Caution: Why Can't Kitten's Eyes Open with Pus-like Dis

When a kitten's eyes remain widely open and are accompanied by a gooey, puslike discharge, it's often a sign of conjunctivitis, keratitis, or other eye infections. Cats have large, round eyes, and during play, they might accidentally get dust, fur, or other foreign particles into their eyes. They could also be scratched by something, leading to bacterial or viral infections, which result in excessive eye secretions, redness, difficulty opening the eyes, tear stains, conjunctival congestion, and photophobia.

It's actually not as scary as it might sound when a cat's eyes become inflamed. If you're looking to address the issue quickly, take a look at the following suggestions below↓↓↓

What Are the Common Causes of a Kitten's Eyes Not Being Able to Open with Puslike Discharge?

● Bacterial Infection: This can be due to conditions like entropion or ectropion, ingrown eyelashes, or other irritants, as well as injuries.

● Viral Infection: This includes infections like feline herpesvirus (rhinotracheitis), feline calicivirus, and chlamydiosis.

● Other Factors: Such as allergic reactions, idiopathic eosinophilic conjunctivitis, or secondary infections due to diseases in neighboring tissues.

How to Handle a Kitten's Eye Inflammation?

First and foremost, regardless of whether you've seen a vet or not, it's crucial to maintain your kitten's eye hygiene.

We can use alcoholfree pet wipes to clean the kitten's eyes of any discharge, or use medical cotton balls dipped in a small amount of saline solution to gently wipe the eyes multiple times a day. This not only keeps the eyes clean and prevents粘连, but also reduces the kitten's discomfort.

Next, if the kitten is only showing eye symptoms, you might try using some antibacterial eye drops for treatment, such as Beramin (Neomycin Sulfate Eye Drops). These are aminoglycoside antibiotics primarily used for conjunctivitis and keratitis, effective against most Gramnegative bacilli like Escherichia coli, Proteus, Salmonella, and Pasteurella multocida, and also sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus. Initially, use them 3 to 5 times a day, one to two drops per use, and then once a week after symptoms improve to prevent, consolidate, and care for the eyes.

During treatment, make sure to fit the kitten with an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from scratching its eyes, which could lead to secondary damage and infection to the conjunctiva or surrounding tissues.

If, after 3 to 5 days of treatment, the kitten's eye symptoms show no improvement, it's important to seek veterinary care promptly.

Lastly, if the kitten has symptoms beyond not being able to open its eyes and puslike discharge, such as respiratory symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, coughing, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite, it suggests the illness might be related to feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and other viral infections. It's advisable to consult a vet immediately for a checkup and diagnosis before starting treatment.

☞ Chlamydia is generally sensitive to tetracyclines and macrolides, such as doxycycline and强力霉素 (doxycycline).

☞ Conjunctivitis caused by herpesvirus can be treated with chloramphenicol, tetracycline ointment, or eye drops containing ganciclovir, along with feline interferon as an auxiliary antiviral treatment.

☞ Conjunctivitis due to calicivirus can be treated with tetracycline ointment to prevent secondary infection, along with a small dose of aspirin to reduce fever and alleviate joint pain in the sick cat.