Best mask for eye injuries **pics of injury added #13**

[BoyleHeightsKid]

So I got the dreaded call from my BO Friday morning. Boy had a bloody swollen eye and I needed to come right away. I left work and had the BO call the vet and he arrived shortly after I got there.

We have no idea what the hell happened, but his upper eyelid is so swollen that the inside of the lid is sticking out. It looks horrible but so far it seems the eyeball is okay. Banamine is helping with the pain and is helping with the swelling some but not as much as I had hoped. Things are progressing slowly and I’m being impatient. He wants to rub rub rub!!

I have dealt with eye problems with him for the past 8 years now. The main cause is that his tear ducts are partially blocked down at the opening in his nose. They drain but not like they should and his eyes tend to get goopy. He rubs because they itch and sometimes he scratches an eye or gets something in it. This time I’m not sure, I think he was kicked or bit.

He’s had a guardian mask in the past but I gave it away to someone who really needed it during a period where we thought eye troubles were over. I also worry about that effecting his vision at night. Right now I have an Equivisor fly mask for him, but it fits horribly and rubs him. I’m looking for something he can wear all the time, but I’m okay with having two different masks, one for day and one for night.

After this I actually thought about getting him one of those face masks the police horses wear when in riot gear LOL! He wouldn’t be able to be turned out with that and this is a horse that I cannot keep in unless he’s half sedated.

[Elouise]

When my mare hurt her eye on a water bucket handle…I bought a Guardian Eye mask. It is fabulous…the eye sockets are hard sided keeping the eye clear of the ‘plastic mask’. UVA protection too. And you would be surprised how frequently you need an outstanding eye mask. I have probably used it on 2 other horses since my purchase almost 6 years ago.

i think it is hands down the best!(Compared to the fly and turnout type fly masks.)

[keysfins]

I also like the Guardian eye mask. I have used it on one if my horses for a corneal ulcer, and have loaned it out several times to others for eye injuries. It is easy to use and clean, and my horse was able to wear it for an extended time without any rubs.

The 95% shade cover is great if you are using atropine in the eye to dilate the pupil.

http://www.horsemask.com/Main.html

I consider it well worth the investment.

[dressager]

The guardians are nice- we’ve had a couple but this last horse we had with an eye issue didn’t fit in it right- the company was super helpful when we ordered but I felt like it let too much dirt and debris in because we could never get the fit right. We ended up going with Rambo’s beekeeper (I don’t know the real name but it looks like a beekeeper would wear it!) mask because she couldn’t rub in it and it fit snugly around her face. I would say whatever fits the best- it won’t do any good if it’s letting flies and dirt in.

[FinallyMadeIt]

The Rambo beekeeper mask works great for eye injuries! I keep one on hand for that reason. Some horses are really good at getting them off but if you loop it through a turnout halter it makes it harder for them to get off.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@FinallyMadeIt

The Rambo beekeeper mask works great for eye injuries! I keep one on hand for that reason. Some horses are really good at getting them off but if you loop it through a turnout halter it makes it harder for them to get off.

Is it this one? https://www.jefferspet.com/products/rambo-plus-flymask

[dressager]

@BoyleHeightsKid

Is it this one? https://www.jefferspet.com/products/rambo-plus-flymask

Yes, Although mine does not have a little nose extension

[FinallyMadeIt]

@BoyleHeightsKid

Is it this one? https://www.jefferspet.com/products/rambo-plus-flymask

Yes! Mine does have the nose cover but it comes off too. Your horse will get made fun of by the others but it’s totally worth it! I found that it does come off easier than other brands for some reason. Once I got the creative looping through a turnout halter down it was a non issue. However, in the beginning I did do multiple hikes through the pasture to find it.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@FinallyMadeIt

Yes! Mine does have the nose cover but it comes off too. Your horse will get made fun of by the others but it’s totally worth it! I found that it does come off easier than other brands for some reason. Once I got the creative looping through a turnout halter down it was a non issue. However, in the beginning I did do multiple hikes through the pasture to find it.

I think I might give it a shot, thanks!

[gypsymare]

Is a racing style blinker hood comfortable for full time wear? One of those under a puffy fly mask would keep the mesh away from the eyes.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@gypsymare

Is a racing style blinker hood comfortable for full time wear? One of those under a puffy fly mask would keep the mesh away from the eyes.

I was looking at this one and almost ordered it.
https://www.amazon.com/Zilco-Airlite-Mesh-Race-Hood/dp/B01MXMWLEQ

Rambo mask is arriving today and I’m gonna go see if I can have my Guardian Mask back

[RedHorses]

I sewed clear, flexible plastic into a regular fly mask when my guy had surgery. It allowed him to see, but was not rough if he decided to rub. That might not be enough in your case.

If the inside of the lid is that swollen and not responding to the drugs I would be concerned that he’s got something stuck in the lid flesh.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@RedHorses

I sewed clear, flexible plastic into a regular fly mask when my guy had surgery. It allowed him to see, but was not rough if he decided to rub. That might not be enough in your case.

If the inside of the lid is that swollen and not responding to the drugs I would be concerned that he’s got something stuck in the lid flesh.

I’m also worried about a fracture now that the swelling is starting to go down and I can see the structures around the eye better. I have a call in to the vet to have films done. He seems fine otherwise and is acting like himself.

Here’s a pic of the front of his face
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx…llvQjVic2M1N1k

Here’s the eye from last evening
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx9…ew?usp=sharing

This is the morning it happened
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx9wIho06p-IRm92ZmViTE5ua0k

I’m hoping it’s just the swelling that’s making it appear that way. I wish he could talk and tell me what the hell happened. The BO said he was shaking when he brought him in Friday morning.

[luvmyhackney]

Many options at BigDWeb. I use the Equivisor clips on the halter or blinker hood with a lace on full coverage cup. The mesh goggles work really well to allow airflow as well.
https://www.bigdweb.com/category/tack+%26+equipment/blinker+hoods.do

[stb]

Poor guy! That looks painful. Please let us know what you find out.

[buddysmom]

Equine Recovery Vizor…www.protectivepetsolutions.com. If I had known about it before the scratch, horse would probably not have lost the eye. Gayla Burke is very helpful.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@buddysmom

Equine Recovery Vizor…www.protectivepetsolutions.com. If I had known about it before the scratch, horse would probably not have lost the eye. Gayla Burke is very helpful.

Did you have any trouble with rubs? I have their flymask now and the fit is horrible. He has to wear it over a halter so that it doesn’t rub.

[RedHorses]

I hope it’s just the tiny pic and bad light on the left side of his face, because if that is his eyeball I’m seeing in the head on shot, it’s been pushed way out of position!! :eek:

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Are the pictures showing up tiny for you?? I don’t think I’m imagining it and I’m going to try to get better pictures this evening. He’s doing much better today and the inside of his eyelid is actually back under the lid.

The vet has seen these pictures and does not think there is a problem. He’s saying it’s the edema making it appear that way. I’ve emailed the pictures to the equine surgeon in our area and waiting for him to get back to me. Ugh.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@RedHorses

I hope it’s just the tiny pic and bad light on the left side of his face, because if that is his eyeball I’m seeing in the head on shot, it’s been pushed way out of position!! :eek:

Are the pictures showing up tiny for you?? I don’t think I’m imagining it and I’m going to try to get better pictures this evening. He’s doing much better today and the inside of his eyelid is actually back under the lid.

The vet has seen these pictures and does not think there is a problem. He’s saying it’s the edema making it appear that way. I’ve emailed the pictures to the equine surgeon in our area and waiting for him to get back to me. Ugh.

Here’s a side shot from this morning
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx9…ew?usp=sharing

eta: Just heard back from the surgeon and he thinks everything is going to be okay. Vet is coming back out Friday for a check up. Man… I hope they are right.