What to do if a cat's eye is red

Let's look at what may be the main causes of brownish or reddish discharge from your pet's eyes.

Cat's eyes are red

Diseases in which red eyes occur as a secondary complication:

1. Mycoplasmosis. An infectious, severe disease that affects many of the tissue structures of the animal's body. Mycoplasmosis affects the genital organs, kidney structures, cartilage and many other parts of the body, with characteristic signs being discharge from the eyes (in advanced cases, the cat's eyes fester), nasal discharge, fevers, cough.
2. Chlamydia. The disease is caused by protozoa, affecting all types of mucous membranes – eyes, digestive system, genital organs, respiratory tract. Visual organ damage in chronic chlamydia is characterized by the development of conjunctivitis and can lead to complete blindness of the animal if not treated in time.
3. Calcivirosis. A highly contagious viral disease that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and nose. With the development of the infectious process, eye lesions (cloudy eyes in a cat) and joint inflammation throughout the body may develop.

The appearance of a red spot above the eye may be evidence of an allergic reaction as a result of a specific interaction of immunoglobulin E with foreign proteins. Allergies in cats occur to additives in food, medications, and household chemicals.

The vast majority of allergic reactions in cats are also manifested by red spots on the skin, characterized by conjunctivitis, lacrimation, severe swelling of the mucous membrane of the eye, sharpness in the eyes, photophobia and itching.

Disease diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of red eyes in cats should take place under the supervision of a veterinary specialist. Without the necessary tests, which can only be carried out by a doctor, it is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis, and even more so to write a treatment regimen.

Depending on the causes that triggered the development of eye hyperemia in the cat, the doctor will choose further tactics of action.

Diagnosis of the disease lies in a thorough clinical examination and collection of medical history. Besides that to confirm or refute the suspicion of viral infection a sample of eye drops is taken for analysis.

Also, a bacterial culture on nutrient media is performed to determine the type of pathogenic microflora and select the most sensitive antibiotic for the bacteria. Laboratory diagnostic methods also include general blood analysis, which allows you to determine the quality composition of the blood and identify the degree of inflammation.

Instrumental methods of diagnosis are ophthalmoscopy. Using a special device, the veterinarian examines the damaged eye of the animal, noting the slightest changes in the structural units.

Therapy involves eliminating the source of inflammation and for this purpose antibiotics, antiviral medications are prescribed. If a foreign body is ingested, manipulation is performed to eliminate debris or other lodged particles.

The presence of a tumor in the eye or ulcerative lesions more often implies surgical intervention followed by a period of recovery.

Symptomatic treatment consists of eliminating the main signs of the disease. Widely used antihistamines, to relieve inflammation, held regular irrigation of the affected organ with antiseptic solutions.

Inflammation of the eyelids

The disease is caused by fungal and bacterial infections. The main signs of inflammation of the eyelids or blepharitis:

• The eyelids are swollen, inflamed.
• Over time, eyelid baldness begins to occur.
• The pet rubs his eyes all the time, itching bothers him.
• The eyes "cry." The discharge is purulent or mucous. The cat has a red eye or both eyes. Most often, both eyes are red.
• Strabismus may occur.
• The pet blinks frequently.

How to help the pet? Do not hesitate to see your veterinarian. It is quite possible that surgery will be required. It is carried out in severe cases of the disease. In other cases, antibiotics, ointments, antifungal drugs are prescribed.

Conjunctivitis

This is an inflammation of the protective covering of the eye (conjunctiva). If a cat's eye is red and pusy, sticky and watery, he may have contracted conjunctivitis.

The disease is of two types: caused by bacterial infection and viral infection. In the first case, the disease develops very quickly, in the second – quite slowly.

It is important to consider that not always with conjunctivitis the eyes are pusy. In this case, the cat's eye is red. Or both eyes. From them a colorless mucous fluid flows out. And these secretions "slow down" the quick recognition of the disease. We are talking about a viral form of the disease.

If the pet has caught bacterial conjunctivitis, then there may be no redness of the eyes. But purulent discharge is a prerequisite for the development of the disease.

How to treat the disease? First, only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis. He will prescribe antibacterial or antiviral drugs that are necessary for treatment.

Basic symptoms

Determining conjunctivitis in a cat is simple. The pet has increased tearing, which causes him a lot of discomfort. The pet is constantly squinting, avoiding bright sunlight, washing his face, trying to clean his eyes.

You can see that the cornea is covered with a cloudy film, the eyelids are swollen, and the eyes are red. The discharge varies from clear to purulent, depending on the form of conjunctivitis. In the morning the eyelids are glued.

Diagnosis at the veterinary clinic

Diagnosis at a veterinary clinic is aimed at identifying the cause that causes conjunctivitis. In addition to a visual examination and history, the veterinarian conducts a number of diagnostic tests to differentiate conjunctival inflammation from other diseases of the eye.

Necessary diagnostic measures include taking samples of discharge from the conjunctiva, biochemical blood tests.

Determining the nature of the discharge from the eye is of utmost importance. Thus, purulent means the development of a bacterial infection, mucous means an allergic reaction, serous means a virus that has developed in the body.

Permanent prophylaxis

Cleanliness of the eyes of a dog or cat is a prerequisite for their health. Excretions from the corners should be removed with chopsticks soaked in special antibacterial lotions.

When bathing or treating the cat's fur with various products, you must protect the eyes of the cat, otherwise the mucosa and cornea may become very irritated. The hair above the eyes should be constantly trimmed, since its hair scratches the cornea and causes redness, especially in cats.

Animals with long hair need to be watched particularly carefully, trimming the hair around the eyes once a week and removing tear lines.

Attention to your pet is the main thing, because the disease detected in time is easier to treat and causes less pain and discomfort to the animal.

Therapy tactics

It is strictly forbidden to treat the animal at home without a comprehensive diagnosis. It is necessary to seek help from a veterinarian in a timely manner.

If an inflammatory process develops, antibiotics and eye ointments, drops are prescribed. If the symptoms arose due to the development of another pathology, the underlying disease is treated. Only after that are the other clinical manifestations eliminated.

Some diseases are well treated, others require the use of medication throughout the life of the pet. Sometimes the cure is impossible without surgical intervention.

The following medications can help alleviate the pet's condition:

1. Furacilin. It is used when conjunctivitis develops. Washing of the affected mucous membranes is performed.
2. Levomycetin. It is used in conjunctivitis of the bacterial type. The drug is injected into both eyes.
3. Tetracycline ointment. The medicine is applied to the visual organs several times during the day.
4. Novocaine, hydrocortisone-based solution (injections) helps eliminate pain.

Remedies of folk medicine

Folk remedies will help to cope with the problem only in combination with medications. Often used decoction of chamomile. It is prepared in a water bath, strain. Wash the eyes three times a day.

Also used:

1. Manganese solution. A liquid of a light pink hue. It is important that all the granules be completely dissolved in water, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the mucous membranes.
2. Decoction of St. John's wort, calendula, sage. It is used in purulent inflammatory process. It is used in the form of a compress. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times a day.
3. Black tea. To wash the mucous membranes.

Preventive measures

Among the main rules of prevention are the following:

1. Carefully ensure that the cat, playing with other animals, does not injure the eyes.
2. When bathing, do not allow detergents to get into the eyes. This often leads to irritation.
3. Perform hygienic procedures using products that do not provoke an allergic reaction.
4. Wipe the corners of your pet's eyes regularly with cotton swabs.
5. Avoid getting hair in the eyes of long-haired breeds.

Swelling and redness are the first signs of an inflammation..

If you notice that the cat begins to actively scratch the eye area, you should put artificial tear drops in twice a day. These will help to eliminate irritation and dry mucous membranes.

It is not superfluous to consult a veterinarian. Pathologies at the initial stage are easier to treat.

Special protective collars will help to prevent scratching of the affected area.

The best way to prevent pathologies of the ophthalmic group is a caring and attentive attitude to the health of your pet.

The appearance of any negative changes, symptoms of inflammation – a reason to immediately contact the veterinarian.

This is the only way to save vision and avoid serious health problems with the animal.

What to do at home

A caring owner must provide the pet with complete peace and proper conditions of confinement. In no case you can not independently select medications, because very often blepharitis is confused with conjunctivitis.

The owner, bypassing treatment at the vet clinic himself buys drops, washes the eyes of the animal herbal decoctions, strong tea, but for some reason nothing helps. It is not surprising, because they treat him for one disease, but we have to fight something else. And often such self-treatment leads to very unpleasant consequences and complications, up to loss of vision.

You can use folk medicine, but they should not replace the drug treatment prescribed by the veterinarian. It is advisable to use various decoctions of herbs (chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, sage), phyto lotions "Phytoelita", wash the eyes with decoction of hyssop.

Fitomineral feeding won't be out of place. It is also necessary to strengthen the immune system so that the body had the strength to fight the disease.

Preventive measures

Preventive measures against blepharitis include, above all, limiting walking and contact with stray animals that may be carriers of trichophytosis and viral diseases.

After every walk, examine your cat for ticks. When going home, wipe your shoes and check your clothes, since you may very well get a spore of shingles in your apartment and infect your pet. Visit the veterinarian regularly and stick to vaccination schedules. Remember that vaccinations are the safest way to protect pets from dangerous diseases. It is advisable to trim the claws of the pet – it reduces the risk of injury in the process of activity.

Interesting topics

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2. Treatment of gingivitis in cats – effective methodsArticle Contents Dental diseases are not uncommon for our friends.
3. Why does the cat cough?Article Contents Coughing in cats is a rare phenomenon, so faced with.
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© Belanta Veterinary Clinic, 2004-2023, Moscow

The main causes

All causes of syndrome in the feline family can be divided into several groups:

• External causes (traumatic injuries and their consequences);
• ophthalmological causes (congenital and acquired structural changes in the eye, infectious pathologies);
• general infectious diseases;
• allergic reactions.

Diseases in each group are relatively homogeneous in origin, but differ in the nature of the course and the methods of treatment used.

Let us consider in more detail those of them which are the most common.

External causes

This type of hyperemia of the visual organ occurs as a consequence of trauma or exposure of the cornea to various irritating substances, namely:

1. Entry of a foreign body into the eye. Debris or a foreign object lodged in the eye of a kitten traumatizes the delicate tissues, causing, in addition to redness, pain and tears. Therefore, it is very important to remove it as soon as possible. In uncomplicated cases, the owner can handle it himself. But if the object has sharp edges or is in the deep structures of the eye, it is impossible to do without veterinary assistance. An anesthesia will be administered at the clinic and the foreign body will be surgically removed.
2. Corneal irritation with soapy water from bathing or chemicals from insecticide coat treatments. First aid consists of urgent rinsing with plenty of clean water. Later on, during various hair care procedures it is necessary to protect kitty's eyes from harmful influences.
3. Dangling hair on the eyes in long-haired breeds of cats can prick and traumatize the cornea. If there is this danger, you should always make sure that the long hairs around the eyes are neatly trimmed.
4. Dislocation of the lens. This condition can have a traumatic origin, but is sometimes the result of cataracts, uveitis, or glaucoma. When the lens is dislocated, the iris has an abnormal appearance, and the lens displacement is visible to the naked eye. Professional surgical care is needed to correct it.
5. Hyphema. Hyphema is caused by an accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber. It can be caused by trauma or poor clotting. The cause of hyphema is determined first, and then medication is given with anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that dilate the pupil.
6. Proptosis – partial or complete prolapse of the eyeball from the eye cavity as a result of traumatic effects. In this case, the disorder is treated surgically. In the case of large injuries, removal of the eye may be required.

First aid and prevention

Why are the cat's eyes red all the time? The cause is different in each case. The syndrome may be a consequence of violation of the rules of animal care, and can be a symptom of a serious disease. Therefore, if the redness does not go away for a long time, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian. Only he can make a good diagnosis, assess the condition of the pet and determine the further tactics of treatment.

If the owner is unable to go to the clinic immediately, first aid techniques for ophthalmic problems can be used. They will help to alleviate the cat's condition and in some cases have a therapeutic effect.

1. A protective collar should be put around the cat's or kitten's neck, which will prevent them from touching the eyes with their paws and thus prevent the risk of a secondary infection.
2. You should regularly remove secretions from the eyes and wash them with cotton disks soaked in warm boiled water or a strong solution of tea brew.
3. Antiseptic eye drops or artificial tears may be used to reduce inflammation.
4. The hairs over the eyes should be trimmed more often so that they do not traumatize the cornea.

Neglecting such a symptom as redness of the eye sclerae, you may miss the beginning of a serious illness in a cat. It's best to play it safe and take your pet to the vet for a check-up and consultation as soon as possible, so you don't regret wasting your time later.

Normal eye discharge

Eye discharge can occur as the body's response to adverse environmental factors. These include bright light, smoky or smoky atmosphere, strong wind. All of these phenomena are accompanied by a small amount of tears, irritation, and eye irritation. These sensations are not pathological and disappear as soon as the provoking moments end.

Some feline breeds have a short nose bridge and a flattened snout (brachycephals). Their small lacrimal ducts cannot drain the lacrimal fluid properly for some time after sleeping.

If your pet belongs to one of those breeds that have large convex eyes, small tears are normal. The organs of vision of such cats require constant careful care to avoid infection. The following breeds may be involved:

Main types of abnormal eye discharge

Pathological discharge from the eyes depending on the cause may differ in color and consistency:

1. Liquid transparent discharge (involuntary tears) indicate that there is no bacterial lesion yet. They are, most often, a symptom of an allergic reaction.
2. The next stage is a white substance of mucous consistency, secreted at the initial stage of viral lesions of the eyelids or conjunctiva. Timely treatment will help to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
3. Yellow or greenish discharge indicates the appearance of pus. This is how a bacterial infection of the eye structures appears. Often the general condition of animals worsens – temperature rises, appetite disappears, and intoxication develops.
4. Brown thick discharge from the eyes of cats indicates that they contain a certain amount of red blood cells. The color of the discharge is caused by several factors: a violation of the outflow of tear fluid (causes may be different), acute infectious inflammation of the eye structures, which also affects the vasculature of the eyes.

Why a cat has red eyes

Red eyes in a cat is an alarming sign. Yes, sometimes your cat's eyes are red from fatigue, but more often it's a symptom of some disease, and not necessarily of ophthalmic nature. So, in today's article we will discuss what the cause of eye redness is, and find out what to do if the cat has red eyes.

1. Foreign body in the eye. If a cat's eye is red and watery, the reason may lie, for example, in a small pebble or a particle that got into the animal's eye. You can tell if a cat has a foreign body in its eye by the following signs: usually only one eye is affected (and the other looks healthy), there is abundant tearing and redness, swelling around the eye, in some situations there may be red or yellow eye discharge, head shaking and rubbing the eye with his paw, anxiety;
2. Eye irritation.. It can happen that an adult pet or kitten has red eyes because of some external exposure. For example, tobacco smoke (in cats whose owners regularly smoke when not out in the fresh air) or cosmetics (pet wash shampoos) can cause eye irritation. Dust can also cause irritation. If the pet blinks frequently and his eyes are itchy, watery and red (both eyes at once), irritation may be to blame;
3. Conjunctivitis. A cat may have red eyes when its mucous membranes are inflamed. The causes of conjunctivitis are numerous: the disease often occurs as a result of allergies, regular eye irritation or a foreign body. In addition, this eye disease often occurs as a secondary illness after an infection. Signs of conjunctivitis include red eyes (both), swollen eyelids, discharge of clear and sometimes purulent secretions from the eyes (the area under the eyes is constantly wet), sticking eyes (because of dried pus), photophobia, and apathy. In some situations there may be a fever;
4. Keratitis. The cat's eye is red and watery when the cornea is inflamed. The main causes of this disease include eye injuries, eye infections and allergies. In addition, some breeds are prone to the disease, such as Siamese, Burmese, Persian. The main symptoms are redness of both eyes, large amounts of tears or pus, clouding and roughness of the cornea, frequent blinking, itching, fear of bright lights, sneezing and runny nose are also possible, and sometimes the temperature rises;
5. Blepharitis. Eye redness is also possible with inflammation of the eyelids (the disease usually affects the eyelids of both eyes). Causes of blepharitis include infectious diseases, eye injuries, avitaminosis, and allergies. The main symptoms of blepharitis include red eyes, excessive eyelid swelling, large amounts of pus discharged from the eyes, peeling and sticking of eyelashes and fur, formation of ulcers on the edges of the eyes, strong itching (cats rub their faces against furniture or rub their eyes with their paw). In severe cases, fever may rise;
6. Uveitis. A cat's eye may be red if the vasculature is inflamed. Most often the disease is caused by eye trauma, autoimmune diseases (such as lupus erythematosus or vasculitis), eye neoplasms, other eye diseases (keratitis, conjunctivitis, etc.). How do you know if the cat has uveitis? At first the problem may be confused with a relatively safe conjunctivitis, but then redness and swollen eyelids with discharge are added to typical signs: blurred vision, photophobia, iris swelling and discoloration, eyelid flaps, strabismus, change (strong constriction) of pupil shape, itching, glaucoma or cataract development. Fever and refusal of food may occur;
7. Entropion .. Redness of the eye (usually one, not both) is not uncommon with eyelid entropion, when the corneal layer is permanently injured by wool or eyelashes. The main causes of entropion are genetic predisposition (in British, Persians, Sphinxes), eyelid defects, eye trauma (including. chemical and thermal burns,) facial nerve palsy. Symptoms of the disease include (in addition to redness of the conjunctiva) pain, lacrimation or profuse pus, swelling of the eye socket, permanent wet hair under the eye, corneal ulceration, and frequent blinking and squinting of the eye;
8. Glaucoma. Redness in one or both eyes may be caused by increased intraocular pressure. In some situations, if both eyes are affected, the cause is thought to be genetic (Siamese and Burmese cats are particularly often affected). If only one eye is affected, it is most often provoked by untreated uveitis. The most striking signs of glaucoma in cats are severe clouding of the eye, dilated pupil, increased diameter of one or both eyes, swollen eyelids, heavy tearing, fear of light, lethargy, pain in the eyes. Vomiting may sometimes be present;
9. Dry eye syndrome. Sometimes the redness of a cat's eye is due to a lack of hydration of the conjunctiva and cornea with lacrimal fluid. There are many causes of this condition: infectious eye diseases (including keratitis, conjunctivitis), autoimmune diseases, kidney problems, endocrine disorders, avitaminosis. With the discussed problem the cat's eyes are red, the animal can not look at the light and long stay in the wind, constantly squinting, rubbing his eyes with his paw, in the initial stage active lacrimation is possible, but later there is no discharge from the eyes, erosions are formed on the cornea, vision is impaired;
10. Dacryocystitis. Brown or red discharge from the cat's eyes occur with inflammation of the lacrimal sacs of a non-infectious nature. Most often, the disease is provoked by any inflammatory diseases of the structures close to the eyes (for example, sinusitis or maxillary sinusitis). The main signs of dacryocystitis include severe swelling of the lacrimal sac (due to the accumulation of large amounts of pus in it), formation of fistulas on the eyelid, adhesion of eyelids and eyelashes from pus, formation of crusts on the eyes, pain and intense itching, and red eyes. Note that the disease can affect either one or both eyes;
11. Eye trauma. If the cat's eye is red around the eye, the case may be an injury from, for example, fighting with other animals, getting plant prickles or scratches with small pebbles in the eye. Sometimes the cat's eye can be damaged by collisions with vehicles, and, unfortunately, human "fun", when something sharp is poked into the animal's eye, is not excluded. Eye trauma can be recognized by the following symptoms: severe redness (often of just one eye), heavy tearing that turns into pus without treatment, bleeding from the eye, swollen eyelids, blurred eye, protrusion of the third eyelid, severe itching. In some situations, blindness may develop: the cat will bump into pieces of furniture and stagger when wandering around the house.
12. We have listed the most common causes of eye redness. But it is not always necessary to look for the root of the problem exactly in eye ailments. Thus, the fault of red eyes can be an allergy (for example, to food or veterinary drugs). If the pet has a red spot above the eye, the liver may be acting up. A cat may have red eyes for diseases such as chlamydia, rhinotracheitis, mycoplasmosis, and calcivirhosis. Red eye protein in an animal may also be due to helminthiasis. But if the eyes glow red, you should not worry: in some cats (especially often Siamese) it is the norm.

What to do if a cat's eyes are red

So, the possible causes of red eyes in cats are now clear. But without proper diagnosis, unfortunately, it is difficult to choose the right therapy. So it is better to treat red eyes in a cat after a visit to a veterinary ophthalmologist, who will be able to determine the exact cause of the ailment. But is it really impossible to help whiskers at home? The answer is that a visit to the doctor is mandatory, but first aid can be given on your own:

1. With almost all eye diseases, cats suffer from itching. To prevent your cat from scratching its eyelids and getting an infection in its eyes, you should put a special protective collar around its neck, which will prevent unwanted actions;
2. Red eyes can be rinsed with clean distilled water, or better yet with an anti-inflammatory strained and cooled chamomile decoction;
3. Warm (moderately warm) compresses with saline solution may be applied to the cat's eyes for 10-15 minutes three times a day. And instead of it, you can also use cooled fresh tea brew;
4. Use a solution of Furacilin and cotton disks to remove dried crusts from the pet's eyes, if any;
5. If the pet's eyes are visibly inflamed, anti-inflammatory veterinary drops (such as IRIS or Ciproet) may be used;
6. If the discharge is pus-like, antibiotic "human" drops (Levomycetin, Tobrex) may be used and some Tetracycline ointment may be placed under the cat's lower eyelid;
7. If the animal has severe swelling and pain, 0.5 ml of 2% Novocain solution can be injected under the lower eyelid;
8. If the owner is 100% sure that the red eyes are the result of an allergy, taking antihistamines (Tavegil, Suprastin) can help;
9. If the eyes are red but dry (i.e., no copious flow of tears), medications that induce tear production may be used (Cyclosporine, Natural Tear).
10. We have listed some medications that can relieve pain and redness, but only a doctor who accurately identifies the cause of the pet's eye problems can truly cure the pet.