Eye Infections In Kittens Pictures

Peering Into A Cats Eye

Before we get into eye disorders, lets take a quick look at the structure of a cats eye, which is similar to our own eyes. The major parts include:

• Cornea A transparent outer layer that forms in the front of the eye.
• Lens Located behind the iris, it changes shape to focus light rays.
• Pupil Dark colored center of the eye where light enters.
• Iris Circular, colored portion of the eye.
• Retina Lines the inside of the eyeball and sends visual information to the brain through the optic nerve.

Cats also have a third eyelid at the inside corner of their eyes. It helps keep the eye moist and protect it from damage.

What Does A Cat Eye Infection Look Like

Cat eye infection manifests with red, teary, swollen, and irritated eyes. Eye discharge, pawing at the eye, squinting, and excessive blinking are also possible signs of an eye infection. The discharge can be watery or thick.

Based on the underlying cause of the cat eye infection, light sensitivity is also possible. Also, the cat can show additional signs and symptoms that are unrelated to the eyes .

What Causes Eye Infection In Kittens

Kitten eye infection develops in the mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyeballs. These infections are usually fueled by infectious vaginal discharge in the birth canal of the mother. Living in unhygienic conditions can also result in a kitten eye infection.

The most common causes of kitten eye infection are:

• Infectious Causes of Kitten Eye Infections: bacterial Infections and viral infections .
• Non-Infectious Causes of Kitten Eye Infections: corneal ulcers, foreign bodies in the eyes, ocular tumors, tear duct issues, problems with the eyelids , allergens, etc.

While infectious agents can attack all cats, the non-infectious underlying causes of eye infections are more common in flat-faced cat breeds .

Interestingly, kitten eye infection is also more likely to occur in kittens with heavy worm infestations. The presence of worms, weakens the kittens immune system and increases the risk of infection or pink eye.

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Glaucoma: When Eye Pressure Is Too High

A healthy eye moves fluid in and out from behind the lens of the eye. If that fluid is blocked up, the increased pressure can cause damage to the cat’s eye, which can affect the cats vision and cause discomfort. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, most cases of glaucoma in cats can be caused by inflammation or infection of the eyes drainage ducts, which allows pressure to build up in the affected eye. But in other cases, the cause of glaucoma can include inflammation, dislocation of the lens, a tumor, or damage to the eye.

Signs of glaucoma might include an enlarged eye, a cloudy cornea , redness in the eye, a dilated pupil that doesn’t react properly to light, squinting, pain in the eye, or excessive tears.

Because glaucoma can lead to blindness, its important to call your vet as soon as you suspect an issue. Your veterinarian will work to treat and manage underlying medical issues, like inflammation of parts of the eye . However, if glaucoma cannot be controlled, your vet may recommend surgery or even complete removal of the eye to alleviate pain associated with the condition.

What Is The Prognosis For A Cat Diagnosed With Conjunctivitis

The prognosis depends on the specific diagnosis. With some non-infectious causes, if the underlying cause is not removed the conjunctivitis will recur. Some of the viruses that cause infectious conjunctivitis are incurable and may persist in a hidden form , with flare-ups from time to time, especially during periods of stress or illness. The therapeutic goal for these patients is to minimize the frequency and severity of recurrences through optimum nutrition, appropriate vaccination against preventable causes of disease and medical management when indicated.

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About Dr Pete Wedderburn Dvm

Dr Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet from Edinburgh in 1985 and has run his own 4-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow, Ireland, since 1991. Pete is well known as a media veterinarian with regular national tv, radio and newspaper slots, including a weekly column in the Daily Telegraph since 2007. Pete is known as “Pete the Vet” on his busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also write a regular blog at www.petethevet.com. His latest book: Pet Subjects, was published by Aurum Press in 2017.

Tips To Care For Your Cats Eyes

There are things you can do to help keep your cats eyes bright, shiny, and healthy. For instance:

• Check their eyes Look into your cats eyes on a regular basis. If you notice issues like redness, cloudiness, black spots on the colored portion of the eye, or discharge, you should contact your veterinarian.
• Schedule wellness exams Routine veterinary visits are important for our feline friends. They can help keep your cats overall health on track and give your veterinarian the opportunity to detect eye issues and other problems in the early stages.
• Clean their eyes gently Cats generally take care of their own grooming, but if you notice gunk around the eye, you can clean it carefully with a damp cotton ball. Take care not to touch the eye itself, or you could damage the cornea. If you give your cat a bath, you can use that time to clean around the eyes.
• Keep your cat inside All cats should be kept indoors to help them stay safe and healthy. If your cat goes outdoors, they could injure their eyes while running through the bushes or fighting with another cat or animal. They could also catch a contagious disease, which can cause issues like pink eye or uveitis.

If your cat ends up with an eye condition, a pet health insurance plan can help you manage your veterinary bills. Get a personalized quote for your cat.

* Internal claims data, 2017

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What Does A Kitten Eye Infection Look Like

A kitten eye infection manifests with red, teary, and inflamed eyes. The whites of the eye will look inflamed, and there will probably be eye discharge or crusts at the corners.

While cat eye infections are pretty common, the symptoms are non-specific and usually indicate a range of health problems. Therefore, it is important to get the right diagnosis from a vet. In most cases, the infection will usually resolve on its own. But eye infections can quickly become worse, and your cat might need emergency care.

Given below are some of the common signs that your cat has an eye infection. This can be used to indicate a diagnosis and make it easier for your vet to decide a course of action:

• The white part of your cats eye might have some redness
• There might be some eye discharge thats either clear, yellow, or green
• Your cat might resort to excessive blinking, or it may look like your cat is winking at you
• The cats third eyelid might be covering its eyes more than usual.
• If the eye problem is linked to an upper respiratory infection, you might also observe sneezing or nasal discharge.

Correct Diagnosis Is Key

The long list of potential conditions that aggravate, inflame, and damage a cat’s eyes means that getting the correct diagnosis from a vet is crucial. And because the viruses and bacteria that cause cat eye infections can be highly contagious to other cats as well, figuring out what’s wrong is the first step to making it rightthe earlier, the better. Home remedies without a medical diagnosis might sound tempting, especially when considering cost, convenience, or the stress a trip to the vet can cause. But proper treatment is crucial for making sure your cat has the best chance at a full recovery.

“Certain diseases of the eye can cause loss of vision or irreparable damage to the eye, requiring surgical removal to alleviate painboth of which are significant welfare concerns for the cat,” Aher says. “Eye diseases may also reflect a systemic illness and can be an indication that more diagnostics are needed.”

Ward agrees: “If a cat is squinting, has red eyes or is pawing at the eyes, don’t put anything in the eye before the veterinarian determines the cause. Putting the wrong medication in an eye wound can slow down healing.”

An evaluation of your cat’s eyes to check for signs of illness, infection, or injury is the first step. Blood tests and tests of the cat’s eye discharge or infected skin cells may also be required to determine what’s wrong.

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How Much Does Treatment Cost

The main cost of treating a cat eye infection is the professional examination and diagnostic tests that are needed to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause. Treatment generally involves eye drops and ointments which may cost less than $20, plus sometimes oral medication which may cost less than $40 for a course.

Eye Trouble After Eyes Open

Signs that your kitten has an eye problem once her eyes are open can vary. Following are nine types that can be common or rare.

1. You may notice a discharge, which can range from clear to pus-like. Your kitten may be squinting or holding her eye closed. The third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, may come up and cover the eyeball itself. Cats have quite large and mobile third eyelids. These are located inside what we think of as the normal eyelids and appear whitish. Normally the third eyelid is tucked into the corner of the eye toward the nose. It can spread out across the cornea very much like a windshield wiper.

2. Many infectious agents can cause conjunctivitis in kittens. This is inflammation of the conjunctiva the soft, pink-colored tissues that go from the eyelid to the eyeball. This area may get quite swollen. Your kitten may have a discharge and may squint. Medications usually clear this up quickly.

3. Along with infections, kittens are prone to trauma of the eye. Play fighting can lead to a corneal scratch from a claw. Blowing dust can also irritate the cornea. Corneal injuries are quite painful. Your kitten may hide, avoid bright light and will squint or close her eye. The third eyelid may be pulled across the eye. Eye problems can go from minor to serious very quickly. Always contact your veterinarian if you suspect an eye problem.

Featured Image: Gina Cioli/I-5 Studio

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Selecting The Right Treatment

Although you may have to learn how to hold your feline friend in order to administer the medication, ophthalmic antibiotic drops and gels are commonly used to treat bacterial infections in cats eyes. Your veterinarian can show you how to do this.

Oral treatments are often unnecessary unless there is a systemic infection involved. Viral infections require the consistent use of an anti-viral medication. However, some vets will suggest letting a viral infection run its course. An antibiotic may be prescribed, as some viral infections are found alongside bacterial eye infections.

Causes And Signs Of Eye Infections In Kittens

The two most common causes of eye infections in new kittens are vaginal infections in the mother cat that were transferred to the kitten’s eyes during birth and dirty environmental conditions present after birth.

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria species cause eye infections in newborn kittens the most often, but Herpesvirus is also fairly common. The signs that occur include:

• Redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, or the soft tissues inside the eyelids.
• Discharge from the eyes that can be clear, white, yellow, or green.
• Crustiness building up on the skin around the eyes.
• Eyes that are “glued” shut with discharge.

In severe cases, eye infections can cause corneal ulcers in kittens, which are sores on the outer surface of the eyeball. Kittens can go blind if eye infections are left untreated. In other cases, permanent damage may be done to the conjunctiva or other eye structures.

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Proper Diagnosis Is Crucial

Without a definite diagnosis, your kitty cannot be treated properly. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced veterinarian. Your veterinarian will begin by performing a comprehensive evaluation of the cats eyes to check for key signs and symptoms of infection or any indication of trauma.

A sample of discharge or infected skin cells may be taken in order to further investigate the root cause of the problem. Blood tests and other assessments may be necessary depending on each unique case.

How Do I Administer Eye Medications

Regular and frequent treatment is essential in successfully treating conjunctivitis. Most ophthalmic drops need to be administered 3 – 6 times a day at the start of treatment. Ointments may require less frequent administration, but may be more difficult to administer.

Two people may be necessary one to hold the cat and the other to administer the eye medication, at least until the discomfort and sensitivity of the eyes has decreased. Apply 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ointment to each eye and then close the lids to smear the ointment across the eyeball. Liquid preparations can be applied directly onto the surface of the eye one or two drops per eye are usually sufficient. If you have any doubts as to how to give your cat’s medication, please ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the proper procedure for you .

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Remove The Eye Discharges Periodically

Excessive discharges could cause the eyes of kittens to gummed shut so it’s necessary that you step in here. Dampen a few pieces of cotton wool then use them to get rid of the present discharges, use at least once piece for one eye. Generally speaking, the cleaning process should be repeated once in a while, depending on the severity of the eye infection. In severe cases, cat parents have to clean the eyes of their kitten every hour. Needless to say, be gentle as you clean around the eye of your fluffy friend.

Cat Eye Infection: Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I treat my cat’s eye infection?

There are various ways you can go about treating your cats eye infection, depending on whats causing it and how severe it is. In some cases, cat eye infections will resolve on their own, but otherwise a vet will likely prescribe either eye drops or topical ointment. In more severe cases, oral antibiotics may be needed to address an underlying condition thats causing the eye infection.

• How can I treat my cats eye infection at home?

Never touch the eyeball itself. If the discharge is not easily cleared away, then do not wipe harder and seek care from a veterinarian.

• Will a cat eye infection heal on its own?

Minor cat eye infections will clear up on their own without treatment, but its still important to keep a close eye on your cats symptoms to track if they get better. If the eye infection does not improve within 2 weeks, take your cat to the vet to rule out the possibility of a more serious eye condition.

• What does a cat eye infection look like?

A cat eye infection will look like redness in the whites of the eye accompanied by discharge that can either be watery or thick. Excessive blinking, sensitivity to light, and inflamed eyelids are also possible symptoms. Its a good idea to look at cat eye infection pictures so that you can be aware of what it looks like in the chance your cat has one.

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What Are The Clinical Signs Of Conjunctivitis

If you see excessive tearing or watering from one or both eyes, abnormal discharge , or reddened conjunctival membranes, your cat may have conjunctivitis. Your cat may also squint or keep her eyes closed because of either discomfort or photophobia . In severe cases, the conjunctival tissue or the third eyelid may be so swollen that it may partially or fully cover the eye. If your cat exhibits any of these signs, she should be examined by your veterinarian immediately.

What Causes Feline Eye Infections

There are several places to look when searching for the cause of your cats eye infection. Eye infections are extremely contagious. Cats that are exposed to other infected cats run the risk of contracting an infection themselves.

Young cats have weaker immune systems and may come down with an infection if kept in close quarters with an infected cat. Feline Herpesvirus can cause conjunctivitis, which is basically pinkeye. Autoimmune disease, cancer, eye trauma and feline leukemia may also be to blame for an infection.

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Symptoms Of Feline Eye Infections: Identifying Conditions

In order to differentiate between a healthy cat and one who is suffering from an eye infection, its essential to know how to recognize a normal cat eye. First and foremost, your cats eyes should appear clear and bright, free from swelling or puffiness.

Secondly, its fine if you notice a bit of sleep in the corner of her eye as long as its not excessive. Her pupils should also be equal in size, and there should be no signs of swelling, bulging or cloudiness.

Below, a few symptoms to be mindful of:

• An inflamed, raw or meaty appearance around the eye
• A thick, thin or watery discharge
• A change in the eyes appearance