What causes recurring pus in eyes?

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

Hi all!

One of my one-eyed-roosters, Buddy, has been experiencing pus buildup in his eye for some time. It’s not all the time, but occasionally we will notice yellow pus in his eye and remove it with a q-tip. It’s always only the eye that doesn’t actually have an eyeball. Somehow, probably in a fight, it was pecked or clawed out or something. So that “eye” is more so just tissue. We thought maybe it was just attributed to him not having an eye there, but now I am becoming more concerned. I just removed a pretty big pus plug from his eye, which is more than usual. It’s usually not a whole lot of pus.

Important to note, is that our other totally blind rooster, Joe, also has an eye like this where it was pecked out and is now just tissue. He’s never had this problem with pus.

Other than that, he acts completely fine and happy. It doesn’t smell either, that I’ve noticed.

Does anyone know what could cause this?

 

[coach723]

The pus indicates infection, so I would flush it out really well using sterile saline or eye wash, make sure you get all the pus removed. Then use terramycin eye ointment (tractor supply stores carry it) or plain neosporin in the eye a couple of times a day. If any pus remains it will just keep making more. So check each time and if needed flush again until you are sure it's all cleaned out. If the eye is gone then maybe there is a space or pocket in the tissue that is catching debris and causing an issue. Other than injury the most common cause of pus in the eye is respiratory infection.

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

The pus indicates infection, so I would flush it out really well using sterile saline or eye wash, make sure you get all the pus removed. Then use terramycin eye ointment (tractor supply stores carry it) or plain neosporin in the eye a couple of times a day. If any pus remains it will just keep making more. So check each time and if needed flush again until you are sure it's all cleaned out. If the eye is gone then maybe there is a space or pocket in the tissue that is catching debris and causing an issue. Other than injury the most common cause of pus in the eye is respiratory infection.

Thank you! How do I know if there is a respiratory infection?

It just occurred to me that having the eyes stitched shut might be a possibility since there is no eyeball there. My dog had her eyes removed, and of course they stitched the skin closed so she doesn’t have an open socket to get infected.

 

[coach723]

Common symptoms of respiratory infection are coughing, sneezing, wheezing, discharge from eyes, nares, beak, bubbles in eye, pus, facial swelling, plaques or lesions in the mouth or throat. I don't know if stitching the eye closed would be a good option, a vet would best advise on that. You would definitely need to make sure all infection was taken care of first. If it's from debris getting in there, then it might be a good option.

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

Common symptoms of respiratory infection are coughing, sneezing, wheezing, discharge from eyes, nares, beak, bubbles in eye, pus, facial swelling, plaques or lesions in the mouth or throat. I don't know if stitching the eye closed would be a good option, a vet would best advise on that. You would definitely need to make sure all infection was taken care of first. If it's from debris getting in there, then it might be a good option.

He doesn’t really have any of the other symptoms aside from the pus, and being a little puffy under his eye where the pus plug was. I think it’s more likely that debris is getting in there and becoming infected.

Yes, I agree and will definitely ensure the infection is taken care of before considering stitching the eye. We have a bird hospital that we take them to when necessary, as well as an animal ophthalmologist that took care of our dog. The ophthalmologist treats all kinds of animals, even wild birds. So we’ll probably take him there once the infection is cleared up and see what the ophthalmologist says about closing it up.