Urgent: Clogged Kitten Eyes - What to Do Now?

When a young kitten's eyes become clogged with eye boogers, it's often a sign of inflammation or an eye infection. This is because, without timely cleaning, the discharge can cause the upper and lower eyelids to stick together, leading to the kitten struggling to open its eyes. It's crucial to address this promptly to prevent severe infections that could potentially lead to blindness in the kitten.

Common Causes of Eye Boogers in Young Kitten Eyes:

Due to their weaker immune systems, kittens are particularly susceptible to eye infections caused by internal inflammation or external irritants. Here are some examples:

1. Injuries: While playing, a kitten might accidentally scratch its eye, leading to a wound that can become infected and result in a large amount of puslike discharge.

2. Environmental Irritants: Dust, smoke, or exposure to allergens in the air can also trigger discomfort in the eyes.

3. Diet Issues: Some milk formulas can be too "hot," causing excessive eye boogers in kittens. If not cleaned promptly, this can lead to secondary bacterial infections and eye inflammation.

4. Viral Infections: Puppies might contract herpes or calicivirus, which can also present with symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Steps to Treat Eye Boogers in Young Kitten Eyes:

1. Gently Clean the Eye Boogers

Use sterile saline solution or petspecific eye wash to dampen a cotton ball or pad. Gently wipe away the eye boogers around the kitten's eyes. If the boogers are dry, you can drop a few drops of saline solution onto them to soften them before cleaning.

Be gentle during the wiping process to avoid harming the kitten's eyes. After cleaning, use a dry tissue to blot away any excess moisture to prevent bacteria growth and potential skin irritations.

2. Use Eye Drops to Prevent Infection

After cleaning, carefully inspect the kitten's eyes for any signs of redness or swelling in the conjunctiva, but ensure that the cornea and other eye structures are not visibly affected.

If you notice mild conjunctivitis, you can use Beramycin (neomycin sulfate eye drops) as a preventive measure, applying 3 to 5 times a day, 1 to 2 drops each time, for about 3 days. If the symptoms improve significantly, continue the treatment until the kitten is fully recovered.

If the kitten's eyes show more severe symptoms like cloudiness, necrosis, or ulcers, or if there's no improvement after 3 days, it's essential to seek veterinary care immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.

3. Maintain Daily Care

• Keep the kitten's environment clean to minimize the growth of bacteria and viruses.

• Put the kitten in an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from scratching its eyes with its paws.

• Clean the kitten's eyes daily with warm water or saline solution to remove secretions and prevent eyelid粘连.

• If the kitten is not being breastfed and is on goat milk formula, which can be too "hot," consider switching to a different formula. Also, ensure the kitten drinks some water regularly to aid in metabolism.

Lastly, if other kittens in the litter are also experiencing similar issues, or if the kitten has difficulty opening its eyes along with symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fever, and more, it could be infected with feline rhinotracheitis. In such cases, it's important to consult a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.