Causes and symptoms of eye diseases in cats
Symptoms can be very different. An appropriate treatment must be selected for a specific disease.
Inflammation in the eyes of a cat
Entropion (etropion)
The first reason is etropion. Also called entropion. The edge of the lower eyelid bends inward, and the animal feels severe pain.
Important! If the volvulus is not treated in time, keratoconjunctivitis will develop.
Iritis (iridocyclitis)
Photophobia, yellow iris, constricted pupil are symptoms of inflammation of the iris. This disease is called iritis. Occurs due to bacterial infection, injury and metabolic disorders.
Third eyelid prolapse
The third eyelid performs a protective function. If this protective device for the cat's eyes falls out of its boundaries, then foreign bodies, viruses or bacterial infections have entered the eye. Poisoning of the body and allergic reactions occur, and nervous disorders are possible.
Cataract
When the optical areas of the lens are affected, the cat begins to show symptoms:
- lethargy;
- poor orientation;
- blindness;
- pupil dilation
Because of this, the cat becomes fearful and sometimes aggressive. The eye may become completely opaque and a cataract will appear.
Cataract on the vitreous body
Conjunctivitis
As a result of conjunctivitis, redness and swelling of the eyelid develop, and the eye begins to water. The eyelids may turn out and movement of the eyeballs may be impaired. The disease occurs due to bacteriological effects on the conjunctiva that protects the eye.
Inflammation of the third eyelid
The symptoms and causes of inflammation of the third eyelid are similar to those of prolapse. The eye begins to fester, and the kitten experiences severe discomfort.
Wounds of the eyelids
Pets may experience eyelid damage. This occurs due to mechanical damage from teeth, claws and other foreign objects that can rip off the eyelids. Inflammatory swelling and constant slight bleeding develop.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It should not be confused with ordinary conjunctivitis. The disease most often occurs due to burns (including chemical ones), allergic reactions and mechanical damage to the cornea.
Against the background of blepharitis occurs:
- baldness around the eyes;
- the incision begins to rapidly decrease;
- redness appears;
- severe inflammation of the eyelid.
As a result, the pet's viewing angle is severely limited and disorientation appears.
Blepharitis in a cat
Adenoma of the third century
A small tumor, the size of a pea, appears in the cat's eye. Often white or bright pink in color. Benign origin does not guarantee safety, since the tumor leads to complete closure of the eye.
Dacryocystitis
The next cause of disease is inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac on the eye. A swelling appears at the site of the gland, and purulent mucous fluid often comes out of it. There is an increase in temperature and severe lacrimation.
Attention! This inflammation leads to the following problems: conjunctivitis, which provokes keratitis and a number of other diseases.
Panophthalmitis
Severe damage to the tissue of the eyeball. After staphylococci and streptococci penetrate into the eye, complete destruction of the tissues of the organ of vision from the inside develops. Within a few days, the animal’s health deteriorates sharply, and the organ begins to become severely inflamed.
Important! Appetite and sleep become poor, followed by fever and fever.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea is called keratitis. The main symptom is corneal clouding of varying severity. Damage occurs due to deep eye injuries and external pathological influences
Foreign bodies entering the eye
The curiosity of cats plays a cruel joke on them. If the animal squints, blinks frequently and rubs its eye with its paw, then a foreign object is stuck in the eye. This could be dust, grass, debris, sand, etc.
Diagnosis of eye diseases in cats
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If this misfortune has befallen your pet, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. The organ of vision is examined and its general condition is assessed according to three parameters:
- appearance of the eyeball and surrounding tissues;
- general condition: size, shape, presence of injuries;
- state of vision.
After a superficial diagnosis, a study is carried out using special devices. The fundus of the eye is examined, the sensitivity of the microflora to antibiotics is determined, and the pressure inside is measured. A specialist may prescribe a biochemical blood and urine test.
Fundus examination by a veterinarian
Eye inflammation in a cat: how to treat it at home
Third eyelid in a cat: causes, treatment at home
If the disease has not passed the irreversible stage, then treatment of eye inflammation in a cat at home is carried out conservatively. Antibacterial eye ointments and drops are used. Damaged organs of vision should be thoroughly rinsed with a weak solution of furatsilin before treatment.
The most popular substances found in ointments and drops:
- Erythromycin,
- Gentamicin,
- Tetracycline,
- Levomycetin.
Surgical intervention is resorted to in advanced cases of serious illnesses, for example, with panophthalmitis, this is the only method of treatment. The success of vision preservation depends on timely and correct diagnosis.
What are the types of eye diseases in cats?
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Depending on the location, the disease is divided into two types - damage to the eyeball or eyelids. There are quite a few reasons why an animal has lost its sight, and these are just the most common:
- Conjunctivitis
. Polyetiological inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the eye. The source of this type of eye disease in cats can be any irritant (trauma, microorganisms, allergies, parasites, unbalanced diet). In addition, it can be an additional complication in some diseases. It can be one- or two-sided. In the initial stages it is quickly treated, in later stages it often leads to complete loss of vision;
- Keratitis
.
The described eye disease in a cat is characterized by inflammation of the cornea. Occurs due to infection or injury. Depending on the severity of the lesion, it is divided into superficial or deep types, which can be of several types (fungal, viral, ochnocerciasis and others); - Cataract
. Another common eye disease in cats. It manifests itself in the form of clouding of the lens and can be caused by the consequences of a purulent form of keratitis or a previous infectious disease. There are several types (congenital, traumatic, toxic) and forms (layered, complete, capsule);
- Blepharitis
. This variant of eye disease in cats is characterized by inflammation of the eyelids, thickening of their edges and rapid transition to the chronic stage. It is difficult to treat, especially in the case of ulcers and abscesses.
Of course, these are not all possible options for eye diseases in cats.
Eye diseases transmitted from cats
Cat ophthalmic diseases themselves are not contagious, but it must be remembered that they can be secondary symptoms of more serious ailments. For example, with chlamydia, purulent conjunctivitis is very often diagnosed, which contributes to the transfer of infection to humans.
Please note that eye diseases in cats can be contagious to other pets. This is especially true for those types that are caused by parasites, fungi and other infectious agents. Naturally, you shouldn’t be afraid of every cat eye pathology. Many eye diseases in cats are caused by harmless causes: improper care of the animal, injury or an allergic reaction.
Eye wash
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The washing procedure itself does not require special skills and knowledge, but you should consult a veterinarian about the product. Otherwise, the condition will only worsen, and this will lead to the progression of the disease. Often use regular saline solution, boric acid or herbal decoctions.
Washing the cat's eyes
Healthy! You can buy ready-made solutions in pharmacies.
What product to use
At home, it is possible to treat your pet’s affected organ using either pharmaceutical or means prepared from available ingredients. Next we will tell you in more detail about each of them.
Furacilin
Many owners prefer to wash their pet's eyes with inexpensive and accessible Furacilin. The only important condition is that you need to buy a 0.02% solution at the pharmacy and use it carefully so as not to provoke irritation. This applies to both the product with a higher percentage and the care procedure itself. It is also permissible to crush the tablets and dissolve them in 1 glass of warm boiled water, preparing the working solution yourself. But before using it, it must be filtered.
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Saline
You can rinse with another popular pharmaceutical drug - saline solution, which is usually used for injections. You need to purchase a product with a concentration of active substance of 0.9%. Otherwise, you risk harming the animal’s health and causing a burn to the mucous membrane.
Chlorhexidine
Also, owners have been successfully using the pharmaceutical drug chlorhexidine for a long time: you need to ask for a 0.01% solution. The procedure for using such a drug is no more complicated than in the previous two cases, you just need to follow the dosage and read the instructions first.
Herbal infusions and tea
In order to clean your pet’s mucous membranes yourself, you can use gentle folk remedies, such as black tea or herbal decoction.
After brewing a weak drink, you need to strain it and let the solution brew for at least 10 hours. The tea solution can be safely called an excellent antiseptic, but you cannot use freshly brewed tea or tea leaves that are two days old, in which bacteria have already begun to multiply.
To make a herbal decoction, you need to purchase St. John's wort, calendula, hyssop or chamomile herbs, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, at the pharmacy. To prepare, you need to take 1-2 teaspoons of dry herb, pour 0.5 cups of boiling water over it, leave for about 10 minutes, strain, cool and wipe your pet’s mucous membranes.
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Special drops
It is permissible to clean the sore eyes of children not only with the above mentioned means, they are dripped with drugs prescribed by the veterinarian.
- “Diamond Eyes” drops based on the substance chlorhexidine are effective. The components chlorocide C and taurine have an excellent healing effect.
- Drops called “Bars” are used in the form of lotions. They contain furatsilin, which destroys microbes, as well as novocaine, known as an anabolic steroid.
- Iris drops are made on the basis of the antibiotic gentamicin and also contain the healing components EDTA, polyvinylpyrrolidone and sodium metabisulfite.
If there is purulent conjunctivitis, the doctor may recommend antibiotic drops: Ciprofloxacin or Levomycetin.
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The best drugs for treatment
For treatment to be as effective as possible, you need to choose proven means.
Iris
Gentamicin is the active substance in the composition. Kills anaerobic and protozoan bacteria. Prescribed for conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis and corneal erosion. Instilled under the conjunctiva 4 times a day. Course duration – 7 days. Cost: 150 rubles.
Leopard
Chloramphenicol and nitrofural destroy bacteria, microorganisms and viruses. Prescribed to prevent the development of infections due to mechanical damage, for the treatment of acute and chronic forms of conjunctivitis. Before use, clear the eye of purulent discharge, course – 1.5 weeks. Cost: 80 rubles per bottle.
Levomycetin
Antibiotic. Eliminates any infectious agents. Has a wide range of applications:
- blepharitis;
- keratitis;
- infected injuries to the eye area;
- any types and stages of conjunctivitis.
Drop onto the eye 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 5-7 days. Can cause side effects - burning, redness of the eyeball. Price: 10-15 rubles.
How to treat eye diseases at home?
When treating the eyes, medicinal solutions, drops and ointments are used. First, the eye is washed with furatsilin or weak manganese solution. Then drops are instilled and antibiotic ointment is applied. In particularly severe cases, surgery is performed. To select a treatment method and medications, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
Medicinal solutions, drops and ointments are used to treat the eyes.
Treatment of cataracts in cats
To see the symptoms, you just need to look into your pet's eyes. If a small white spot appears instead of a pupil, most likely the first symptom of cataract has appeared. Regardless of age, it is necessary to periodically examine the cat.
Medical and surgical treatment methods are used. The medicinal method used is tissue therapy according to V.P. Filatov with the introduction of aloe extract, antibiotics, and vitamin preparations. Retrobulbar blocks are performed according to V.V. Aurorov so that the substances get behind the eyeball.
On a note! Conservative methods do not always lead to a positive effect. It is possible to slow down the development of cataracts in cats, but it is not always possible to completely cure them. The only effective method of getting rid of cataracts is surgery.
Medical and surgical treatment methods are used to treat cataracts.
Help for eyes with conjunctivitis
It is better not to torture the cat, but to immediately take it to a veterinary clinic. The disease appears as a result of an allergic reaction or a viral, less often bacterial, infection. Effective eye care for conjunctivitis:
- Before instillation, the eyes are washed with 0.05% Chlorhexidine (for external use) using a gauze pad or cotton pad.
- Eye drops for cats and dogs “Tsiprovet” are instilled into the inner corner of the affected eye - two drops each.
- After five minutes, Tobrex eye drops are instilled - two drops each.
- After another five minutes, Actipol is dripped.
- Tetracycline one percent eye ointment is used at night. Apply along the edges of the affected eyelid.
The instillation procedure is carried out six times a day for five days. If conjunctivitis does not go away, treatment continues for the next 5-9 days, reducing the dose to four times a day. During illness, especially in the cold season, it is not recommended to let your cat go outside.
Conjunctivitis is treated with drops
Help with eye pain and purulent inflammation
Purulent inflammation and lacrimation is a pathological condition when, due to the penetration of a viral infection, the eyes stick together. There are a large number of varieties of purulent inflammation. One of the most common is panophthalmitis - serious damage to the entire eye.
First aid consists of treating the eyes with Furacilin. The antibiotic “Azenil” is given orally in the form of a suspension (the powder is diluted with 9 ml of water). The medicine is used for a week. If the kitten is small, it is enough to dilute a quarter teaspoon of the suspension with one teaspoon of distilled, mineral or boiled water. Stir thoroughly until smooth.
In addition to oral administration of Azenil, the antibiotic eye ointment Terramycin or syntomycin eye ointment is used. Gently apply a cotton swab to the affected eye two to three times a day.
Drops effectively help with inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drops “Barrier” are instilled two drops 2-3 times a day for a week.
This is what panophthalmitis looks like in cats
Prevention of eye diseases
To prevent your cat from having eye problems, you need to eliminate all the factors that lead to diseases. It is necessary to wash the cat's organs of vision with saline solution so that there is no excess secretion there. Carry out wet cleaning every day, otherwise the animal may get a foreign body that can inflame the eye. You can't disturb the cat, then it will be healthy.
There are many eye diseases in cats, so pets should not be stressed and need regular care. If you do everything correctly and love your animal, then no disease is scary.
*Prices are current as of September 2021.
