What should I do if my horse's eye is bleeding?
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Overview
If your horse's eye is bleeding, treat it as urgent and contact your vet for advice straight away. Eye bleeding can happen for several reasons, from a knock or scratch to something more serious, and it's not something you can safely assess fully at home.
While you wait, keep your horse as calm as possible and avoid putting anything into the eye unless your vet has told you to.
Things To Check
1. Look at how much bleeding there is and whether it seems to be coming from the eye itself, the eyelids, or nearby skin.
2. Check for swelling, squinting, blinking, tearing, discharge, or signs that your horse is trying to keep the eye shut.
3. See whether there has been a recent knock, scratch, kick, or exposure to dust, bedding, branches, or flying debris.
4. Notice if the eye looks cloudy, very red, sunken, bulging, or different from the other eye.
5. Watch for any change in behaviour such as head shaking, rubbing, reluctance to come close, or general stress.
6. Check whether the horse seems to be in pain, especially if they won't let you near the head or are repeatedly blinking.
7. Look around the stable or field for anything that could have caused a cut or irritation, such as sharp edges, overhanging branches, or dirty bedding.
Common Causes
Most often, eye bleeding in horses is caused by a minor injury such as a scratch, knock, or something irritating the surface of the eye or eyelids. A cut around the eye can also bleed more than you'd expect because the area is very well supplied with blood.
Less commonly, bleeding can be linked to a deeper eye injury, a foreign body, infection, or inflammation inside the eye. Because some eye problems can worsen quickly, it's best not to assume it's only a small graze.
What To Do
Keep your horse quiet and away from anything that might aggravate the eye, such as dust, bright light, or other horses. If they wear a fly mask and it seems comfortable and clean, your vet may suggest using it later, but don't apply anything over the eye if it seems sore or if you haven't been advised to do so.
Do not rub the eye, remove anything stuck in it, or use human eye drops unless your vet has specifically told you to. If there is obvious bleeding from the skin around the eye, you can gently prevent further rubbing and keep the area clean and dry while you wait for advice.
If possible, keep a note of when you first noticed the bleeding, whether it is getting worse, and any other signs you've seen. That information can help your vet judge how urgent it is and what may be causing it.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet straight away if the eye is actively bleeding, the bleeding started after a kick or head injury, your horse is squinting or in pain, the eye looks cloudy or badly swollen, or you suspect something is stuck in the eye. Eye injuries can become serious quickly, and prompt assessment is important.
If the bleeding seems minor but doesn't stop, keeps coming back, or your horse is rubbing the eye, it's still worth getting veterinary advice as soon as possible.
Related Questions
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Can I clean my horse's eye at home?
How can I tell if my horse has something in its eye?
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.