Teary eye in a British cat how to treat

A cat may have watery eyes due to foreign body ingress, mechanical trauma and burns:

How to treat a British kitten with watery eyes

If you suddenly find that your little British kitten has watery eyes, you shouldn't get too upset. This is a fairly common problem. It is necessary to get to the bottom of this problem. So, let's note the most basic reasons why a British kitten's eyes are watery:

Anthelminthic drugs are the first remedy that veterinarians use when they notice tearfulness in British kittens. You may also be recommended to undergo tests, and you should never refuse, because outwardly not all problems are visible even to qualified specialists.

This peculiarity is due to the breed of British cats. Flattened kitten's muzzle may provoke narrowing of the tear ducts (if you understand the medical terms, this is due to the special structure of the cranio-mandibular bones). The absence of fever and normal appetite in a kitten will allow you to be calm.

Often allergic reactions are due to inappropriate food composition.

It is a proven fact that cats can have watery eyes when indoors with daylight bulbs.

Protruding sheaths on the eyes of British cats can cause allergic reactions to dust, so don't be lazy to do wet cleaning to keep your kitty healthy. And it's good for your family too, since people are increasingly allergic to house dust.

If you don't feed your kitten properly, in addition to indigestion and stomach problems, you can lead his intestines to inflammation. Be careful and cautious, because there are consequences.

Having ruled out all of the above causes of tearfulness, still try giving your kitten anthelmintics and then use this little tutorial.

Why tearfulness: the main causes

Helminth infestation

If a British cat has tears flowing and pus in the eye, it is worth going to the veterinary clinic. In most cases, such symptoms are characteristic of the activity of various parasites in the cat's body. A specialist will prescribe deworming before determining the underlying cause of the abnormality, even if there is no connection between the tearfulness and worms. Such a measure helps in many situations, and besides, such treatment does not cause any harm to the cat, even if the cause of increased tear production from the eyes is due to another disease.

Allergies are the main cause of tear production

Veterinarians draw the attention of owners to the fact that it is better to feed British pets special food, because with the wrong food there is a high probability of an allergic reaction, which makes the cat's eyes very sensitive to tears.

In addition, various allergens in the environment have a negative impact on the condition of the pet, in particular on the mucous membrane of the visual organs. Tearful eyes begin with a protective purpose, to wash away irritating substances from the upper layer of the eyeball. During the summer period it is worth paying special attention to the eyes of a Briton, as allergies intensify and the visual organs tear more intensively, which makes the pet feel uncomfortable and unable to see properly.

Clogged tear ducts

If British breed cats have tears in one eye, it may signal a similar condition. In such a case, it may not be enough just to flush the organs of vision, often medical treatment is required. Such a disorder is an unpleasant feature of the British, and Scottish breeds of cats are also faced with the abnormality. Blockage of the tear ducts is associated with the special structure of the muzzle of the pet, which narrows in the area of the bridge of the nose and provokes the effect of watery eyes.

With this disease, the animal may even stop eating its favorite food.

Why tearful eyes: the main causes

Helminth infestation

If a British cat has tears flowing and pus in the eye, it is worth contacting a veterinary clinic. In most cases, such symptoms are characteristic of the activity of various parasites in the cat's body. A specialist will prescribe deworming before determining the root cause of the abnormality, even if the tears are not related to helminths. Such a measure helps in many situations, in addition, such a treatment does not cause any harm to the cat, even if the reason for the increased production of tears from the eyes lies in another disease.

Allergies are the main cause of tear production

Veterinarians emphasize the owners' attention to the fact that the British are better fed special food, because with the wrong food selection there is a high probability of an allergic reaction, due to which the cat has a strong tearful eyes.

In addition, various allergens in the environment have a negative impact on the condition of the pet, in particular on the mucous membrane of the visual organs. Tearful eyes begin with a protective purpose, to wash away irritating substances from the upper layer of the eyeball. During the summer period it is worth paying special attention to the eyes of a Briton, as allergies intensify and the visual organs tear more intensively, making the pet feel uncomfortable and unable to see properly.

Clogged tear ducts

If a British cat has tears in one eye, it may signal a similar condition. In such a case, it may not be enough to simply flush the organs of vision, often requiring medication. Such a disorder is an unpleasant feature of British cats, and Scottish breeds of cats are also affected by the abnormality. Blockage of the tear ducts is associated with the special structure of the muzzle of the pet, which narrows at the bridge of the nose and provokes the effect of watery eyes.

Additional symptoms

When a British cat has watery eyes against the influence of an allergen or irritant, there may be no additional symptoms recorded. In this case, no special treatment is required and the problem goes away on its own after the irritant is removed. When the source of the increased tearfulness is pathological factors, the Briton may have a fever and other clinical signs:

• Swelling in the area of the visual organs;
• Purulent or mucous discharge;
• Brown or red crust in the corner of the eye;
• itching sensation;
• Conjunctival lining swelling and redness;
• Fear of bright light.

Prolonged lacrimation often causes the hairs around the eyes to fall out and soon wounds and dermatitis develop.

Treatment and prevention of eye diseases

Everyone knows the golden rule of medicine: the first step to recovery is an accurate diagnosis. This means that it is best to treat a cat with watery eyes when we visit the veterinarian. He will examine your eye, possibly take some tests and ask about the disease, how it started and how it went. Only then will he decide what to prescribe.

These medications work gently. Sometimes they need to be used as a prophylactic. The main condition is that a cotton swab or bandage does not damage the eye. That is why the swab is dipped in solutions and decoctions. And it does not run over the eye, but is squeezed to drip into the eye. And this should be done several times. It is advisable to use a new cotton swab for this.

If the problem is more complicated, one rinse will not be enough. You need to gently pull back the lower eyelid and put antibiotic cream there. What remedies:: creams and drops are recommended to use if cats have tears:

Prevention of eye disease in cats

In order to prevent tearing and inflammation of the cat's eyes, it is necessary to pay attention to hygiene, combing, bathing and haircutting the cat, clean the eyes and ears, deworming every three months, preventive examinations at the veterinarian, and vaccinating the cat.

If the cat develops pathological lacrimation and other symptoms of vision disorders it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian for examination, diagnosis, decision of treatment tactics and definition of necessary help.

The article is for information purposes only. Contact your veterinarian!

Allergic reaction

With a lowered immune system, a cat may be hypersensitive to certain substances. This can be new food, natural products, litter box filler, medications, volatile compounds. The body's response to the irritant is expressed in the form of allergic conjunctivitis. The cat's eyes water, the edge of the eyelids or eyeball becomes red, and there is swelling. Sometimes there are accompanying behavioral symptoms: lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite. The animal may sneeze.

If the lacrimal secretion is clear, without questionable inclusions, the allergy is treated with antihistamines. But the main thing in this situation is to figure out the allergen and eliminate it from the life of the furry pet. Otherwise, it will be difficult to solve the tearful problem with treatment alone.

Diseases from which cats have watery eyes

Tearfulness is a sign of many eye diseases. To make an accurate diagnosis, a detailed examination of the eye organ is necessary. Some diseases are found in cats of all breeds and ages, some are more common in kittens or, conversely, older individuals. The list of problems includes:

• Conjunctivitis – inflammation of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva);
• Blepharitis – inflammation of the marginal surface of the eyelids;
• Uveitis – inflammatory process in the eye vessels;
• keratitis – inflammation and clouding of the cornea;
• dacryocystitis – inflammation (often purulent) of the lacrimal sac;
• entropion – eyelid and eyelash entrapment to the eyeball;
• allergy – an immunopathological reaction to an irritant;
• helminthiasis – infection of the body with parasitic worms;
• infections of bacterial, viral, fungal origin.

If increased tearfulness is accompanied by additional painful symptoms, the cat should be shown to the veterinarian urgently.

Tear prevention

Whatever the condition of your British cat's eyes now, you need to remember preventive measures.

1. Take care of your pet's immunity, as latent infections and rampant opportunistic microflora are often the cause of problems. Maintaining immunity consists primarily of a healthy diet, physical activity and absence of stress.
2. Avoid contact of the animal with sick brethren. Many people like to pick up stray cats on the street and immediately bring them home. This is wrong. The cat should be examined by a veterinarian and then quarantined.
3. Comb the cat regularly, so that the dead hair does not get into the eyes. If it does, it should be washed out.
4. Do not use antibacterial eye drops unnecessarily. Only saline solution can be used to flush the organ permanently.
5. Give your cat raw meat regularly, eating it will stimulate the secretion of tear fluid and clear the nasolacrimal ducts.
6. Regularly perform routine deworming and, if necessary, prophylactic or therapeutic treatments against fleas and ticks.
7. Avoid using scent lamps and sticks, aerosol air fresheners and do not smoke in the home.
8. Contact your veterinarian right away if you have a problem. Don't do self-treatment, which blurs the symptoms and leads to relapses and makes it difficult for the vet to make a diagnosis.

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What to do if a British cat has watery eyes

If there are problems with the eyes in a British cat, the first thing to do is to give an anthelmintic. Even in the absence of parasites, this measure can do no harm, but in many cases it helps to eliminate tears.

Well help with the problem of washing the eyes with strong black tea, infusion of chamomile flowers, decoction of the herb St. John's wort, sage leaves, calendula flowers. The procedure is performed in a calm atmosphere, when the cat decides to bask on its own in the hands of the owner. To do this, you must:

Features of treatment

The nature of treatment depends on why a British cat has watery eyes. If the situation is not a cause for concern, self-treatment can be used:

• Tetracycline ointment, which is put behind the eyelids;
• A weak solution of manganese or Furacilin to wash the eyes;
• Special veterinary antibacterial drops, such as Iris;
• Put in Diamond Eyes or Phytoelite and other eye drops for cats to make the treatment more effective.

If the situation does not improve within a week, or if the disease progresses, it is imperative that the cat be seen by a veterinarian. After examination, he will be able to accurately diagnose the cause of the disorders and choose the best method of treatment.

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Certain artificially bred breeds inherit genes that predispose to certain eye abnormalities, lacrimation. Such genes are carried more by breeds of cats with short muzzles.

It is important to correctly determine the cause of eye inflammation, you should look at the discharge:

• Yellowish, brown, thick, pus colored discharge – infectious, bacterial or fungal disease;
• Watery, transparent, the pet rubs its eyes with its paws – allergy, trauma;
• Crusts, transparent dried up – dust or dirt got into the eyes.

Conjunctivitis

Contagious diseases, worm infestation, allergic reactions are the main causes that cause inflammation of the conjunctival sac.

Lacrimation is a symptom of such diseases: toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, calciviroz, rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia. These diseases affect both British breed cats and animals of other breeds.

If left untreated, conjunctivitis develops into a purulent form that will lead to uveitis and may end in blindness.

Nematodes that live in the intestines secrete products that have allergenic properties. As a result, the cat has lacrimation, other pathological symptoms.

Elimination of conjunctivitis – dehelminthization of the cat with antihelmintic, it is better to use 3 in 1 means – from fleas, ticks, worms.

The British, like other artificially bred breeds, are prone to allergies. Just a British breed has a special structure of the skull.

Treatment – eliminate the inhaled irritant, find out the cause of the allergic response, use antimicrobial eye drops:

Third eyelid prolapse

Disease of the blinking web of the eye | third eyelid. The forms in which the inflammation can occur: abnormal development of the supporting cartilage, protrusion | prolapse, adenoma. If both eyes are affected, it is a contagious disease.

Eye treatment at home, what to rub, what to do

The pet can also treat the affected areas at home, both with special veterinary products and medicines from the drugstore.

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water, call for an assistant;
2. Prepare a 5 ml syringe with a rubber piston, cotton pads;
3. Prepare distilled water, boiled water, and the necessary drops or ointments;
4. Particularly exuberant should be wrapped in a plaid or towel and put his back on his knees;
5. Soak the disk in water, solution. Soak the eyelids, if they are sticky;
6. Gently spend a wet disk from the outer edge to the inner corner of the eyelid surface, if the eyelashes stick together – spend from inner to outer;
7. Dry crusts are removed and the cotton disk is changed more often;
8. After washing, drop a solution on the cornea or put an ointment, massage the eyelid a little and blot the excess with a cotton pad.

Any solution is at room temperature. Use clean cotton pads for each eye. Do not touch the cornea, blot the eyeball.

Possible reasons why a cat's eyes are watery

If a cat squints and has watery eyes, this may indicate the development of serious pathologies in the animal's body.

Infection: chlamydia

A very striking example of how the disease, even in its asymptomatic manifestation, is accompanied by lacrimation from one eye. At the same time, the animal does not show other signs of the disease – the appetite almost does not suffer, the temperature remains normal or slightly elevated, but the abundant mucus already signals the danger. After 4-5 days, the process seizes the second eye, later affecting the respiratory organs. During this time, the sick cat manages to infect everyone around.

The infection is spread by rodents, it enters the mucous membranes with food or by contact with a carrier. Kittens can become infected from their mother cat during childbirth.

As treatment, the veterinarian prescribes a course of antibiotics, ointments and drops.

Infection: viral rhinotracheitis in cats

The disease is called "feline pneumonia" because of symptoms similar to human disease. However, this virus is safe for humans, only cats get rhinotracheitis. More often than others, young and elderly animals who have problems with immunity suffer.

In addition to the fact that the cat has tears and redness in one or both eyes, rhinotracheitis is accompanied by additional signs:

• Conjunctival inflammation;
• blurred pupil and visual impairment;
• sneezing and profuse saliva;
• lack of appetite and rapid weight loss;
• lethargy, apathy, other signs of malaise;
• slightly elevated temperature, which does not reach critical values.

In case of timely treatment by a doctor, viral rhinotracheitis in a cat is treated, but if there is no help, the animal may lose vision and even die. Death of a cat is most often caused by other chronic diseases that are activated in a weakened body. Therefore, as soon as a cat or a small kitten begins to have watery eyes, the animal should immediately be seen by a veterinarian.

When it is necessary to see a doctor

If a cat's eye becomes red and watery as a result of an injury, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed. The sooner the cat gets help, the better the chances of preserving the cat's vision.

Important: If there are dirty or purulent discharges from the cat's eyes, the cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately!

Diagnostics in the clinic

Diagnostic methods for lacrimation in cats involve a simple visual examination and further laboratory tests. The goal is to identify the cause of the eye discharge and prescribe treatment, in case infectious or other diseases have been detected. Fecal analysis, scrapings or swabs, and a hardware examination of the eyes may be required to clarify the diagnosis.

Treatment and prevention

A set of independent measures to prevent and identify the causes of intense fluid secretion. When the eye begins to tear – we are talking about the final stage, when it is necessary to take urgent measures.

• Inspect the cat daily and monitor its condition;
• carry out regular hygienic procedures, i.e. cleaning the eyes and nose (this helps to quickly spot new discharges and assess their intensity);
• regular dehelminthization;
• Mandatory vaccinations – a number of diseases can be prevented by standard vaccinations.

In order to avoid the development of chronic diseases in a cat, you should regularly visit the veterinarian, as any disease is easier to prevent than to treat.

No sight is sadder than a funny cat's face, with its dirty sweats and sore, red eyes. After all, a cat can't tell you how it feels. And only an attentive owner can prevent the suffering of a furry pet, which in return for care will give love and devotion to humans.

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