How to Treat Eye Infections in Cats
Cats' eyes can be prone to a number of different types of infection and can be very serious if left untreated, even leading to blindness.
So how you do spot if your cat has an eye infection and what treatment is needed to cure it? Eye inspections One of the best times to inspect your cat's eyes is during grooming - they are relaxed and happy and more inclined to let you inspect them.
Get the cat into a brightly lit area and look into their eyes, which should be clear and bright with the area around the eyeball being clean and white.
The pupils should also be of an equal size.
You can also roll down the eyelid gently if they will let you and look at the inside of the eyelid - this should be pink but not red or white.
There are a number of signs that can indicate an eye infection or a problem of the eye area.
Top among these are watering eyes or a discharge from them as well as deposits in the corners of the eye.
If the eyelid is red or white, this may mean something is wrong, as does cloudiness or a change in the colour of the eye.
Sometimes their third eyelid may be visible or they keep the eye closed.
Finally, tear stained fur is a visible sign of eyes watering and may be a problem.
The body language of your cat can also be an indicator of a problem.
If the cat squints more than normal or is pawing at the eye area, this may mean it is causing pain or discomfort.
Should any of these symptoms be visible, contact your vet immediately.
Eye conditions There are number of conditions that can affect cat's eyes.
The most commonly seen disorders include: · Conjunctivitis - very similar to the condition in humans, one or both of the eyes will be red and/or swollen and there can be discharge from the eye · Third eyelid protrusions - a protrusion of the third eyelid can be caused by a wound or conditions such as worms as well as being a side effect from some viruses · Keratitis - this is where the cornea of the eye becomes inflamed and the eye looks cloudy or will water · Retinal disease - light sensitive cells at the back of the eye degenerate and cause a partial or total loss of vision Other conditions can be resulting from age, such as cataracts where the eye becomes opaque and inherited conditions such as glaucoma, where the cornea becomes cloudy and the eyeball enlarges.
Some breeds, such as Persians, are also more likely to suffer from watering eyes due to the physical shape of their face, the reduced length of muzzle and other features that means blocked tear ducts are a common problem.
Treatment Always speak to your vet if you think your cat has any condition and they will be able to diagnose what the exact problem is and advise about treatment.
Eye conditions can become very serious and even lead to a loss of sight so don't delay.
Vaccinations can also help prevent some conditions that cause eye related problems.
For cats that have naturally watery eyes, regular cleaning of the eye area will reduce the chance they get an infection.
Warm water on cotton balls, using once for each eye, is the best way to remove these stains and stop a problem before it develops.
So how you do spot if your cat has an eye infection and what treatment is needed to cure it? Eye inspections One of the best times to inspect your cat's eyes is during grooming - they are relaxed and happy and more inclined to let you inspect them.
Get the cat into a brightly lit area and look into their eyes, which should be clear and bright with the area around the eyeball being clean and white.
The pupils should also be of an equal size.
You can also roll down the eyelid gently if they will let you and look at the inside of the eyelid - this should be pink but not red or white.
There are a number of signs that can indicate an eye infection or a problem of the eye area.
Top among these are watering eyes or a discharge from them as well as deposits in the corners of the eye.
If the eyelid is red or white, this may mean something is wrong, as does cloudiness or a change in the colour of the eye.
Sometimes their third eyelid may be visible or they keep the eye closed.
Finally, tear stained fur is a visible sign of eyes watering and may be a problem.
The body language of your cat can also be an indicator of a problem.
If the cat squints more than normal or is pawing at the eye area, this may mean it is causing pain or discomfort.
Should any of these symptoms be visible, contact your vet immediately.
Eye conditions There are number of conditions that can affect cat's eyes.
The most commonly seen disorders include: · Conjunctivitis - very similar to the condition in humans, one or both of the eyes will be red and/or swollen and there can be discharge from the eye · Third eyelid protrusions - a protrusion of the third eyelid can be caused by a wound or conditions such as worms as well as being a side effect from some viruses · Keratitis - this is where the cornea of the eye becomes inflamed and the eye looks cloudy or will water · Retinal disease - light sensitive cells at the back of the eye degenerate and cause a partial or total loss of vision Other conditions can be resulting from age, such as cataracts where the eye becomes opaque and inherited conditions such as glaucoma, where the cornea becomes cloudy and the eyeball enlarges.
Some breeds, such as Persians, are also more likely to suffer from watering eyes due to the physical shape of their face, the reduced length of muzzle and other features that means blocked tear ducts are a common problem.
Treatment Always speak to your vet if you think your cat has any condition and they will be able to diagnose what the exact problem is and advise about treatment.
Eye conditions can become very serious and even lead to a loss of sight so don't delay.
Vaccinations can also help prevent some conditions that cause eye related problems.
For cats that have naturally watery eyes, regular cleaning of the eye area will reduce the chance they get an infection.
Warm water on cotton balls, using once for each eye, is the best way to remove these stains and stop a problem before it develops.
