Indications for use
For the bacterial form of ophthalmic disease, eye ointment is used. Is it possible to put a tetracycline substance behind a cat’s eyelid, pet owners ask their veterinarian. The medication is a bacteriostatic agent and belongs to the tetracycline group.
By destroying the connections between transfer RNA and ribosomes, participating in the process of suppressing the formation of proteins, it can be used to treat eye diseases.
The drug is effective in the following pathological processes:
- blepharitis;
- conjunctivitis;
- keratitis;
- meibomite.
The antibacterial effect of the drug on pathogenic microorganisms allows you to destroy the following types of pathogens:
- staphylococci;
- streptococci;
- klebsiella;
- E. coli;
- chlamydia.
Tetracycline hydrochloride plays a major role in suppressing the synthesis of bacterial proteins, helping to eliminate microorganisms in various eye infections.
A metal tube with a medicinal product contains 3.226 g of active substance. As an antibacterial medication, a 3% medicine is used to treat skin diseases in cats and kittens:
- dermatitis;
- inflammation of the hair roots caused by the action of staphylococci or streptococci;
- damage to follicles (middle or deep sections).
To treat a pet, use a 1% composition containing additional ingredients: lanolin, mineral fats. An external remedy for treating the organ of vision is available in soft packaging (tubes) with a capacity of 3 g.
Ragdoll kitten - how to anoint a kitten's eyes with eye ointment - treat a ragdoll eye cold
The 3% drug has an anti-inflammatory effect on ulcers and treats the burned surface. The course of therapy with a 1% ophthalmic medication lasts 21 days; the animal for which the drug is indicated often experiences allergic reactions to its use. In this case, you should change the medicine, because it does not destroy the pathogen and is not suitable for your pet.
Tetracycline ointment is not prescribed for the treatment of sore eyes due to colds.
Purpose and restrictions for use
The drug can be prescribed to an animal with manifestations of allergic dermatitis.
- allergic dermatitis;
- acute purulent-necrotic, staphylococcal disease, accompanied by inflammation of the hair root;
- infectious lesion of the middle and deep parts of the hair follicle, provoking its purulent inflammation.
Tetracycline also treats bacterial eye infections, but in this case it is advisable to use an ointment with a 1% concentration. A cat can take tablets based on tetracycline hydrochloride if he has been diagnosed with salmonellosis, gastroenterocolitis, pasteurellosis and other ailments that are sensitive to this antibiotic.
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You cannot resort to antibiotic treatment if the cat has been identified as individual intolerant to the components of the drug, as well as to all tetracycline antibiotics. It is not recommended to apply tetracycline ointment to pets when using other antiseptic medications for external use together.
Instructions for use and dosage
Eye ointment for cats 1% is used in a dose depending on the following factors: the type of pathological process, the condition of the animal. A 1% antibacterial agent is applied to the sore spot 3 to 5 times a day.
To carry out the procedure, you must prepare in advance:
- glass rod;
- sterile swab.
The required amount of medicine is squeezed onto a glass rod. Place the medication behind the lower eyelid. Then you should take a sterile cotton swab and massage the filling area well with an antibacterial agent for several minutes. In this case, a special protective film is created that protects the surface of the eye.
External medicine must be applied with great care so that the animal does not lick the medicine. You should not rush, otherwise your pet can easily be poisoned by the medication.
If necessary, the veterinarian will prescribe a different dose of an external antibacterial agent or use drops containing tetracycline for treatment. The kitten is injected daily into each eye.
The antibacterial agent is not used in pregnant cats or those with individual intolerance to tetracycline medications.
The external preparation should not be used simultaneously with other medications that have a bactericidal effect on the diseased organ. It is preferable to undergo a test to identify the type of pathogen before using the medication, since tetracycline hydrochloride does not affect all strains of microorganisms.
The consistency of the drug is not safe for pets. Sometimes part of the medicine penetrates into the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
What is the ointment for and how to use it?
If your cat has uveitis or conjunctivitis, eye inflammation or other pathologies associated with pathogenic microflora, then tetracycline ointment is suitable for treatment. The veterinarian may prescribe other specific medications, but this antibiotic is most often the main treatment tool.
Rules for using the medication:
- It is important to maintain a moderate dosage. Tetracycline ointment is applied in a thin layer to the affected eye. The amount of ointment should be the size of a pinhead.
- Ensuring duration of treatment. It is necessary to use the ointment to treat cats until the veterinarian tells you to stop. Eye infections can be very insidious. The disappearance of symptoms does not always indicate complete cure of the disease, which threatens a relapse.
- You need to put the ointment specifically into the affected cavity and spread it over it, and not just smear it over the cat’s eye.
- It is advisable to carry out the treatment procedure together - one person should hold the cat, and the second should carefully apply the ointment to the desired area.
- The treatment procedure must be performed exclusively with clean hands, and try not to touch the cat’s eyeball with your fingers.
- The ointment is applied 2 to 6 times a day, depending on the diagnosis and veterinary recommendations.
If your pet is diagnosed with an eye disease caused by pathogenic microflora, you will have to smear the animal’s eyes.
But the use of the medicine is only after it has been prescribed by a veterinarian, who will need to be visited without fail.
Perhaps the doctor will prescribe additional specific treatments, but tetracycline ointment is not excluded, as it is prescribed for any ophthalmological disease.
The most important thing you need to know about the ointment. So this is how it should be applied correctly. Under no circumstances should you disregard your veterinarian's recommendations.
IMPORTANT! Don't go overboard with the quantity. After all, the dosage for kittens and puppies will be less than for adult animals.
The medicine is applied in an even thin layer, no more than a pinhead is consumed at one time. You can stop using the ointment only after your doctor’s permission, since infections are very dangerous.
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Symptoms may disappear even after a short period of time, but the pathogen may linger on the affected area of the eye for a long time. If you stop treatment on your own and untimely, a relapse of the disease will occur.
The ointment should be applied specifically to the affected area; you should not smear it over the entire eyelid. To make it easier for the animal to apply the ointment, it is better to seek the help of a second person. One will hold the animal, and the second will open the animal's eyelids and carefully apply and distribute the ointment.
This entire procedure is carried out only with clean hands. During the process, it is advisable to try to put less pressure on the eyeball. It is usually recommended to apply the ointment approximately 2-6 times during the day. After applying the ointment, you need to massage the animal's eye with a sterile cotton swab.
In any case, the treatment will be prescribed by a doctor, and the duration of treatment depends only on him.
Side effects and contraindications
Questions about how long to apply tetracycline ointment and whether a small kitten can have its eyes treated are asked by pet owners to the veterinarian when purchasing a 1% composition of the external agent at the pharmacy.
In some cases, 3-4 side effects of the drug are observed:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- Quincke's edema.
When applying an antibacterial medication under the lower eyelid, the result may not be achieved, and the protective film that the animal has in the eye becomes similar to a yellow abscess.
The external composition often does not eliminate the infection of the third eyelid, so it is necessary to consult a veterinarian about further treatment tactics.
An allergic reaction to the drug may occur if the antibacterial composition is used together with other external drugs that have an alkaline reaction.
After a single dose, the medicine may cause side effects if the composition is not stored in the refrigerator. The ointment should not be administered to animals that are hypersensitive to the active substance - tetracycline hydrochloride.
Toxic reactions occur when using an external agent in combination with other drugs, when the pet’s body is sensitized. Complications often develop after application of the product:
- acute aseptic conjunctivitis;
- erosion;
- deep necrosis of the stroma;
- ulceration of the inner lining of the cornea;
- visual impairment (partial).
With long-term use of the drug, you may encounter such a negative manifestation as the growth of blood vessels into the deep layers of the cornea.
Sometimes a toxic reaction in a pet after using the medication is manifested by the following symptoms:
- swelling of the eyelids;
- chemosis of the conjunctiva;
- subconjunctival hemorrhage.
Allergic processes develop quickly after using the drug. An immediate reaction appears within 1 hour. It is accompanied by itching in the eyes and incomplete closure of the eyelids.
Undesirable consequences
Occasionally, the drug can cause an effect such as dry skin in the animal.
There have been no cases of negative effects of Tetracycline on the body of cats. The antibacterial drug is well tolerated and, when used correctly, does not provoke a negative reaction. But if you abuse the medicine and use it for a long time, dryness of the dermis or a reaction of local irritation of the pet’s epidermis may occur.
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Reviews from veterinarians
Oleg Eduardovich, veterinarian
1% antibacterial agent is a proven drug for treating eyes in pets. I use 3% tetracycline ointment to treat burns and skin infections. The drug is effective and cheap. I recommend it to patients.
Savelyev D. D., veterinarian
Antibacterial ointment is an outdated drug, since many microorganisms are resistant to the action of tetracyclines. The consistency of the medicine is not entirely successful; the animal licks it off, causing damage to health. I recommend using modern tools.
Mikheev O.V., veterinarian
I use eye ointment for cats to treat viral pathology. It is necessary to prescribe the medicine after establishing the sensitivity of the pathogen to AB. The drug does not help with chlamydia. I do not prescribe ointment to cats with a history of allergies to eliminate the risk of anaphylaxis.
All information posted on the site is provided in accordance with the User Agreement and is not a direct instruction to action. We strongly recommend that before using any product, you must obtain a face-to-face consultation at an accredited veterinary clinic.
Brief description of the properties of the active substance
Tetracycline ointment is a broad-spectrum medicine . This indicates that the drug can destroy any type of bacteria that causes the disease.
There is also evidence that tetracycline can rid the body of viruses and fungi.
Tetracycline can be used either intravenously, directly orally or topically . The most common form in the treatment of eye diseases is an ointment. It is very popular and quite widespread.
