Best way to clean his eye?

Okay, so my grandparents burro lives at my house. I don't really feel like typing out the whole long story so long story short, he is an unbroken blm burro that wont get in the trailer and go home. Anyways, this afternoon when I went up to put my horses in the arena and let Radar(burro) out to roam the yard like always something caught my eye. His left eye was swollen shut, or at least it looked like it. I could see pink, like the under-eyelid skin was showing or something? I couldn't see his actual eye so I called by dad told him something was wrong with Radar's eye and that we should call the vet because I didnt want to hurt him by making it worse. Well, my dad said I had to call my grandparents before I did anything medical so I called and my grandpa decided to come and check it out first. We(him and I) used a wet rag to clean his eye, then my grandpa opened his eye to where I could see actual eye and had me put some ointment on it then he came back four hours later to check back in on Radar and we washed it with horse eye cleanser that my grandpa said he has used on all kinds of animals and hasn't had any problems. I will get pictures tomorrow but what is a good way to clean it? I am afraid something is stuck in his eye and I don't want to possibly push it further in or anything.

Thank you for reading and leaving a comment!

Megan

P.S. My grandpa said he was going to call his vet(he doesn't like mine and mine is out of town) but I have yet to see a vet. If I don't hear word of when the vet is coming by tomorrow I will call one myself.

I would also be concerned that there is something in there that you could make worse by trying to clean it out. My first though was pink-eye from your description but I don't know if it looks the same on horses as it does on cattle. I think if it was me, I wouldn't try to clean it at all without some information from the vet on what it could be. If he has a grass burr or thistle stuck in there, rubbing it could push it all the way in and destroy his vision in that eye.

We have a horse at the rescue right now with a 'yucky' eye. Its not an abrasion, just a cold and with him, it will go away. We were told to use sensitive skin baby wipes to clean up the gook and to use a warm compress on the eye itself. Make sure to wash your hands just incase his is an infection.

Okay, well, I will leave him alone then. I will be sure to take pics tomorrow so you guys can say what you think it is. It randomly occurred so I figure something it is something stuck. Also, that indent above a horse's eye that normal goes in is actually puffy on him. Is that any indication of what it might be?

It doesn't bother him at all except when someone touches it. He walks around acting normal but keeps it sealed shut all the time. I have a fly mask on him everyday and I will put it on him tomorrow because the flies are nasty here.

Thanks for your replies!
Megan

Well whenever I treat my dogs eyes if they become sort of conjuctivutus like we get a bowl of warm water (not too hot!) and put salt in the water. Then we dampen cotton wool balls in the water and gently wipe from the outer corner of the eye, to the inner corner and out. Using a new cotton ball each time so you don't spread the infection.

That's what we do in a situation like that, but if you feel that wiping his eye might worsen his condition then by all means don't do it and leave it to the vet.
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Here are pictures from this morning. They called the vet yesterday, got no response and will call again this morning. Any ideas what it is?

Thanks!
Megan

This poor guy needs a vet sooner than later!!! Glad you are trying to make that happen. The poor thing has to be very uncomfortable.

Something in the eye is infected. He'll probably need to be sedated and restrained so a vet can get a good look.

While he is tranqued - toss him on the trailer and take him to your grandpas house!

VERY good idea!!!

Equines can literally go blind overnight from eye problems. He needs a vet, right now, not tomorrow. The pink stuff is conjunctiva or the lining of his eyelid and it looks very irritated. Please, unless you want a one eyed burro, get a vet out today.