One of my new Horny toads has a very swollen and shut left eye. Last night, I noticed the swelling and I thought he may have gotten some sand stuck in it. So I rinsed it with some spring water and within a few minutes, the swelling was down, but he still didn't open his eye. Tonight, it is swollen once again. I recall when I had tortoises, whenever this happened I would give the tort. some eyedrops every day for like a week and then it would be all better. Is anyone aware of any such product made for Horny toads or similar species? I still actually have the eyedrops for tortoises, but I don't feel comfortable giving a medicine made for tortoises to my Horny Toad lizards without knowing if it is safe.

I would recommend a trip to the vet prior to giving him medicine from a previous animal.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I agree with Ken. If you think he may have had sand in it, it could have caused a corneal abrasion and would need sometype of eye antibiotics prescribed by the vet.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

I would agree a vet visit is in order....it could just be an irritation from sand or a vitamin A deficiency.

Isn't vitamin A found in fresh fruits and vegatables like carrots and mangos? I don't think that horny toads are supposed to eat that stuff but I do feed my mealworms and crickets lots of carrots. How does a carnivorous reptile get enough vitamin A?

Most good reptile vitamins contain vitamin A in the form of Beta carotene. When you dust your feeders they are getting it.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

But how do they get vitamine A in the wild? Eat carrots?

from the stomach contents of the foods they eat.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I know it sounds crazy for a carivore....but I had a leopard gecko last year with swollen eyes. The vet treated her for abrasions....it only got worse. after a month of treatments without success and worsening condition....(abcesses in the face, eyeballs were completed crusted over and mouthrot). I thought I was gonna loose her for sure.

Then I went to a new vet who only sees exotics, with one look she told me it was Hypo vitaminosis A. And she was right!! Domino was completely cured in less than 1 week.

From what I understand there are only 3 things that can cause swollen eyes

1. Irritation from a foreign object (sand or other debris)
2. Hypo Vitaminosis A (vitamin A deficent)
3. Hyper Calcemia (too much calcium)

This is why its important to shop around when looking for a vitamin supplement. Not all of the ones available are necessarily good ones. Last I read, a good supp should have an A-D-E ratio of about 100-10-1. Having Beta Cerotene instead of vitamin A is perfectly fine though. The herp can extract all the A they need from the Beta Cerotene without the risk of an A overdose, which can be worse than a deficiency.

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"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield