Dealing with a Kitten's Closed Eyes, Discharge, and Inf

When a kitten's eyes won't open and there's excessive discharge, it's a situation that can be quite concerning for any cat owner. Such symptoms are often due to conjunctivitis, keratitis, feline herpesvirus, or other health issues. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to severe complications like corneal or conjunctival ulcers and potential vision loss.

So, what should we, as cat parents, do to address these concerns? Let's delve into some practical steps and insights today.

What Causes a Kitten's Eyes to Stay Shut with Discharge?

1. Newborn Kitten (710 Days Old): It's quite normal for kittens to have puffy eyes and a bit of discharge in their first week to two weeks of life. Their eyes won't open immediately after birth and may take up to 14 days to fully open. During this time, some kittens might have more eye boogers than others. Simply use a soft cotton ball dipped in sterile saline solution to gently wipe away the discharge. Be cautious not to force the kitten's eyes open, as this could cause injury.

2. Kittens Under 2 Months Old: Excessive discharge and eyes that won't open in kittens this age might indicate bacterial conjunctivitis.

If a kitten has reached the age where it should be able to open its eyes but is still less than two months old, and it's showing a lot of discharge and struggling to open its eyes, it's likely suffering from an eye infection. At this age, kittens have maternal antibodies, so they usually don't get infected with contagious diseases. Bacterial conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes, causing redness, swelling, and either watery or puslike discharge.

3. Kittens Aged 2 to 6 Months and Older: Especially if they haven't been vaccinated, consider the possibility of viral conjunctivitis, such as feline herpesvirus (feline rhinotracheitis) or feline calicivirus.

These illnesses often come with additional symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, coughing, watery eyes, or even mouth ulcers. In severe cases, kittens may also develop a fever, become listless, and lose their appetite.

How to Handle the Situation

1. Cleaning the Eyes: Use a cotton ball soaked in sterile saline solution to wipe away the discharge or gently flush the eyes. If there's a lot of discharge, you may need to clean the eyes multiple times. Always be gentle to avoid causing harm to the kitten's delicate eyes.

2. Using Eye Drops: If the kitten doesn't have other symptoms, you can try using antibiotic eye drops, such as Baytril (sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim ophthalmic suspension), which is a broadspectrum antibiotic suitable for treating conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by various bacteria.

If the kitten also exhibits symptoms like a runny nose or sneezing, you should first test for feline herpesvirus using a rhinotracheitis test kit. If the kitten is diagnosed with a viral infection, use antiviral eye drops containing ganciclovir or valacyclovir, and consider additional treatments like interferon, Clavamox (amoxicillinclavulanate potassium), and lysine.

3. Daily Care:

Keep the environment clean and regularly sanitize the kitten's living area to minimize the growth of bacteria and viruses.

Ensure the kitten's diet is healthy and balanced to boost its immune system.

If you notice the kitten frequently scratching its eyes, consider putting on an Elizabethan collar to prevent further injury and infection.

In summary, when a kitten has eyes that won't open and excessive discharge, the first step is to observe and gently clean the area. If the condition worsens, it's important to seek veterinary care to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.