eye problems do to cattails

[hookshounds]

Went hunting two nights ago in the cattails for four to five hrs. Next morning the dogs eyes were swollen shut do to being packed full of the dry tassels. Any tricks other than just wiping them out the best you can with a wet rag?

[scrubrunner]

I'm not a coon hunter but used to run fox in an oak scrub that was so thick you had to lie on your belly to see the ground, after a good race we would have to fold back the eye lids on the top and bottom to pic and brush out all the trash ( leaves,stiks,seeds ect. ) using the corner of a paper towel or clean cloth even than by the time we would get home their eyes would be swollen shut, would have too wash good with warm rag to get the sleep out so they could open them if we wanted to go hunting the next night. Didn't seem to bother them a whole lot. But after 2 or 3 times a week of this for several years I've seen hounds eyes get clouded over some on the outer lense. But than cattail chafe could be a whole lot worst I've never run in it.

[scrubrunner]

Check each dogs eyes as soon as you catch them when you're hunting, the sooner you can get their eyes clean the better.

[Sask_matty]

I had a very similar issue this fall. Dog ran a coon through a canola field before it was swathed... next day her eyes were gummed up and swollen shut. Flushed with saline 3 times a day for 2 days and it wasn't any better. Ended up taking her to the vet, they stain their eyes to check for scratches on the cornea. Thats what she did (canola dust is very abrasive), gave her antibiotic eye drops to speed things up. Saline will work, it just takes longer to heal. Think the entire ordeal cost me $40, so not a big deal.