03/06/2019 Drozd Nikolaevich Animals Sometimes small and adult pets have problems with their eyes. For example, a cat develops excessive lacrimation, the eyelids stick together and turn slightly red, and purulent discharge begins. The animal often covers its eyes from the light with its paw.
The reasons for this condition are different: trauma, breed characteristics, foreign objects, infection, virus, helminths, allergic reaction, age, entropion. Even a common cold or the consequences of a draft provoke the disease. But not everyone knows how to wash a cat’s eyes at home.
Peculiarities
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian - a person with medical education and experience will be able to correctly determine the cause of the animal’s illness. After all, even the presence of a foreign object in the eye can sometimes be detected only with the help of special equipment.
You should not wash your cat's eyes for preventive purposes. This is harmful to the cat's health. Without visible signs of illness, veterinarians categorically do not recommend “getting into” an animal’s eyes at all.
Necessity of the procedure
It’s not enough to figure out how to wash your cat’s eyes at home. You also need to understand when this is necessary:
- An infection has occurred and the organ of vision needs to be cleansed of purulent discharge for subsequent treatment. In this case, it is better to consult a doctor to know for sure than to rinse the cat’s eyes from pus.
- Some breeds have a need for flushing due to the structural features of the lacrimal canal. Persians, Scottish Folds, Sphynxes and British Shorthairs do need regular grooming.
- A small foreign object has gotten into the cat's eyes and provokes irritation of the mucous membrane.
- The eye is injured.
- The animal is allergic to pollen or other substances that may have gotten into the eye. Then it makes sense to wash out the irritating substance.
General recommendations for the procedure
If a cat's eye is watering, the visual organ should be washed immediately. This procedure helps cleanse the affected eye, also relieves pain and improves access of medications to the inflamed eye.
It is recommended to carry out all manipulations exclusively with clean hands or wear medical rubber gloves before the procedure. This is necessary so as not to introduce additional infection into the visual organ.
If the eyes become inflamed and need to be washed, the cat should be fixed in a certain position. It is difficult to carry out such a procedure on your own, so you will need the help of a second person (to support the pet). The animal must be wrapped in a thick towel or terry cloth.
This needs to be done to limit the pet’s mobility. The cat should be held in such a way that the eyes can be easily accessed. Before the procedure, it is necessary to prepare solutions and tampons that will be used during rinsing.
Typically, a syringe without a needle and a sterile bandage are used for this process. It is not recommended to use cotton pads or tampons, as their lint can get into the eyes and become an additional cause of the cat's tearfulness.
A prerequisite is the use of new bandages for each eye. During manipulations, gauze should be changed as often as possible. This is especially true for purulent discharge from the visual organs.
Thanks to syringes with a rubber piston, you can better control the level of pressure and jet for treatment.
- If a cat's eye is festered, then soak a bandage in a special solution and apply the liquid to the affected visual organ.
- If the eye is sticky due to discharge, then you need to take a tampon and gently blot your eyelids.
When all the crusts are removed, you need to lightly walk over your eyes in a vertical position, removing foreign particles. You should try not to touch the cornea of the visual organ with cotton pads, as this can lead to pain in the cat. Only the eyelids and the area around the eye are allowed to be treated.
When all the crusts have been removed, you can apply eye drops using rinsing solutions. If a foreign body is detected that cannot be removed with a jet of product, you need to contact a veterinarian. Removing particles yourself is strictly prohibited.
How to wash your eyes
The products can be prepared at home or purchased at a regular or veterinary pharmacy, but before use you need to make sure that the medicine is safe for your eyes. It is better to consult a specialist.
Most people have no idea what to use to clean a cat's eyes. According to experts, the procedure with Chlorhexidine will bring the best effect. This antiseptic is suitable for first aid for any disease. Concentration safe for eyes is 0.01%. An increased content of the active substance leads to irritation or burns of the mucous membrane.
When answering the question about how to wash a cat’s eyes at home, veterinarians often recommend a solution of “Furacilin” - it gives a good result. But if the concentration is incorrectly calculated, it can cause burns of the mucous membrane and cornea. It is better to use a drug that is sold in finished form. Only a doctor can independently prepare a solution of the required concentration.
If the animal does not have wounds, skin damage or bleeding, Boric acid can be used for washing. It is necessary to dissolve a teaspoon of powder (5 grams) in 200 milligrams of distilled or cooled boiled water.
Saline solution is also suitable for such purposes. It can be prepared at home, but it is difficult to maintain the proportions, so it is best to buy it at the pharmacy.
A solution of potassium permanganate is suitable for washing eyes in a concentration of 1:50000. The liquid must have a very slight pink tint, otherwise chemical burns will occur.
Veterinarians do not advise experimenting with the above drugs. After all, the product “Diamond Eyes”, specially developed for the treatment of eye diseases in cats, is on sale. It contains succinic acid, taurine and chlorhexidine. This medicine is also suitable for washing the eyes.
Cleaning products
The use of medications to treat a kitten is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating dried crust, preventing further souring of the eyes and reducing visual acuity.
How to brush a cat's teeth: options at home
When choosing a treatment agent, it is necessary to take into account not only the patient’s age, but also the specific course of the pathology.
Boric acid
A solution for washing the animal's eyes is prepared by mixing 1 tbsp. boiled water and 5 g of boric acid powder. The ingredients are stirred until completely dissolved. The medicine is used twice a day for external treatment.
The duration of therapy corresponds to 3-7 days until the appearance of unnatural discharge completely ceases. The drug is used to wash the eyes using sterile bandages or cotton swabs.
Important! Before rinsing your cat's eyes with this product, you need to make sure that the area of exposure does not have open wounds or areas with foci of purulent or fungal infection.
The use of this method of therapy is allowed only for non-infectious causes of discharge; it is not recommended for kittens injured in fights with other animals.
Saline
You can treat your pet's eyes only with a solution at a concentration of 0.9%, otherwise there is a risk of burns to the cornea upon contact with the drug.
The medicine can be used for rinsing or instillation. The frequency of treatment is 2 times a day, the duration of therapy is 2 weeks.
Chlorhexidine 0.01%
The use of Chlorhexidine for cats helps to alleviate the condition of the animal when affected by infection or injury. The drug belongs to the group of effective and mildly acting antiseptics with a minimal set of contraindications. The medicine is used only in the specified concentration, so as not to provoke the development of an allergic reaction, irritation or burn to the eye mucosa.
Considering the low cost of the medicine, owners often check with veterinarians whether it is possible to wash their cat’s eyes with Chlorhexidine. This remedy is effective in fighting bacterial infections and prevents infection of open wounds. The drug can be applied externally or dropped into each eye, 1 drop. The procedure is repeated three times a day. Duration of therapy is from 3 to 7 days.
To prepare the solution take:
- saline solution 16 ml;
- Chlorhexidine at a concentration of 0.05% 4 ml;
- syringe for 20 cc.
The ingredients are thoroughly mixed in a syringe to prevent foreign substances from entering the medicinal solution.
Important! The medication, with prolonged use or non-compliance with the dosage, can provoke increased dryness of the mucous membrane, therefore, if it is impossible to independently prepare a solution in the required concentration, it is recommended to replace it with Miramistin. It is dangerous to use hydrogen peroxide for this purpose.
Potassium permangantsovka
A popular eye care product for kittens is potassium permanganate. It is diluted in water at a concentration of 1:5000. In practice, this corresponds to 2-3 crystals per 1 glass of boiled water. The liquid should take on a faint pink tint.
The medicine can be used only if the crystals are completely dissolved, otherwise there is a risk of corneal burn.
Using the medicine, it is recommended to clean dried crusts on the animal’s eyes, treat open wounds, and remove mucus containing pus. The drug can be used before using drops or ointments.
Additional information: if a kitten reacts negatively to a manganese solution, then it can be replaced with Furacilin. This remedy acts more gently and has fewer contraindications.
Drops for cats
The veterinarian should decide how to wipe the eyes of a kitten in the presence of infectious diseases, after conducting the necessary examination of the animal. The list of the most popular medications includes “Diamond Eyes” drops.
Drops "Diamond eyes"
This product has an anti-edematous and antibacterial effect. The medicine can be used to combat acute and chronic pathologies, including those of an allergic nature. It is necessary to treat the eyes with this remedy for 5-14 days - the duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
Ophthal drops help cope with inflammation and irritation caused by sand, dust or a negative response from the animal’s immune system. The duration of treatment is limited to 3 days. Drops are instilled one at a time twice a day.
If the kitten's eyes begin to water due to sand or dust, it is also recommended to use Rosinka lotion. It is enough to apply it on a sterile gauze napkin and wipe the affected organ of vision with it to relieve irritation and alleviate the pet’s condition.
In case of severe conjunctivitis, it is recommended to drop Anandin into the cat's eye. The duration of therapy is limited to 14 days.
Only a veterinarian can prescribe treatment for a bacterial infection.
Only a veterinarian can prescribe what to wipe a kitten’s eyes with if they are affected by a bacterial infection and become sour from purulent mucous discharge. However, experienced animal lovers say that it is most often recommended to use Ciprovet. This broad-spectrum antibiotic is instilled and waited for 5-10 minutes, after which the released liquid is wiped off. The treatment is completed by repeated instillation of the medicine. The duration of treatment is determined by the veterinarian.
Home care products
Many people don’t know how to wash a cat’s eyes at home. First aid is a procedure with tea. It should be infused for about 12 hours, without any chemical additives, including sugar.
Also suitable for rinsing are decoctions of various herbs: chamomile, sage, elderberry, linden, string, yarrow, calendula or others that have an anti-inflammatory effect. The concentration of the decoction should be weak: 1 teaspoon per glass of boiling water. The infusion is carefully filtered and cooled to room temperature. Too hot or cold tea will not cure, but will only worsen the disease.
Many breeders are interested in how to wash a cat’s eyes at home. Experts note that boiled or simply distilled water at room temperature is perfect for these purposes, especially for allergic reactions.
General rules for eye care
When caring for your eyes, follow these rules:
- Carry out all manipulations with clean hands, washed with soap.
- Wipe your eyes with a damp cotton swab or disk, in the direction from the outer edge to the inner.
- If the cat is healthy, then for treatment you can use warm water, saline solution, chamomile decoction, tea, and neutral lotions.
- For a sick animal, it is better to use weak disinfecting liquids - boric acid solution, chlorhexedine, antiseptic eye lotions.
- Solutions for wiping the eyes should be at room temperature, for rinsing - warm.
- Use a separate swab or disc for each eye.
When treating the eyes, perform manipulations in the following order:
- Clean the surface of the eyelids from secretions and crusts. To do this, generously moisten the entire contaminated surface with warm solution and wait a couple of minutes for them to completely soften.
- After removing contaminants from the surface of the eyelids, also rinse the mucous membranes of the eyes. To rinse, drop the warm solution from a distance of a centimeter above the surface of the eye using a pipette. Position the animal's head so that the solution flows from the outer to the inner corner of the eye. After rinsing, blot the surface with a dry cloth without touching the mucous membrane of the eye.
- Apply drops or ointment prescribed by your doctor. Drops are instilled in the same way as when washing. The ointment is placed with a finger or a glass eye stick behind the lower edge of the eyelid, slightly pulling it back. There is no need to squeeze the ointment onto the eyelid directly from the tube - you can injure the mucous membrane. After applying the ointment, cover your eyelids with a disc and massage the eye through the eyelids, using circular movements, so that the ointment spreads over the surface of the eyeball.
How to properly wash your eyes
High-quality washing relieves pain, relieves itching and greatly alleviates the animal’s condition. As a result, access to wounds or damaged areas is opened.
The procedure must be carried out using clean medical gloves.
Washing steps:
- Fixation of the animal. You can use a helper to hold the cat, or wrap the animal in a strong cloth, such as a towel.
- Along with the rinsing solution, you need to prepare cotton swabs, or better yet, sterile bandage swabs. You can use a syringe without a needle. Each eye is washed with a new swab. As it becomes dirty, it is also replaced with a new one.
- The tampon is soaked in liquid, which is squeezed out onto the eye. If the pus has dried, you can blot your eyes without pressing hard. The more liquid, the better the effect.
- To remove soaked crusts, pass over the eye with a gentle movement in the direction from the ear to the nose, removing all excess. If your eyelids are stuck together, you need to move in the opposite direction. You cannot begin treatment until the eyes are completely clear.
- Touching the cornea is very unpleasant for the animal. These actions should be avoided if possible.
- After the eyelids open, the liquid is poured onto the cornea. It is convenient to do this with a tampon. If there is a foreign object in the eye that cannot be washed out with liquid, under no circumstances should you remove it yourself. This must be done by a veterinarian using instruments.
- After the procedure, the remaining pus is wiped off with a dry swab or cotton pad. The cornea cannot be touched, only the area of the upper and lower eyelids. Regular cotton wool leaves lint and is not recommended for use.
- After the solution has entered the eye, the eyelids must be closed with your hands to allow the medicine to be evenly distributed throughout the mucous membrane.
Veterinarian recommendations
Most likely, your pet will be against such procedures. Most cats simply cannot tolerate eyewash. But in some cases this is simply necessary, so the animal will have to put up with it.
Try rubbing his eyes in a calm and quiet environment. Praise, pet your pet, treat his eyes as calmly as possible. Here are general recommendations on how to wash your pet's eyes:
- Be sure to wash your hands with soap. This will eliminate possible infections.
- It is advisable to carry out all manipulations together. One person will hold the cat on their lap while the other person washes the eyes. But wipe them as carefully as possible. Be prepared for the animal to resist. The cat may swing or hit with its paw, which can injure you. Anticipate all possible reactions of your pet.
- A cat's eyes are a very vulnerable place. Be sure to make sure that the animal's head is higher than its body. Rinse your eyes only in this position.
- Monitor the temperature of the liquid. The affected area can only be treated with infusions and solutions at room temperature. The liquid should not be warmer than 37 degrees, this can cause a burn. But it shouldn’t be too cold, otherwise it will be extremely unpleasant for the animal.
- A pipette, bottle or syringe is suitable for instilling liquid. They should be 1 cm away from the eye.
- If your eyes are dirty and sticky, you can rinse your eyelids first and then apply eye drops. Nothing should interfere with the procedure according to all the rules. Suppuration must be removed without fail.
- If your eyelashes are stuck together, you should first wipe the outer part of your eyes. This must be done until the cat or kitten opens its eyes completely.
- How can you dry your eyes after the procedure? For this, a regular dry cotton pad is quite suitable, which you need to gently wipe the cat’s eyes. Just don't touch the eyeball directly.
- Once you have dropped the solution into your cat's eye, gently press her eyelids together with your hands so that the liquid can be evenly distributed over the surface of the eye.
- Under no circumstances use regular cotton wool instead of cotton pads. This can injure the animal's eyes, because the fibers can get on his eyeball.
INTERESTING TO KNOW: Why does a cat drool?
Do not wash your pet's eyes with tea if they are infected. This is not only useless, but can also harm the cat. It is better to check with your veterinarian whether this or that remedy can be used for your problem.
Be sure to consult your doctor and inform him about all manipulations that affect your four-legged friends.
