Excessive Eye Discharge in Kitten Causing Eyes to Close

Our little kittens may have strikingly large eyes, but they are also quite sensitive. If you notice an excessive amount of eye discharge and your kitten's eyes are unable to open, it's crucial to take immediate notice. Such symptoms can arise from a variety of causes, including eye infections, dietary issues, and contagious diseases. To prevent the situation from worsening, it's essential to provide timely and appropriate intervention.

1. Young Kittens with Excessive Eye Discharge

Firstly, if a kitten younger than two months old exhibits this symptom, it's generally not due to feline herpesvirus infection, so you can take a slight sigh of relief.

Even though kittens at this age haven't been vaccinated, they carry maternal antibodies, which significantly reduces their risk of contracting feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline distemper. If a kitten in this age group shows excessive eye discharge and difficulty opening its eyes, it's usually caused by issues like nasal duct obstruction or issues related to goat's milk formula. You can help by gently wiping the eyes with a cotton ball soaked in saline solution and massaging the nasal ducts to keep the eyes clean and healthy.

2. Other Causes of Excessive Eye Discharge in Kittens

For kittens over two months old who exhibit excessive eye discharge and difficulty opening their eyes, the potential causes are more varied. Some of the most common reasons include:

Conjunctivitis

Eyelid inflammation

Corneal injury

Allergies

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction/narrowing

Vitamin deficiency

To determine the exact cause and treatment, it's safest to consult a veterinarian. Under their guidance, proper medication can be administered to help your kitten recover quickly.

Should you be unable to see a vet, consider the following steps:

Use a cotton ball soaked in saline solution to gently wipe your kitten's eyes, clearing away excess discharge and preventing further infection.

Apply Baytril (sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim) eye drops to your kitten's eyes three to five times daily to combat bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and keratitis.

Place an Elizabethan collar on your kitten to prevent it from scratching its eyes, which could lead to secondary injuries and infections.

Regularly clean your kitten's living environment to reduce allergens and other factors that could contribute to eye issues.

Be cautious not to use human eye drops on your kitten, as they can cause irritation and potential vision damage. If necessary, consult a veterinarian before use.

3. Eye Discharge and Cold Symptoms

If your kitten not only has excessive eye discharge and difficulty opening its eyes but also shows symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite, it may have contracted feline herpesvirus or feline calicivirus, similar to a cold. In such cases, it's best to seek veterinary care.

Athome treatment methods (for reference only):

Administer eye drops containing ganciclovir or valacyclovir, alternating with antibiotic eye drops for inflammation, such as neomycin eye drops or levofloxacin eye drops.

Give your kitten Clavamox (amoxicillinclavulanate potassium) to alleviate internal inflammation.

Feeding Llysine and lactoferrin can boost your kitten's immune response.

Administer interferon to inhibit viral replication.

In summary, when your kitten shows signs of excessive eye discharge and difficulty opening its eyes, start by cleaning the eyes with saline solution and observe the response to antibiotic eye drops. If symptoms persist or your kitten exhibits additional coldlike symptoms, it's best to consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.