or sunken? | arlo.® Atlas
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Overview
If your horse's eye looks bulging or sunken, check it promptly. A change in the eye's position or appearance can happen for several different reasons, from local irritation or injury to problems elsewhere in the eye or head. You can't rule out a serious cause just by looking, but a calm, careful check can help you notice useful details before speaking to a vet.
Things To Check
1. Check whether the change is in one eye or both eyes, and whether it looks sudden or has been building up.
2. Look closely for redness, swelling, discharge, cloudiness, a dirty-looking eye, broken skin, or blood around the eyelids.
3. Watch for squinting, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing, rubbing, or keeping the eye partly closed.
4. Compare the eye with your horse's usual appearance, including the eyelids, the amount of white showing, and whether the eye seems set deeper or more prominent than normal.
5. Check for signs of recent knocks, field trauma, thorny hedges, stable injuries, or anything that could have grazed the face or eye.
6. Note whether your horse is eating, drinking, bright, and behaving as normal, or whether there are other changes such as dullness or head shaking.
7. If you can do so safely, check for flies, dirt, bedding, or debris around the eye and whether the area has been groomed or washed recently.
8. Think about any recent illness, headache-like behaviour, sinus issues, or facial swelling, as these can sometimes affect how the eye looks.
Common Causes
The most common reasons are local irritation, minor trauma, or swelling around the eye or eyelids that makes the eye look more prominent.
A sunken-looking eye can sometimes happen with pain, dehydration, or a problem affecting the tissues around the eye, while a bulging look may be linked to swelling, inflammation, or injury.
Less commonly, changes in the eye's position may be associated with deeper eye problems, infection, or issues in the head or face that need veterinary assessment.
What To Do
Keep your horse somewhere safe and quiet so you can monitor the eye without more rubbing, dust, or turnout irritation.
Do not put anything into the eye unless your vet has told you to. Avoid trying to force the eyelids open if your horse is sore.
If there is dirt or loose debris on the outside of the eye area, you can gently keep the surroundings clean with clean water or saline on soft gauze, but only if your horse is calm and you can do it safely.
Make a note of how the eye looks, whether there is discharge, and whether the change is getting worse, then contact your vet promptly for advice, especially if the change is new or one-sided.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet urgently if the eye looks suddenly bulging or sunken, if your horse is squinting or in pain, if there is discharge, cloudiness, bleeding, marked swelling, or any injury to the eye area, or if the horse seems unwell. Eye problems can worsen quickly, so it's best not to wait and see.
Products That May Help
For day-to-day horse care, a small first aid kit can be useful to help you keep the eye area clean and monitor minor knocks safely while you wait for veterinary advice.
Related Questions
Why is my horse squinting or keeping one eye closed?
What should I do if my horse has discharge from one eye?
Can dust, flies or bedding make a horse's eye look irritated?
Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.