Every caring owner carefully monitors the health of their pets. If any disease occurs, the pet's appearance may deteriorate significantly. For example, many may notice cloudy eyes in a cat. Cloudy eyes often occur due to damage to the lens or cornea. This is due to the accumulation of excess liquid in them. People often call this deviation the simple word “thorn.” In this case, usually one eye becomes cloudy. However, in particularly severe stages, damage may occur to both eyes at once. What are the main causes of pathology and how can it be combated?
Causes of the disease
The main causes of blurred vision in a cat include:
- Diseases of the eye cornea. It loses its shine, becomes whitish, and a bluish tint appears.
- Diseases of the lens. Such pathologies are characterized by clouding of the pupil, the cornea remains transparent and is not affected. When the light is pointed at the organ of vision, the haze narrows. This confirms that the reason lies precisely in the pupil.
Below we will look at the origin of the loss of transparency of the animal's eye in more detail.
How to wash your eyes at home
If you notice that your cat's eye has become cloudy or a barely noticeable cloudy spot has appeared, you should rinse the damaged area. At home, use a solution of furatsilin or warm water. To avoid damaging your pet's eyes, it is better to use cotton swabs. In any case, you will have to hold the cat, so the help of a partner will be necessary.
For purulent accumulations, it is not enough to simply wipe the corners of the eyes with a cotton swab. For prevention, drops will be required. They are usually prescribed by a veterinarian when visiting a clinic. For instillation, you can use a syringe without a needle or a pipette. Crusts may form in the corners of the eyes. They should be pre-soaked. The rinsing is completed by wiping the eyes with a cotton swab.
Ultimately, caring and monitoring your pet is the main factor not only in treatment, but also in disease prevention. Any eye discharge should be addressed immediately, and in severe cases, contact a veterinarian.
Keratitis
With this disease, vision always becomes worse, sometimes completely lost. The disease appears due to toxic damage to the liver. Most often this occurs during intoxication and poisoning, during acute infectious pathologies of the organs of vision caused by pathogenic microorganisms, fungi, viruses or neurogenic diseases.
To stop your cat's vision loss, immediate veterinary attention is needed.
Diagnosis of the disease
To find out how to cure a cat’s eyesore, veterinarians use the following methods:
- Schirmer test. Aimed at determining the volume of tear fluid produced. A thin strip of paper is inserted into the corner of the eye. The length of the wet part determines whether the animal’s body produces a normal amount of tears.
- Inspection using ultraviolet lamps. Helps detect erosions and ulcers on the surface of the eyeball. Before the procedure, the cornea is coated with a special agent. Areas of damage under ultraviolet radiation emit a pronounced glow.
- Tonometry. During the procedure, eye pressure is measured. The method is aimed at identifying signs and precursors of glaucoma.
- Serological blood test. Aimed at identifying infections that can cause inflammatory changes in the cornea - feline leukemia virus, immunodeficiency and infectious peritonitis. In addition, it is necessary to examine the cat for the presence of toxoplasmosis. Eye diseases often occur when the activity of the herpes virus increases, so tests to detect it are mandatory.
- Corneal cytology. Samples of material for research are obtained by scraping from the cornea. They are examined under a microscope. This helps detect cancer cells and areas affected by pathogenic microorganisms.
- Bacterial culture of scrapings from the cornea. The material is placed on a nutrient medium to grow cell cultures. The analysis helps determine the sensitivity of the microorganism to drugs.
- Paracentesis. During the procedure, a vitreous puncture is performed. The method is used when it is impossible to detect the infectious agent by other methods.
- Electroretinography. The procedure helps assess the functional activity of the retina. Used to identify severe morphological and functional pathologies.
- Ultrasound examination of the organs of vision. The technique is used for pronounced signs of turbidity of the membrane of the eyeball, in which other diagnostic methods turn out to be uninformative.
Symptoms
The first sign of keratitis is a cloudy red eye in a cat. Initially, redness and discharge of purulent or serous fluid appear. Then the cornea loses transparency, the eye becomes cloudy, and ulcers or tissue necrosis appear.
An accurate diagnosis is necessary to select the appropriate treatment. It is carried out using a special fluorescent liquid composition. After this, damage to the cornea becomes visible in the light. This type of diagnosis is carried out only in a veterinary clinic.
A cat's eyesore: how to treat it
When treating a cataract, you must strictly follow all doctor’s prescriptions. Proper and timely therapy will help relieve the animal of unpleasant sensations and normalize visual functions.
Drug therapy
In most cases, conservative treatment is used using various medications:
- eye drops or ointments (tetracycline, floxal) are prescribed, which are used for at least two weeks;
- antibacterial agents are applied to the lower eyelid area, the procedure is repeated morning and evening, the interval should be the same. Therapy continues for up to 14 days;
- if the cause of the disease is injury, then first wash the eye with a disinfecting solution (chlorhexidine, miramistin), then instill medicinal drops (chloramphenicol);
- severe painful sensations are relieved by injecting special anesthetic solutions into the eyeball. It is permissible to repeat the procedure if necessary;
- for increased pressure in the eyeball, the drugs pilocarpine and brinzolamide are prescribed.
All prescribed medications are used in a comprehensive manner, this will help you quickly get the desired result and cure your cat.
Eye drops
In some cases, the edges of a cat's eyelids are sutured - tarsography. This procedure speeds up the healing process and protects the cornea of the eye.
It is necessary to carefully follow all appointments so that the restoration of the visual organs occurs faster. It is worth remembering that the disease cannot go away in a few days.
Treatment with traditional methods at home
Treatment of cataracts in a kitten at home can be carried out using folk remedies. However, they are used in conjunction with drug therapy.
A medicinal solution made from honey is considered popular in this case. How to prepare it:
- A small amount of sweetness is dissolved in water (powdered sugar can be used instead of honey).
- Mix thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous liquid.
- Drop 3 drops into the affected eye daily until complete healing.
Unfortunately, such a remedy will not have an effect if the cause of the disease is an infection.
Advanced eye disease in a cat
Treatment of keratitis
Treatment at home is strictly contraindicated. Keratitis is a polyetiological disease; without establishing the exact cause, self-therapy can be harmful.
After diagnostics and diagnosis, the specialist prescribes treatment aimed at eliminating the consequences of the identified eye pathology and maintaining the cat’s immunity.
Antiseptic drugs for washing the organ of vision, as well as antiviral and antibacterial ointments and drops, are necessarily prescribed. In addition, you should pay attention to your pet’s diet. It must be complete and contain a sufficient amount of microelements and vitamins.
Treatment
First of all, it is worth noting that everything depends on the nature of the identified disease. In some cases, surgery may be required.
You need to remember the following:
- If the cloudy eye appears as a result of an infectious disease, then the pet will need treatment with antibiotics that have a wide spectrum of action. Antibacterial agents can also help, and their dosage should be much higher. Only an experienced veterinarian can give accurate recommendations;
- If there are corneal ulcers or glaucoma develops, then surgical intervention will be required. Therefore, you should not delay treatment with medications. This is explained by the fact that in the case of surgery, complete removal of the eye may be required (in case of developing glaucoma). Corneal ulcers are eliminated less problematically, and only damaged tissue is excised. You should be prepared for the fact that after surgery, scars often remain, which makes it almost impossible to fully restore vision. However, the pet will still be able to see and distinguish objects;
- In some cases, the veterinarian may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They should be used only as prescribed by a doctor, since such medications have a number of contraindications. Over a long period of use, they can even have a negative effect on the animal’s body;
- For almost any type of disease, the veterinarian will prescribe antiseptic eye drops, which should be applied to the conjunctival cavity. You can also add various ointments (tetracycline, gamavit, etc.). This will help moisturize the damaged organ and protect against the penetration of various microbes into the eye, which will prevent the occurrence of pathogenic microflora;
- Metrogyl solution can have an effective effect. They should rinse the cat's eye to relieve symptoms of diseases;
- The use of medications based on Actovegin;
- Use of antiviral drugs. In addition to medications and procedures, you should also provide your pet with comfortable living conditions. The animal requires complete rest and a special diet (food must contain vitamins A and E). Vitamins will allow you to restore damaged areas of the eye in a shorter period and even restore vision. However, pet treatment must be comprehensive. Otherwise, when using any one method, it is unlikely that it will be possible to see an improvement in the animal’s condition.
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Glaucoma
This eye disease in animals develops against the background of increased intraocular pressure. During an acute attack of pathology, the cornea ceases to be transparent, and the symptom of a cloudy eye appears in a cat.
Optic atrophy can cause a pet to completely lose vision within two to four days. Therefore, the cat needs emergency veterinary care.
Diagnostics
If suspicious signs appear, it is recommended to contact a veterinarian. The doctor will conduct the necessary studies and determine an accurate diagnosis. Diagnosis of the disease includes:
- owner survey;
- visual examination of the cat's eyes;
- complete blood test of the animal;
- performing ophthalmoscopy;
- the use of specific substances for staining the cornea;
- Ultrasound examination of the organs of vision.
If necessary, additional examinations are carried out to make a more accurate diagnosis: scrapings, taking smears for bacteria, testing for viruses, measuring the pressure inside the eye.
Increased pressure in a cat's eye
After all the research, the veterinarian will make an accurate diagnosis and tell you how to treat the cat’s eyesore.
Corneal ulcers and erosions
These corneal diseases vary in depth and can occur due to chemical, thermal and mechanical injuries, as well as chlamydia, glaucoma, inflammatory eye pathologies and other diseases. The distinctive features of this disease are:
- redness of the cornea of the organ of vision;
- fear of light;
- clouding of the eye.
The owner in this situation may notice that the cat’s one eye has become cloudy, while the other is fine.
What to do
If you notice that the corner of your cat's eye has turned white, it's time to contact your veterinarian. Loss of the third eyelid is only a sign of health problems in the animal. It is possible that the nictitating membrane will return to its place on its own, but in most cases this pathology requires drug treatment.
Attention! So that the doctor has a complete picture of the disease, do not treat the pet yourself.
The main method of examination is the use of an ophthalmoscope. The doctor examines the patient and takes swabs of tears or purulent discharge to determine infection. Depending on the test results, treatment will be prescribed.
- Diseases of bacterial, viral and fungal etiology require complex therapy with the use of antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal drugs. In advanced conditions, it is possible to use antipyretics and immunostimulants.
- If you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is enough to normalize your diet. At the beginning of treatment, special medicinal feed is used.
- For allergies, antihistamines are prescribed, as well as local hormonal therapy.
- If the appearance of a white film on the eye is associated with contact with a foreign body on the cornea, rinsing is carried out; in severe cases, the foreign irritant is removed surgically.
- For mechanical damage, pain relief and local wound treatment are indicated.
Any treatment requires time, during which the cat must be provided with complete rest. It is very important to complete the course, and not limit yourself to initial improvements in the condition.
When the nictitating membrane prolapses, medications are not necessarily used. A number of cases do not require medication:
- The appearance of a white eye due to decreased immunity. In this case, there will be no discharge from the eyes. It is enough to provide the animal with a balanced diet rich in vitamins.
- The recovery period after a viral or infectious disease. In this case, it is necessary to regularly wash the cat's eyes to remove exudate.
- In case of dehydration: you need to provide your pet with drink and wet food.
Scar (thorn) of the cornea
This defect causes clouding of the cornea after burns, trauma or ulcers. There are several types of disease:
- A peripheral cataract, it does not have a significant harmful effect on vision, since it is located away from the pupil.
- A total cataract covers the cornea and pupil. With this pathology, vision is significantly reduced.
- Central thorn. Located on the pupil itself. It can cover it completely or partially. Vision becomes limited.
The disease is characterized by a cloudy spot on the cat's eye. For treatment, special ointments and drops are used, which can only be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Treatment and prevention of the disease
First, note that cloudy eyes in a cat do not always require medical intervention. Sometimes the cause is a decrease in immunity, most often in the off-season.
It is enough to provide your pet with a balanced diet, limit it as much as possible from external irritants and ensure a comfortable rehabilitation period.
ATTENTION! After a long-term infectious disease, clouding of the eye or lens may occur. As a rule, it is enough to rinse your pet's eye. Sometimes it helps. Otherwise, a trip to the clinic cannot be avoided.
It is extremely important to prevent the disease than to later deal with clouding of the eye. The owner must promptly wash the pet’s eyes and remove any purulent discharge. Provide quality water and food. Do not overuse cheap cat food. It is especially important to carry out an inspection after a walk. Timely and effective control of microorganisms.
At home, it is not always possible to carry out prevention in a timely manner. Many breeders recommend contacting specialists for inspection and making specific recommendations for each specific case.
That is why we turn to the issue of diagnosing cloudy eyes within the walls of the clinic. Veterinarians use a variety of tests and analyzes to create an effective treatment plan:
- Schirmer test. Used to determine the volume of tear secretions. The veterinarian uses special paper, which he places on the corner of the pet's eye. As you get wet, the specialist determines whether enough tears are produced and whether there are any abnormalities.
- Main pressure measurement. A common and simple way to identify glaucoma or even identify the initial symptoms of the disease.
- Ultraviolet lamps. Used to identify ulcers and eye ulcers. The veterinarian applies a special solution to the eye and illuminates the organ through ultraviolet rays.
- Collection of numerous analyses. In addition to various blood samples, tests are taken for leukemia virus, immunodeficiency virus, peritonitis, and tests for herpis.
- Corneal scraping. The veterinarian uses special tools to scrape the affected area and examine the particles under a microscope.
- Reaction to antibiotics. If there is a suspicion of infection by bacteria or fungi, the specialist sows the culture into a flask. Then he tests her for reaction to antibiotics.
- Ultrasound therapy. It is used, as a rule, for complete clouding of the eye of a cat or kitten. It is used as a last resort when alternative methods do not bring results.
- Electroretinography. A high-tech method that conducts a detailed analysis of the retina for abnormalities or pathologies.
There are a lot of treatment methods and in each specific case one or another technique is used. For example, if the cause of clouding of the lens or cornea of the eye is an infectious disease, then the use of antibiotics is logical.
If glaucoma or ulcer is detected, unfortunately, complete removal of the eye is required. Even in the early stages of detection, there is a high probability that surgery will be required. Ulcers on the cornea are removed pointwise, so the procedure is not so painful for the cat. There is still a good chance that the animal will retain at least weak vision.
If one or both eyes of a cat become cloudy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. But they should be used in doses and for a short period of time. Side effects of the medication cause irreparable harm to the health of the pet. At home, the most effective method is to use ointments or drops.
IMPORTANT! The drugs moisturize the eyes and fight pathogenic microflora. Of course, without proper nutrition and comfort, there can be no talk of effective treatment at home.
Veterinarians often prescribe complex treatment using tetracycline ointment or gamavit. The eyes are also washed with Metrogyl solution, and preparations based on Actovegin are used.
Causes of clouding and damage to the lens
The pupil of the eye itself does not lose transparency, since it is a hole in the iris. The transparent biolens of the organ of vision, called the lens, becomes cloudy. It is located behind the pupil.
The main cause of clouding is considered to be cataracts. This pathology manifests itself for several reasons:
- changes in metabolism associated with the age of the animal (old individuals);
- endocrine diseases - lipid metabolism disorders, diabetes mellitus;
- pupil injuries;
- infectious pathologies in a pregnant individual can cause pathology of the eye lens in a kitten;
- Certain breeds of cats have a genetic predisposition to this disease: Persians, Burmese, Siamese.
Treatment of cataracts, carried out with the help of medications, can only temporarily slow down the development of the disease.
Preventive measures
It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it later. Prevention of visual problems in cats includes the following points:
- you need to carefully monitor your pet’s nutrition and care;
- exclude animal contact with household chemicals and hazardous substances;
- trim claws on time;
- during walks, they carefully monitor the pet’s behavior and its contacts;
- receive all necessary vaccinations on time;
- periodically visit a veterinarian, this will allow you to identify the disease in the initial stages,
It is recommended to remember that timely treatment will help maintain the health of your furry pet.
A cat's eyesore is a dangerous condition that can result in the animal losing its sight. When the first suspicious signs appear, you should immediately contact a veterinarian. In treatment, it is important to follow all the specialist’s instructions and carry out procedures strictly according to the instructions. Compliance with preventive rules will help avoid pathologies.
Video
A cat's eyesore is a fairly common problem among these pets. A white film covering the eyeball not only causes discomfort to the pet, it can be a symptom of a disease that can lead to complete blindness. To prevent this, every cat owner should be able to identify the causes of this phenomenon and take timely measures to eliminate it.
Therapy
Radical treatment for lens opacity involves replacing it with surgery. If radical treatment is not carried out in time, the process will develop further with severe complications:
- uveitis – inflammation of the uvea of the eye, often leading to blindness;
- secondary glaucoma with optic nerve atrophy and vision loss;
- panophthalmitis - the release of masses of the lens into the chambers of the eye, the appearance of inflammation, pus: all this leads to the death of the eye.
It becomes clear that if a cat's eye is covered with a cloudy film, this can lead to partial loss of vision or complete blindness. Restoring the function of the organ of vision depends on how quickly the animal owner contacted the veterinarian. In addition, a correct diagnosis and quality treatment are important. Positive results most often appear in cases where the pathology is detected at an early stage of development.
Eye pathologies
The main pathologies of the eye that cause clouding of the lens or cornea. Of these, the following should be highlighted:
Keratitis
or the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the corneal tissues. In this case, the eye becomes cloudy only on the outside, while no dangerous changes occur inside. But why do inflammatory processes occur? Inflammation often occurs due to injury or infection in the visual organ. The described disorders are often the cause of the development of a disease such as keratitis. Any form of this disease causes significant harm to the health of the pet. This can be explained by the fact that the inflammatory process in the cornea in most cases leads to its death.
Glaucoma
With this disease, intraocular pressure increases, as a result of which the organ of visual perception increases in size. At the same time, the ability to see clearly is lost. If such a disease occurs, you can observe poor coordination of movements in the cat and dilated pupils. As for the cornea of the eye, it completely whitens and becomes less sensitive. Due to the sudden loss of vision, the animal runs the risk of bumping into various objects, which can lead to additional damage. The risk of negative consequences increases if the second eye is also infected. Due to such a serious illness, the tissues of the sensory organ harden, and the eye lens dislocates. It is also worth noting that in some cases this pathology is congenital and often occurs in an acute form.
Cataract
As this disease progresses, predominantly the central part of the eye, in the area of the pupil, becomes cloudy. One or both eyes can become infected with cataracts. As the disease progresses, the lens becomes less transparent, almost white. The disease can occur due to infection, as well as as a result of traumatic exposure or an inflammatory process.
Conjunctivitis
It is characterized by copious transparent discharge from the eyes, which in the most severe stages can become purulent. At the same time, the pet’s general health worsens, body temperature rises, redness and swelling of the eye occurs, and the pupil area often becomes cloudy. If eye pathologies occur, you must immediately contact a veterinarian with many years of experience. Based on the tests, it will help to correctly determine the severity of the disease and prescribe the necessary treatment to prevent negative consequences.
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Prevention
In order to prevent clouding of your cat’s eyes, you should follow a few simple rules for keeping your pet:
- Vaccinate the animal against infectious pathologies in a timely manner;
- undergo timely examinations by a specialist;
- Consult a doctor immediately after identifying unpleasant eye pathologies.
It should be borne in mind that if the cat already has inflammation of the organs of vision, the animal must be closely monitored. Your pet should be examined at least twice a day. If severe inflammation, redness, or clouding of the cornea appears, you should immediately go to the veterinarian. To prevent the condition from worsening, all stress factors for the animal should be kept to a minimum. Since they are the ones who can provoke a deterioration in the animal’s condition. The owner must also take into account the fact that from the room where the sick cat is located, it is necessary to remove interior items that the cat could hit and suffer.
It should also be understood that any eye pathology can lead to loss of vision in a cat, so you should not leave even the most harmless inflammation of the mucous membrane uncontrolled.
In addition, the owner must provide the sick animal with complete rest and, if possible, include foods with a high concentration of tocopherol and retinol in the cat’s diet. These vitamins have a positive effect on damaged epithelial layers of the cornea and restore the organs of vision.
Possible reasons
The main causes of cloudy eyes in a cat:
- damage to the cornea of the eye caused by infectious diseases. As a result, scars and all sorts of degenerative phenomena may appear on the visual organ. There is also a risk of developing a disease such as lymphocytic infiltration of corneal tissue;
- A cloudy eye often indicates excess fluid in the eyeball. In most cases, this occurs due to an infection in the sensory organ. Fluid accumulation often occurs as a result of using medications not prescribed by a doctor. Such illiterate care of a pet can cause not only deterioration in the eyeball, but also lead to poisoning of the entire body as a whole;
- the lens may turn white due to the development of such a dangerous disease as cataract;
- pathologies of the vitreous body. Cats often experience the emergence of pathogenic microflora, a slowdown in metabolic processes, etc.
As medical practice shows, the risk of clouding of a cat’s eye increases mainly for the following reasons:
- formation of ulcers in the cornea. Ulcers can appear after infectious diseases, as well as as a result of the release of the body or in the case of negative effects of substances that irritate the cornea;
- scarring, occurring mainly due to defects on the eyelids;
- unsuccessful eye surgeries (the veterinarian may accidentally damage the tear duct, cause an infection, etc. If clouding of the eye occurs after surgery, you should immediately seek help from an experienced veterinarian. A cloudy eye always indicates negative changes in the cat’s body. This must be dealt with);
- accumulation of lipids in the cornea. Often such negative reactions occur due to metabolic disorders;
- corneal edema. This disease may appear after conjunctivitis, and may also indicate premature degeneration of corneal tissue.
Less common causes of negative transformations in the eye include:
- impaired metabolism in the animal;
- age-related changes (over time, cats’ health deteriorates, all sorts of diseases and ailments actively develop);
- damage in the lacrimal canal;
- autoimmune diseases;
- improper care of the animal after getting rid of the third eyelid;
- cancer;
- bacterial and viral infections.
Negative consequences
Clouding of the cornea or lens of the visual organ is an extremely dangerous pathology that requires immediate medical intervention. If this disease is not detected in a timely manner, very negative consequences can occur. A white eye is a real danger for cats:
- During the course of this disease, pets experience increased excitability and nervousness. This negatively affects the health of pets and may cause the development of more severe illnesses;
- with total damage to the eyes, vision may sharply decrease (or disappear altogether). It will become difficult for the animal to move from place to place on its own, and the risk of injury will increase due to the fact that the pet will constantly bump into surrounding objects;
- the risk of strabismus in a cat increases;
- clouding of the eye is often accompanied by pain, irritation of the mucous membrane, and all sorts of discharge;
- the general condition of the body and the well-being of the pet can sharply decrease. In this case, you can observe poor appetite, high temperature, slow reactions, decreased motor activity, unsteady gait;
- Sensitivity to light increases, which can cause increased pain. More severe and advanced stages of the disease can be extremely dangerous. So, there is a risk of such serious illnesses as:
- uveitis In this case, inflammation of the choroid of the visual organ can be observed, which often results in loss of vision;
- repeated glaucoma, as a result of which the optic nerve may atrophy (because of this the pet will become blind);
- exit of panophthalmitis from the lens into the eye chambers. As a result, purulent inflammatory processes appear and the eye dies.
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Why does the cat have a cloudy eye?
Most often, when a pet's eye(s) become cloudy, the choice is usually between cataracts, glaucoma, or keratitis.
Cataract
In the case where the clouding begins from the depths of the eye, the clouding is noticeable in the pupillary area (that is, in the center of the eye), such a lesion is called a cataract. Cataracts can affect one or both eyes. If this disease develops in an animal, the lens becomes almost white and loses its transparency, sometimes completely.
Glaucoma
An increase in intraocular pressure leads to a change (increase) in the size of the eye and loss of vision. Additionally, the owner may notice:
- clouding of the cornea (it becomes almost white and completely loses sensitivity);
- pupil dilation;
- coordination disorders in animals.
In fact, the animal bumps into furniture not due to vestibular disorders or coordination problems, but due to blindness. Both eyes or just one may be affected. As the disease progresses, the eye tissues harden. Glaucoma can be acute or congenital. Its cause may be a dislocation of the lens or it develops as a complication of a severe form of keratitis.
Corneal lesion
When the cornea is damaged, the surface of the eye becomes cloudy, but the visible color in depth does not change. In this case, clouding can begin anywhere in the eye. This is usually caused by inflammatory processes in the tissues of the cornea, of a traumatic and infectious nature. This disease is called keratitis. Sometimes keratitis is more reminiscent not of a cloudy formation, but of the appearance of a dense film on the eye (pink, white and even gray).
In addition to keratitis, with general metabolic disorders or serious infections, excess lipids can accumulate in the cornea. In addition to clouding of the eye, the animal will exhibit symptoms characteristic of a specific disease.
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Cloudiness of the eye can occur due to swelling of the cornea. Corneal edema can be caused by premature tissue degradation (post-operative or post-infectious, developing after untreated conjunctivitis). Degradation can also be age-related - this phenomenon occurs in very old cats.
Corneal ulcers that arise as a result of acids, alkalis or other aggressive substances getting into the eye of a pet also often cause clouding of its eyes. Also, corneal edema can develop as a complication of many eye diseases of an infectious nature.
Clouding of the cornea in cats occurs due to eye diseases. During the course of the disease, pus, fluid, and cholesterol accumulate in its tissues, and there are frequent cases of vascular sprouting and scarring.
The main diseases in which the cornea of the eye becomes cloudy are: keratitis, ulcers, erosions, glaucoma, corneal degeneration and others. In the case of keratitis, the animal is partially or completely deprived of vision. It occurs as a result of many diseases, infections, viruses and even poisoning.
When the cornea is damaged, the surface of the eye becomes whitish, often acquiring a blue color.
Name of veterinary services | Unit | Cost of service, rub. |
Initial appointment Repeated appointment | One animal One animal | 300 200 |
Veterinarian consultation | 1 cons. | 200 |
Consultation with a doctor based on test results | 1 cons. | 100 |
Doctor's consultation, without pet | 1 cons. | 500 |
Cloudy eyes in cats are highly treatable. The basic rule for any eye disease in a cat associated with clouding of the eye is to promptly consult a veterinarian.
In the early stages of diseases, the doctor prescribes effective treatment based on medication. Medicines, eye drops, washing the eyes of a cat - all this is much simpler and better than surgery and artificial implants for an animal. A cat can lose its sight if even the most harmless disease is not treated in time.
Don’t put off going to the vet if you notice the slightest deviation from the norm in your pet’s eyes. Bring her to us right away so we can help restore healthy vision to your pet!
Cloudiness of the cornea indicates cornea disease. There are three options for reasons that created problems with the cornea:
- Accumulation of excess pus, fluid, calcium or cholesterol.
- The appearance of an eyesore (connective tissue scars).
- Pathological germination of blood vessels.
Metabolic processes in the cornea of the organ are disrupted, and this, in turn, leads to the deposition of calcium, cholesterol or amyloid cells in it. Due to these processes, the eye becomes cloudy and loses its normal structure. For therapy, special medications and surgical methods are used.
Why do cats have dark or brown discharge from their eyes?
Excessive lacrimation, clearly beyond the normal range, is called epiphora. The term is used in both medicine and veterinary medicine.
Depending on the disease, tears in cats can have different consistency and color. Brown discharge from the eyes of cats is caused by pigments that are part of tears during some infections and inflammatory processes. The discharged liquid may also have a reddish tint.
Bacterial infections cause suppuration and a white, yellow or greenish coating appears in the eye area.
The causes of epiphora in cats are divided into two main groups, let’s look at each.
Signs of cloudiness
In the early stages, the ophthalmological disorder does not show itself in any way. The first obvious symptoms of cataracts in a cat appear after the optical areas of the lens begin to suffer. In veterinary practice, there are four stages of disease progression:
- Initial. The peripheral section of the optical system is the first to take the hit. The animal has difficulty distinguishing the contours of objects and loses visual acuity. At this stage, the owner may not recognize the disease, since the pet still manages to navigate in space.
- Immature (swelling). It is characterized by a twitching of the eye with a whitish or blue coating, making it difficult for the purr to coordinate its movements when jumping. The animal sees worse at dusk and in the dark.
- Mature. The owner notices that the cat has a constantly dilated, cloudy pupil. Complete clouding of the lens occurs when the fluffy has to navigate towards the light and bump into pieces of furniture. The animal becomes apathetic and lethargic.
- Overripe (terminal). Identified by liquefaction of the lens. There is a dense white film on the cat's eye. Complete loss of brilliance by the organ of vision indicates the onset of blindness.
Cataracts in cats (example in the photo) can affect either one eye or both at once.
Depending on the causes of the turbidity, the animal may additionally exhibit various signs that the owner notices at a late stage of the disease.
For example:
- enlargement of the eyeball and protrusion of the eye from the orbit;
- swelling of the conjunctiva;
- dilatation of blood vessels in the eye;
- photophobia and blepharospasm;
- the appearance of mucous or purulent discharge from the eyes;
- irritability;
- disturbance of appetite and sleep.
Quite often, older animals suffer from damage to the organ of vision (cataracts and glaucoma). But young cats can also suffer. They more often develop clouding of the eyes of traumatic origin, leading to loss of vision. Largely due to late access to veterinary care. In this case, it may take a lot of time and effort to achieve even minimal effect.
Types, symptoms and treatment
Below is a classification of eye diseases in cats, symptoms characteristic of each disease, as well as an approximate treatment regimen.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis in cats is perhaps the most common eye disease.
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids is called conjunctivitis. There are many types of it:
- Catarrhal;
- Purulent;
- Ulcerative;
- Follicular.
There are many reasons for this inflammation. The most common ones are a foreign body getting into the eye (grains of sand or hair, for example), vitamin deficiency, injuries, infections. In babies (especially kittens), inflammation from the nasal cavity (a seemingly harmless runny nose) quickly spreads to the eyes. Therefore, not only rhinitis is recorded in them, but also inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct and purulent conjunctivitis.
When an animal has conjunctivitis, the mucous membrane of the eyelids turns red, swells, and tears flow. Pus may also appear (but not immediately; first, catarrhal conjunctivitis, which, depending on the cause of its appearance, gradually or extremely quickly “turns” into purulent).
The first step is to determine what caused this inflammation? If it is a foreign body, then you just need to rinse the eye and, to prevent complications, apply tetracycline eye ointment to the lower eyelid a couple of times a day (eye ointment is always 1%!). You can purchase it either at a veterinary pharmacy or at a human pharmacy. This is not a scarce medicine at all and costs a penny. It is best if you always have it in your first aid kit.
Just don’t apply it to your finger and then to your eye. This creates an even greater risk that you will get an infection (your hands are not sterile, no matter how much you wash them with laundry soap at home). And you don’t need to touch the “nose” of the tube to the lower eyelid, so as not to introduce pathogenic microorganisms into the tube of ointment.
So, the next time you apply it (even if not for tomorrow), you will introduce pathogens directly to the inflamed area. And instead of treating conjunctivitis in a cat or dog, it will become over-infected.
However, you should not self-medicate as soon as you see tears in your cat or whitish crusts in the inner corner of the eyes. Firstly, this way you can only “drown out” the symptom, while the underlying disease will rage with all its might. Secondly, you may not guess with the dosage or even the drug, which will lead to the transition of catarrhal acute inflammation of the eyelid mucosa into a chronic, but purulent or follicular one. Clinical signs of conjunctivitis in a cat or dog will subside, but will not disappear. And this will certainly affect visual acuity. Symptoms of purulent conjunctivitis, in addition to yellow crusts in the morning after sleep or obvious yellow (or even greenish) discharge, are an increase in body temperature. This is understandable.
Any purulent inflammation, even of the smallest localization, indicates the presence of infection!
And the clinical sign of such a pathology will be an increase in temperature. But whether it will increase only in the affected area of the body or in the entire body immediately depends on the state of your pet’s immunity. the weaker it is, the higher the temperature.
Now about follicular conjunctivitis. Everything is much more complicated here. A simple tetracycline ointment or intramuscular antibiotics is not enough. The fact is that near the third eyelid (and it is located in the inner corner, this normally pink “skin”) the lymph nodes become inflamed. they enlarge, swell, and prevent the animal from blinking. It cannot be done without surgical intervention by a veterinarian. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe ointments and injections.
Keratitis
We’ve sorted out the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids, but what is the name for damage to the cornea in cats? Keratitis. It doesn't matter whether it was caused by injury or infection. It would seem, how can one examine some kind of pathology on a transparent cornea, especially if the pet blinks or does not even want to open its eyes because it hurts? But some symptoms will still help you recognize keratitis in a cat.
This is lacrimation. With keratitis, tears flow constantly and in large quantities from the affected eye. It’s as if the body is trying to “wash out” the lesion. The mustache will try to keep this eye closed, and if it is very bright in the room (or on the street), it will close its eyes completely. This is called photophobia.
Agree, this is very difficult not to notice. You can determine whether an infectious disease is the root cause of keratitis yourself. If pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) are to blame, then both eyes almost always immediately suffer. With fungi it is more complicated; they do not immediately move to the second organ of vision. However, in any case, you need to seek veterinary help as soon as possible.
Without treatment, in almost 100% of cases, conjunctivitis is added to keratitis (since there are plenty of microorganisms in the air) and the pet already has another disease - keratoconjunctivitis.
That is, in addition to lacrimation and photophobia, clinical signs characteristic of inflammation of the eyelid mucosa also appear. Pus begins to come out very quickly.
If the cause of keratitis in a cat was not a wound (a scratch on the cornea can also appear from a foreign body under the eyelid, after a fight), then the transparent membrane of the eye ceases to shine, becomes cloudy, and discharge (often purulent) accumulates in the corner of the eye.
Third eyelid
The nictitating membrane in cats is a unique protective “device” provided by nature. If you are planning to treat a cat’s eye disease – prolapse of the third eyelid, then first find out about the functions of this amazing feature. With the help of the nictitating membrane, the eyes are always protected from various damage and contact with the cornea. The so-called third eyelid can be seen with the naked eye. This white film in cats is a thin layer of light skin located near the inner corner of the eye.
The membrane (inner eyelid) helps maintain the health of the mucous surface of the eyes. In addition to cats, some other mammals and birds are endowed with a similar protective organ.
Eye disease in cats - third eyelid: loss is manifested by the following signs:
- uncontrollable spasms of the orbicularis oculi muscle (twitching and closing of the eyelids);
- increased lacrimation and redness around the eye;
- purulent or mucous discharge;
- massive formation in the corners of the eyes.
This pathology is similar to adenoma. It is very important to distinguish between these eye diseases in cats, the treatment of which, if misdiagnosed, can provoke the development of a dangerous disease - keratoconjunctivitis, from which the pet cannot be completely cured.
The third eyelid in cats is a definition that is commonly used as the name of a pathology - prolapse of the nictitating membrane, which provokes the presence of any diseases. Among them are often found:
- different types of conjunctivitis;
- injuries that damage the eyes;
- diseases of internal organs (usually the gastrointestinal tract);
- fungal diseases;
- allergies;
- reproduction of internal and external parasites.
If the white film does not disappear, it’s time to contact the veterinarian. A timely detected symptom and immediate treatment will help save your pet’s vision, save it from developing any disease, and maybe even protect it from death.
In a situation where the third eyelid is visible only in one eye, it is recommended to check the cat for the presence of pathologies such as:
- getting a foreign object under the nictitating membrane;
- traumatic injuries to the white membrane, cornea, cartilage or facial nerve;
- symblepharon;
- bacterial inflammation of the membrane.
It should be taken into account that membrane prolapse can occur in both eyes. The reasons for such a violation may be:
- bilateral conjunctivitis;
- fusion of part of the third eyelid with the eyeball;
- helminthiasis
Remember that a treatment regimen for cats’ eyes can only be selected and prescribed by a specialist with a veterinary education. Under no circumstances should you prescribe medications yourself, much less use eye drops and ointments intended for people. The only thing you can do at home is to wash your eyes with warm boiled water or chamomile decoction.
Sometimes a fallen membrane will repair itself within a few hours. If this does not happen, you will have to resort to surgery.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis in cats is simply called inflammation of the eyelid. Blepharitis is also classified into “simple”, ulcerative, scaly, and meibomian. If you don’t notice in time that the eyelid is red, swollen, and prevents the cat from opening its eyes, then you may not have time to start treatment in time.
Without a competent treatment regimen, “simple” blepharitis can easily and quickly turn into ulcerative blepharitis. First, a purulent plaque forms along the line of growth of the cilia, and under the plaque (more precisely, when it begins to fall off), ulcers begin to appear. It’s much more difficult to fight him.
The pet tries to scratch the eye, which can lead to injury, since clawed paws can easily injure the cornea or the same inflamed eyelid. As the purulent plaque and sores spread, blepharitis in a cat leads to loss of eyelashes. There is a high risk that the disease will “spread” to the conjunctiva, to the eye itself, which will lead to the development of a completely different disease - panophthalmitis. And here you will have to act very quickly if you do not want your pet to be left without an eye.
Panophthalmitis
It is registered extremely rarely, but similar cases are still observed. A very serious disease, since it is characterized by damage to all tissues of the eye. The symptoms of panophthalmitis are the same in cats and dogs. First, the affected eyeball noticeably increases in size, and purulent discharge appears (panophthalmitis always occurs due to infection, hence the pus).
Unfortunately, the animal will not be able to save its eye. To prevent the infection from spreading to the brain, the diseased organ of vision is completely removed and the eyelids are sutured. To prevent this from happening, do not give up on your pet’s excessive tearing (even if this is a predisposition of the breed), and do not spit on the crusts of pus in the corners of the eyes or on the fur under them.
As soon as something alerts you, or you notice a symptom, immediately contact your veterinarian-ophthalmologist. There is no need to rinse with decoctions, drip antibiotics, or smear everything. This will only “muffle” the clinical signs, making it difficult to make a final diagnosis. And this will affect the development of a treatment regimen. Without it, your pet's recovery is impossible.
Cataract
Cataracts cause the lens of a cat to become cloudy. It is more often registered in older pets, however, it can also develop in young kittens if the cause is an infection. The main symptom you may notice is blurred vision. The animal bumps into objects, walks carefully, slowly, and is poorly oriented in space, especially in new terrain.
Having established the cause of the disease, the veterinarian-ophthalmologist will prescribe medication. Only if it does not help will surgery be prescribed. Self-medication is extremely dangerous. First, the animal may lose vision in that eye completely. Secondly, if the cause was an infection, then panophthalmitis, which was described above, may develop.
Inflammation of the nasolacrimal ducts
Another common eye disease in cats and kittens. It occurs due to the fact that the tubules that “connect the eye and nose” (to explain as simply as possible) become clogged. Many people had no idea about the presence of such tubules. But if you remember a crying person, you probably noticed that it was flowing not only from the eyes, but also from the nose.
The symptom is excessive lacrimation. It can be mistaken for a sign of keratitis or conjunctivitis because of this, but no ointment will help. The only way to help an animal is by probing. Yes, it is very painful, but after the procedure the cat immediately feels better. Literally without leaving the veterinarian's office, your pet will feel relief.
More antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent the development of infection. But usually after a week they are canceled, and the cat is re-examined. And if everything is fine, then the mustache is considered recovered.
Wounds of the eyelids
They can be superficial (when there is only a scratch), deep (when several layers of skin are damaged) and through (the eyelid is completely damaged). Cats injure their eyelids much more often than dogs, especially fighters.
If the wound is superficial, then it will need to be washed and treated with an antiseptic (at least with iodine, but only if the wound is outside the eyelid!). if it is deep or through, then only to the veterinarian. It will be necessary to thoroughly treat it, remove all foreign particles from the wound cavity, and also apply sutures. If the wound is through, then you need to make sure that the cornea is not injured.
Turn of the century
Most often, the lower eyelid is rolled up. At the same time, its edge bends inward (towards the cornea), this is not just uncomfortable. This is very painful. Don't forget about the hard cilia that rub against the conjunctiva and cornea. As a result, chronic keratoconjunctivitis can easily develop due to volvulus (volvulus is less common in cats). Only surgical intervention will help, since this is often a congenital pathology. The operation is not very complicated, but effective. The volvulus is eliminated once and for all.
Glaucoma
There are three types of glaucoma in cats: congenital, open-angle and closed-angle. With this disease, the animal's intraocular pressure increases. A symptom of glaucoma that the owner may notice is a greatly dilated pupil. The vessels cannot withstand the pressure, so they burst. And areas of hemorrhage are visible both on the conjunctiva and on the eye itself. The apple increases in size and becomes very hard (the pressure inside goes off scale).
With open-angle glaucoma, areas of cloudiness are noticeable on the cornea, it is practically insensitive, that is, the reflex weakens. With angle-closure glaucoma, a ring-shaped closed opacification of the cornea is noticeable on the cat’s cornea, as well as a strong branching of burst or dilated blood vessels.
High intraocular pressure in a cat affects not only visual acuity, but also overall well-being. This is very painful, and you cannot do it without the help of a veterinarian (ideally an ophthalmologist). The veterinarian will determine the cause. In some cases, drugs that dilate the pupil help. But if the cause of glaucoma in a cat or dog is associated with lens luxation, then surgical intervention is necessary.
This is only a small part of eye diseases in cats. There are so many types of injuries, burns, inflammatory processes. It’s impossible to talk about everything at once in one article.
Still have questions? You can ask them to our site's in-house veterinarian in the comment box below, who will respond to them as soon as possible.
Associated symptoms
Pathologies develop over time and are accompanied by additional symptoms. If a cat has pupils of different sizes, it often reacts to light with only one eye. Intense tearing, redness or clouding of the cornea causes pain and discomfort. She may reflexively squint if there are problems in the functioning of the eyelids. If your cat has poor coordination of movements and is vomiting, poisoning from toxic plants or drugs is possible.
An active lifestyle puts a kitten in danger; you need to pay special attention to its behavior after a fight with other animals or falls from a height. Often a concussion is accompanied by loss of consciousness and, as a consequence, memory loss. Having woken up, the pet does not recognize the owner, hisses, behaves inappropriately, and tries to hide in hard-to-reach places. If the cat came from the street, and upon examination the owner noticed hematomas, bruises, bruises on the head or neck, redness of the mucous membranes or convulsions, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian.
If with such a symptom the animal has become lethargic, then this is worth paying attention to.
Symptoms indicating a stroke deserve increased attention:
- unnatural head tilt;
- loss of balance;
- loss of appetite, lethargy, spontaneous bowel movements;
- paralysis of the paws on one side of the body;
- vomiting or epileptic seizure.
Reasons for the development of pathology
Cats have a special protective organ - the third eyelid. It is a movable film that is located in the corner of the eye near the nose. Sometimes the third eyelid becomes inflamed and becomes a source of discomfort.
The white film can be seen when the cat falls asleep or tilts its head. This phenomenon is not a pathology and does not require veterinary intervention.
If a cat's eyes are half closed with a film while awake, this may indicate that inflammation has begun.
The reasons for this may be:
- mechanical damage;
- foreign body entering the eye;
- conjunctivitis of allergic origin;
- infectious diseases;
- adenoma or other benign neoplasm;
- parasites;
- diseases of the internal organs of the animal.
If the third eyelid covers only 1 eye, the cat may have scratched it and damaged it. The presence of a foreign object cannot be ruled out. Film on both eyes is an alarming signal indicating the presence of dangerous diseases.
Protrusion of the lacrimal gland
The lacrimal gland is located on the third eyelid, which performs a protective function and prevents inflammation of the eyes. It is responsible for moisturizing the conjunctiva and cornea. This organ is susceptible to protrusion of the lacrimal gland. This is a common problem that causes discomfort for your pet.
The presence of this disease can be assumed if:
- the animal often squints and shows signs of discomfort;
- the third eyelid turned red and increased in volume;
- the eye is injured as a result of friction with a paw;
- There is copious discharge from the organs of vision.
The causes of protrusion can be infectious, bacterial and other diseases.
In the past, surgery was used to correct this problem. During the operation, the veterinarian removed the third eyelid that covered the eye. The animal's body was deprived of the ability to produce tear fluid. This led to the formation of ulcers requiring lifelong treatment.
Today, more than 10 safe methods have been developed to get rid of this problem. Therefore, it is important in such cases to promptly contact a veterinarian, who will return the eye film to its place without consequences and preserve the lacrimal gland.
Third eyelid prolapse
Prolapse is a disease in which the lacrimal gland changes its anatomical location and becomes visible in the inner corner of the eye. It is a round pink formation. It is often mistaken for an adenoma, but this is a misconception: the tissue does not change its structure.
After prolapse, the gland can become inflamed and then necrotic, so in this case treatment is necessary.
There is a point of view that the best option is to remove the tissue surgically. Supporters of this measure are guided by the fact that the operation to cut off the gland does not require special equipment or special skills. The animal’s well-being improves soon after the procedure. But as a result of such an operation, complications are possible, for example the development of dry keratoconjunctivitis, which often becomes chronic.
According to another point of view, the gland should be returned to its place. The only drawback of this method is the likelihood of relapses.
External signs of the disease
The loss of the third eyelid is evidenced not only by the appearance of a white film on the eyes.
Signs of the disease can also be changes in the behavior of the animal, which:
- hides from bright light;
- rubs his face and eyes with his paws;
- blinks and squints frequently.
Sometimes you can notice profuse lacrimation, redness of the mucous membrane and the formation of pus. If the animal is not given timely assistance, there is a risk of vision loss.
A cat's eyes may also become covered with a white film due to age-related changes. This is typical for older animals. This phenomenon is not life-threatening for the pet, but in order to exclude pathology, it is recommended to show the animal to a veterinarian.
Prevention of eye diseases in cats
- Non-inflammatory (non-infectious) diseases.
- Inflammatory (infectious) diseases.
Table. Common eye diseases in cats
Non-communicable diseases | Infectious diseases |
Cataract | Keratitis |
Mechanical damage | Glaucoma |
Drooping of the upper eyelid | Panophthalmitis |
Retinal disorder | Conjunctivitis |
Eversion and non-closure of eyelids | Inflammation and ulcer of the cornea |
Foreign body entry | Neoplasms of the conjunctiva |
The list of inflammatory eye diseases in cats includes types of keratitis: superficial, superficial vascular, deep and purulent. Some cat breeds have a fold on their cheeks that injures the cornea of the eye. Then breed keratitis occurs, which must be prevented and treated.
Glaucoma
- The pupils dilate.
- No reaction to light.
- The cat begins to squint.
- Eyeballs are sunken.
- Redness of blood vessels in the whites of the eyes.
- The front of the eyes takes on a dark shade.
Glaucoma in a cat
Cataract
A fairly common occurrence in cats is when the lens of the eye becomes clouded. The lens is a natural, clean lens. Light passes through a clear lens without refraction. The image reaches the retina and is then processed by the brain.
If the natural lens becomes cloudy, the brain cells will not be able to process the image correctly. Bright, shiny eyes indicate the absence of disease. But they, like people, get sick, grow old, and lose their sight. The main symptoms of cataracts are clouding of the eye and a cloudy appearance.
Cataracts are quite common in cats.
Keratitis
Accompanied by an inflammatory process. The cornea of the eye is damaged under the influence of internal and external unfavorable factors. It occurs both as the main disease and as a concomitant with other inflammatory processes. Any impact on the cornea may cause keratitis in a cat.
Keratitis
Conjunctivitis
The membrane of the eye becomes inflamed, the process of inflammation from the inner surface spreads to the eyeball. Conjunctivitis can be acute, purulent, catarrhal. Depending on the diagnosis and form of the disease, treatment is prescribed. Primary conjunctivitis manifests itself as an independent disease. The secondary type accompanies other diseases that appear in cats.
Conjunctivitis and uveitis in a cat
You should pay attention to the appearance of the eyes. It should look like this:
- The conjunctiva is pale pink.
- There are no additional expirations.
- Healthy eyeball, without inflammation.
- The eyes are dry, the cornea is shiny and moist.
- The eyelids are of normal size, not enlarged and without swelling.
How to treat a cat's eyes?
If the cat is not sick, the eyes are healthy and clean, you can get by with a minimal set of eye care products. For prevention purposes, special lotions and saline solutions are used. It is not recommended to use tea, especially bagged tea. Tea leaves can lead to eye inflammation. Instead of tea, it is safer to use herbal infusions. But it should be noted that allergic reactions sometimes occur to some types of herbs.
The eye wash should be at room temperature or lukewarm. The eyes are washed from once a day (at night) to three times in the morning, afternoon and evening. If discharge appears and does not stop within three to five days, it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian. Self-medication can sometimes make the situation worse.
Some cat breeds have short nasal passages and tear ducts due to their skull structure. Tears do not fall into the nose, but accumulate in the eyes. For this reason, very often, throughout the day, tears accumulate, and the cat seems to be crying. The situation is not critical, but the eyes need to be treated every day. It is better to systematically carry out prevention and proper care than to subsequently treat eye diseases.
Cats need to be vaccinated
Prevention of disease development
White plaque causes discomfort to the animal.
To reduce the risk of disease, it is recommended to apply preventive measures in a timely manner:
- Provide your pet with adequate nutrition. The diet should be balanced and contain only safe foods.
- Include additional vitamins in the animal's menu.
- Rinse the cat's eyes with Furacilin solution, using 1 tablet per 100 g of water. You can use potassium permanganate.
- Conduct regular examinations of the animal's eyes and observe its behavior.
- Carry out parasite prevention.
- Take your cat to be examined by a veterinarian at least once a year.
If redness of the mucous membrane and severe lacrimation are detected, it is recommended to sprinkle the affected areas with Tricilin.
What do the symptoms mean?
The color of the discharge and some other symptoms can indicate the possible factors behind the cat’s painful condition:
- Purulent secretion (sometimes mixed with red or brown pigment) indicates a bacterial infection. In this case, the cat may become lethargic; when palpated, its nose is hot and dry.
- Translucent, thick or thick and runny discharge indicates a viral infection. Usually, with a viral infection of the eyes, no pus is observed.
- If a cat's eyes run brown, it is most likely epiphora from the first group described above. That is, the reason is not an infection, but a disruption of the tear ducts.
- Normal tears, but discharged in large quantities, are due to allergies. In this case, swelling and redness of the eyelids may occur.
- Red secret. Usually this is the same brown discharge, but it appears red in white and very light-colored cats. On dark fur there is a brown tint.