Chronic Eye Bubbles in Chick?

[Fluffaloo]

Hi again guys!
I decided to hatch a few more silkies a while ago and one of them has been having issues. He is a runt, currently 3weeks old and a cockerel (dna test). During the hatching process he needed a full assist, his yolk sac was absorbed in everything but he was positioned wrong. On day one I noticed that he was squinting his left eye so I assumed his brother scratched him or he himself did. I waited for it to get better but it didn’t. The eye would form bubbles/white stuff in the corner so after a few days I decided to get some Terramycin for him. I treated him for 5days and it didn’t make much of a difference. This is unilateral and there is no nasal discharge. It is not contagious to other chicks. I have been holding a warm paper towel to his face every day (as seen in the messy picture below) so help clean it. The pictures below show the eye clean and wiped off (the other side of the face is normally fluffy and normal but I accidentally got it a little wet) as well as a picture of the morning after where the bubbles start to form. Could this be a blocked tear duck? What can I do to help him?

Summary: eye discharge/bubbles in a chick from day one to week 3 no other symptoms

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Try flushing the eye with saline and remove as much debris from the eye as possible.
Then apply your ointment in the eye. Do this a couple of times a day.

 

[Fluffaloo]

When I initially started the treatment I did rinse the eye before applying the Terramycin twice a day but I can definitely try again and see if there is a difference.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The bubbles look a bit odd, when you can get a few more photos of that eye with the bubbles.

When you clean the eye, do you ever get any pus?

 

[Fluffaloo]

I will upload a more detailed photo if able. Typically when I clean the eye it is more of a clear discharge but I am unsure as if I would call it pus or not. Most days the discharge is clear and slimy (not necessarily thick) and other days it looks white. The eye, however, is never stuck shut.

Here is a picture tonight prior to me cleaning anything off. It’s very difficult to get the camera to focus on the eyeball so I’m trying my best.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Try again with the rinsing then applying your ointment 2X a day, work on it really well for a while. If it does not clear up, then consider giving her a round of Tylan/Tylosin to see if that makes a difference, but it's best to see if this will clear up without antibiotics.

 

[Fluffaloo]

Thank you! I will update you all in a week with a treatment update.

 

[Fluffaloo]

Approximately, 9 days post treatment of saline flush and Terramycin twice a day. Not sure we made any progress.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor thing, the bubbles are still there

If you have a vet that can run testing that's always best. Hard to know the cause of the chronic irritation since it's been there since hatch. Possible she may have Mycoplasma. You can try giving an oral antibiotic like Tylan/Tylosin to see if that helps clear it up. You would give the medication and continue with daily care of the eye.

 

[Fluffaloo]

Thanks for the reply! I'm a vet student hoping to certify in avian, poultry, herpetology, and other exotics in the future so this experience has definitely been intriguing. I find it odd that it's only unilateral and has not spread to anywhere else in the body. He acts as if nothing is wrong and throws a fit every time I have to flush his eye lol. If the issue persists I may bring him to the vet when I have the funds but until then I will do my best to treat at home. I appreciate the help!