Cat Eye Inflammation: Best Eye Drops for Discharge & Sw
Our feline friends' eyes are a marvel of beauty, yet they are quite delicate and prone to injury and illness. When a cat's eyes become inflamed, it's a sign to pay close attention, as symptoms like redness, swelling, difficulty opening the eyes, excessive tearing, increased discharge, and a cloudy appearance can arise. Left untreated, these issues can lead to severe complications, potentially affecting their vision. Therefore, if you notice these symptoms in your furry companion, it's crucial to act promptly and administer the necessary medication.
Understanding the Common Types of Cat Eye Inflammation
1. Conjunctivitis: This condition is characterized by a discharge that may be either mucous or purulent, conjunctival congestion, excessive tearing, and difficulty opening the eyes.
2. Eyelid Inflammation: Symptoms include hair loss around the eyelids, increased discharge, thickened eyelid edges, and conjunctival congestion.
3. Corneal Inflammation: Look out for signs like cloudy corneas, conjunctival congestion around the cornea, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and increased discharge.
What Eye Drops Should You Use for Your Cat's Eye Inflammation?
Cat eye inflammation can stem from bacterial, viral infections, or allergies, each requiring specific treatments. The right medication depends on the underlying cause and type of infection.
✅ Antibiotic Eye Drops: Medications like neomycin sulfate, chloramphenicol, tobramycin, and levofloxacin are effective against bacterial infections like conjunctivitis and keratitis. However, they should not be used longterm. Opt for petspecific eye drops to minimize irritation and side effects. For instance, Baytril (neomycin sulfate eye drops) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that's effective for bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis, providing relief from pain, burning, redness, and excessive tearing.
✅ Antiviral Eye Drops: Common antiviral eye drops include acyclovir and ganciclovir. If the infection is caused by the herpes virus, systemic antiviral medications like valacyclovir are also necessary. Complement this with antibiotic eye drops, oral Floxin (doxycycline hyclate tablets), and LLysine as supportive treatments.
✅ Repair Eye Drops: These include growth factor eye drops, bovine serum gel, and Sentrx (crosslinked hyaluronic acid), which can help with corneal damage and ulcers caused by various factors.
How to Administer Eye Drops to Your Cat
1. Prevent Scratching: First, put a Elizabethan collar on your cat to prevent them from scratching their eyes and causing further injury or infection.
2. Clean the Eyes: Gently wipe your cat's eyes with a sterile salinesoaked cloth or cotton ball to remove any discharge.
3. Open the Eye: Carefully pull back your cat's eyelids and slowly drop the saline solution into the eye to rinse out any debris or secretions.
4. Apply the Eye Drops: Place 1 to 2 drops of the eye drops into the eye, then gently pull and close the eyelids to distribute the medication evenly. Wipe away any excess with a cotton ball.
Cat eye inflammation often does not resolve on its own. If you notice symptoms, it's essential to treat them promptly. If there's no improvement or the condition worsens after 3 to 5 days of home treatment, seek veterinary care immediately.
