Effective Treatments for a Kitten's Conjunctivitis: Qui

Causes:

This condition is often caused by irritants such as foreign objects, trauma, light, heat, or chemical substances. It can also result from bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, or as a secondary effect of other diseases, such as keratitis or dacryocystitis.

According to traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, external windheat, dry and hot weather, or overindulgence in spicy foods can lead to heat toxins accumulating in the heart and lungs. These toxins then travel through the liver meridian, which opens into the eyes. The heat generates wind, which spreads to the eyes, leading to the development of this disease.

Primary Symptoms:

The affected eye may exhibit conjunctival congestion and redness, photophobia, excessive tearing, and the presence of mucous or purulent discharge. The eyelids may swell. Cats often scratch at the affected eye with their front paw, which can lead to conjunctival hyperplasia and adhesions over time. Keratitis may also develop as a secondary condition.

Treatment and Prevention:

For conjunctivitis caused by physical or chemical factors, the first step is to remove any foreign bodies from the eye. The affected eye should be flushed repeatedly with physiological saline, 1% alum solution, or 2% boric acid. Following this, ophthalmic ofloxacin drops should be administered two to three times a day.

For purulent conjunctivitis, apply gentamicin ointment to the eye.

In cases suspected to be caused by a viral infection, herpes simplex ophthalmic drops and marbofloxacin ophthalmic drops can be used.

For follicular conjunctivitis, sulfadiazine mercury ointment or tetracycline hydrocortisone ointment can be applied.

For chronic conjunctivitis, focus should be on reducing irritation and applying warmth. For refractory cases, autologous blood subconjunctival injection may be used.

In terms of traditional Chinese medicine, the treatment principle is to expel heat, subdue wind, and clear the liver for bright eyes. The herbal formula includes: 4g of alcoholsoaked Gentiana scabra, 3g each of alcoholsoaked Coptis chinensis, alcoholsoaked Gardenia jasminoides, Alisma orientale, and Rehmannia glutinosa, 2g each of Coptis chinensis, Plantago asiatica, Chrysanthemum morifolium, and Bupleurum chinense, and 1g of Periplaneta americana (to be wrapped separately and added later). This should be decocted and taken as a single dose per day for 23 days.