My Cat Has Goopy Eyes

Growth/lump On A Cats Eyelid

Unlike in dogs, lumps and bumps on the eyelids are not common in cats. These are most commonly benign and slow growing.

However, you should still take your cat to the vet within a few daysparticularly if the bump grows/changes, causes inflammation in the eye, has any pigment to it, or seems to bother your cat.

Red Swollen Squinting Eyes

Watery eyes are often accompanied by physical signs such as redness and swelling. This is a clear indicator of some form of infection or ailment, and is definitely abnormal.

Youll also find that cats with red, swollen eyes constantly rub their faces on anything from the couch to your pants, all in an attempt to relieve the itch and irritation.

What Is The Prognosis For Epiphora

Unless an underlying cause can be found and treated, most patients with epiphora will experience intermittent episodes throughout their life. If your cat’s facial anatomy prevents adequate drainage of the tear film, it is likely that some degree of epiphora will persist despite all treatment efforts. In many cases, no significant problems may arise, and the tear staining may be cosmetic. Your veterinarian will discuss the particulars of your cat’s condition and will determine the specific treatment options and prognosis for your cat.

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Signs Your Cat May Have An Eye Infection

Discharge, unusual blinking, or rubbing of the eyes may be the sign of a cat eye infection. Understanding the symptoms is key to treating this common condition.

Your cat’s gorgeous eyes are suddenly showing some signs of irritation. They’re looking a little goopyclear, yellow, or green discharge might be pooling in the corners of the eyes and on the eyelids. Perhaps she’s squinting or blinking, or those cute little paws are rubbing one or both eyes more than usual.

You might be wondering if it’s an eye infection. Even worseis it contagious? Before turning to an untested home remedy or raiding your medicine cabinet for a treatment that’s meant for humans, consider the different conditions that can cause eye trouble in cats. You need a solid diagnosis from a professional before tackling your cat’s eye trouble, and here’s why.

What Causes Runny Eyes In Cats

These conditions can cause cats eyes to produce a watery discharge:

• Viral diseases, such as feline herpesvirus 1 or feline calicivirus
• Systemic bacterial diseases, such as feline infectious anemia
• Systemic fungal diseases, such as feline blastomycosis
• A localized fungal or bacterial infection inside the eye
• Dust, dirt, or cat hair aggravating the eye
• Injury
• Tear duct problems
• Parasites, such as toxoplasmosis

If your cat has conjunctivitis, epiphora, or keratitis, at least one of the above causes will be behind the issue.

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When To Go To The Vet

We want to reiterate that while a relatively small amount of discharge from you cats eyes can be considered normal from time to time, no amount of excessive discharge should be considered normal, regardless of the color or consistency. However, there are certain cases for which a trip to the vet is imperative.

If you notice a yellow or green discharge, make an appointment straight away, as it is a telling sign of infection. Additionally, if there is enough discharge that needs to be wiped away one or two times daily, we highly recommend that you see your vet.

Finally, if the eyes are red and swollen, or if your cat is excessively rubbing the eyes, make an appointment with the vet. The vet would advise you regarding the best treatment for your pet. In some cases, you may need to administer a few eye drops on a regular schedule.

However, in other cases, the eye discharge may lead your vet to find another underlying condition that needs to be addressed.

Your cats eyes are incredibly fragile and important. Trust your gut. If you think there may be something wrong, we highly recommend seeking a professional, veterinary medical opinion.

Foreign Body In The Eye

Dirt, dust and any kind of particles can enter the felines eye and cause irritation and inflammation. These can be very uncomfortable, making the cat blink excessively or even keep the eye shut.

If not treated appropriately, foreign bodies can cause the eye to swell and become red. Delayed or improper treatment can also lead to corneal damage.

In order to tell if something is stuck in her eye, look for the following symptoms:

• Tearing or watery eyes due to excessive production of tears
• Constantly pawing at the eye to relieve discomfort
• Squinting in the eye with the foreign object

When this is the case, Ive always noted that the cat will suffer irritation and swelling because of the constant pawing and even rubbing that side of the eye on the ground to gain some relief.

Remove the foreign body from the cats eye

Before attempting to remove whatever is stuck in your pets eye, it is important to prevent her from pawing at the eye.

• Use an E-collar for this.
• Do not attempt to remove it at home because you may end up causing a serious laceration to the cornea in the process.
• While at home, flush a mild saline solution in the cats eye to remove the foreign object. If it doesnt work, go to the vets office immediately.

In most cases, swelling is a sign of injury. I would advise that you take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. If your cat is in pain, it may be more difficult to remove the foreign body from the eye.

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First What Is Cat Eye Discharge

Tears are produced constantly throughout the day and normally drain at the corner of the eye without spilling over, says Beth Kimmitt, D.V.M., resident of ophthalmology at Purdue Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine in West Lafayette, Indiana. If something causes irritation to the eye, more tears are produced. Irritation to the eye or blockage of the normal drainage pathway may lead to tears that spill over onto the face.

What Is Cat Eye Discharge

Generally, eye discharge is not a disease itself, but rather a sign of an underlying condition. Many diseases for which eye discharge may be a sign can progress to blindness and/or systemic infection.

Therefore, if the discharge is chronic, experts recommend that you let your veterinarian take a more thorough look into exactly what may be causing it.

Simply speaking, cat eye discharge originates from the tears that the body constantly produces throughout the day.

Usually, the tears drain at the corner of the eye without spilling over. However, when something irritates the eyes, the body produces more tears than normal. This results in a discharge from the eye that is much more pronounced than usual.

Furthermore, while eye discharge may not have a highly negative effect on many people, it can cause your cat a great deal of discomfort.

From constant scratching to milder itchy sensations to overall eye pain, if your cat is experiencing chronic eye discharge, youll want to get to the bottom of it.

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Tear Staining In Flat Faced Breeds

Tear stained fur is a common problem in flat faced breeds such as Persians. As well as being born with flat-faces, these breeds often have large eyeballs in small eye sockets, meaning their tears cant drain away properly. If your cat has tear staining due to the shape of his/her face, there are a couple of things you can do to help keep them more comfortable:

• Keep them well-groomed. Brush the fur on your cats face regularly to keep their fur away from their eyes and prevent tears building up.
• Wipe their eyes. Wipe your cats eyes twice daily to remove any tears and crusty discharge. Cotton wool pads dipped in lukewarm water are perfect for this. Never use a wipe that isnt meant for use on a cats eyes.

You may need to wipe your cat’s eyes to keep them clear.

Keep Your Cats Eyes Clear

Tear production and some occasional discharge can occasionally be normal, but they can also be indicative of a health problem. If your cat has leaking or gunky eyes, monitor them closely for other symptoms and note any changes. You can wipe away your cats eye boogers using a damp washcloth or towelbut be sure to wash these in between uses and wash your hands! Consistently wiping away eye gunk can make it easier for your cat to see and stay comfortable.

If their eye discharge doesnt clear up within a day or two, you should probably contact your vet for an examination and treatment. Depending on the underlying problem, your vet may recommend an antibacterial or anti-fungal treatment, eye drops or saline washes or more invasive treatments like surgery to correct injuries or corneal issues.

It isnt always possible to prevent eye conditions from causing your cat grief, but you can do simple things like bolstering your cats immune system and preventing cat fights to help minimize their risk of infections and injuries, keeping their eyes healthy and clear!

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Some Cat Eye Discharge Warrants A Trip To The Vet

Yellow or green eye discharge is not normal if your cat has colored discharge, make a vet appointment as soon as possible. If there is enough discharge that you have to wipe your pets eye more than one to two times daily, or if your cat is squinting or frequently rubbing at his eye, or if the eye look red, he should be seen by a veterinarian, Dr. Kimmitt says. When it comes to your cat eye discharge and other eye issues, dont delay making that vet appointment your cats eyes and eyesight might depend on it.

Goopy Eyes In Infants

Many babies are born with blocked tear ducts, which can cause tears to drain improperly and lead to watery eyes or mild eye discharge in toddlers and babies. This discharge is often mild and can be treated by keeping the area clear with a clean, damp washcloth. Gently massaging the area may also help unclog your babys tear ducts.

However, discharge that appears gooey and green or yellow could be a sign that your baby has an eye infection and should be evaluated by an eye doctor as soon as possible. Take note of other symptoms that may occur, such as swelling and redness, and report this to your childs eye doctor as well.

Schedule an exam

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What Are The Signs Of Epiphora

The most common clinical signs associated with epiphora are dampness or wetness beneath the eyes, reddish-brown staining of the fur beneath the eyes, odor, skin irritation, and skin infection. Many owners report that their cat’s face is constantly damp, and they may even see tears rolling off their pet’s face.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: This Is Also Known As Dry Eyes Or Keratitis

Keratoconjunctivitis Siccaa really intimidating word that simply means dry eyes. It can be a secondary bacterial infection of FVH-1, but can also crop up with Conjunctivitis, allergies, or for genetic reasons.

Tears have antibacterial properties in them and protect the eyes by flushing irritants and providing lubrication. Having a dry eye condition is very uncomfortable and can cause severe issues if not treated. Luckily, its relatively easy to provide comfort to your kitty if this is the problem, but dry eyes are usually not curable. You will need to manage the symptoms to keep your feline buddy comfortable.

Symptoms:

• Your cat may be reluctant to open their eyes
• Inflammation of the eyelids
• A dull coating or dry look to the cornea or outside of the eye

Treatment:

• Eye examination to determine if dry eye may be the problem
• A Schirmer tear testto measure the percentage of moisture in the eye
• A fluorescein stain test to check for any ulcers or erosion of the cornea
• Eye drops may be prescribed to stimulate the production of tears, or antibiotics if an infection is present

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Eye discharge in cats is a symptom rather than a disease itself, and has a variety of causes. Eye discharge may be clear and runny, or it may be green/yellow and thick. If your cat’s symptoms are mild and he/she has a normal appetite and energy level, and does not have any other symptoms of illness, it is okay to monitor him/her for a few days.

What Dr Jean Revealed About Treating Feline Conjunctivitis

In a recent radio show interview, Dr. Jean Hofve shared this tip that made a lot of sense to me based on something I had learned as a nutritionist.

I quickly found some data that verified her tip at veterinarypartner.com and PubMed.

Dr. Jean said that very often conjunctivitis in cats is caused by a herpesvirus.

When the cause is herpesvirus, its going to be aggravated by stress andmore importantlyits going to be suppressed by the amino acid Lysine.

Lysine is an old nutritionist trick I learned for herpes in humans. As this article explains:

Without arginine, a herpesvirus cannot reproduce. The amino acid lysine is taken up by the virus in favor of arginine. We can take advantage of this situation by saturating the virus with lysine and thus suppressing the viruss ability to replicate.

Yes, Lysine is a cheap, simple, safe supplement you can pick up in places like Whole Foods Market. Its just an amino acid, which means its a building block of protein.

Dosage

Dr. Jean explained the dose is 1000mg/day during flare-up, and 250mg day as maintenance afterward, mixed into wet food.

From what Ive read, Id give the maintenance 250mg for about a month, and then not need to dose the lysine again unless symptoms show up again.

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General Care For Goopy Eyes

Whether or not treatment for your condition requires doctor-prescribed medication, there are some general things to keep in mind when caring for goopy eyes:

• Keep your eyes and the surrounding area clean

• Refrain from touching or rubbing your eyes

• Wash your hands frequently

• Take a break from wearing contact lenses

• Use your own towels and linens

• Take a break from makeup and discard any contaminated cosmetics

• If allergies are to blame, steer clear of irritants

My Cats Eyes Are Red And Inflamed Whats Wrong

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, will cause the eyes to become extremely red and irritated. This is commonly seen in cats. It can be caused by not only viral infections , but also allergies. The eyes may also progress to swelling and light sensitivity. Conjunctivitis tends to occur in times of stress or seasonal . Although easy to treat, if left untreated, serious consequences may occur.

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Do Cat Eye Infections Go Away On Their Own

Cat eye infections sometimes occur repeatedly and are most commonly caused by viruses. Infections often wax and wane over time, appearing to improve or go away, only to come back again later. Although they may appear to go away on their own, infections should always be conclusively diagnosed and appropriately treated by your veterinarian.

Treatment Of Eye Discharge In Cats

Treatment of eye discharge in your cat will depend on the cause of the symptoms and the underlying condition. In the case of conjunctivitis, your vet may prescribe prescription drops or eye ointment to help fight off infection. They may also prescribe oral medications to help support your cat and fight system-wide infection.

Eye Flushes may also be performed at your vets office to clear the eye of any debris or foreign material. In many cases, this procedure can be done while your cat is awake and alert. Depending on the location and severity of any foreign bodies, sedation may be required in order to completely eliminate the material from your cats eyes.

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Cat Has Goopy Eyes And No Appetite

My cat has lost a considerable amount of weight recently and is not interested in eating or drinking. He also has a clear goopy discharge from both eyes. What might this be? He’s 17 and within the last 9 months, has lost his hearing and some eyesight.

• By: Kara McCarty El Segundo, CA

  Replied on 04/19/2011

  Your cat needs to see his veterinarian for an examination, likely some blood work and possibly some radiographs. The clear goopy discharge from his eyes could signify dehydration, lack of grooming by your cat or an eye infection. Older cats that lose their appetite and weight often have some sort of organ disease, such as kidney, heart or liver disease. Cancer is also a possibility in an older patient. The only way to know what is happening with your cat, and how you can help him, is to get some answers from his veterinarian. He sounds like he is feeling some discomfort so as quickly as possible is best. In the meantime tempt him with favorite foods like tuna, boiled chicken or baby food meats as it is very important to get him to eat.Kara, DVM

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