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29 May Conjunctivitis In Cats
Conjunctivitis is the most common of the cat eye problems. Conjunctivitis in cats occurs when the tissue that lines the eyelids and attaches to the eyeball becomes inflamed.
Conjunctivitis In Cats Allergy Or Infection?
There are a couple of things that can cause this to happen, allergies or an infection. Cat eye infections or feline allergies can cause the eye to become watery and produce a discharge. These conditions can also cause a reddening of the eye creating the look of feline pink eye.
By looking at the discharge you may be able to get an idea of whether the conjunctivitis is due to a feline allergy or an infection. Generally if the eye condition in your cat is caused by an allergy there will be a clear, watery discharge.
If it is from an infection you may see a thick discharge that is yellowish or greenish. The cats eyelids may also stick together a bit. This happens because pus is excreted to help fight the infection.
Symptoms Of Feline Conjunctivitis
Cats with conjunctivitis usually squint and they may keep their eyelid covering a portion of their eyeball. It can be a painful condition so they also tend to rub their eyes a lot either with their paws or they may rub their face against you, the furniture, the carpet, etc.
If you notice these symptoms go to the vet right away for diagnosis and treatment. While conjunctivitis in cats may not seem like a serious condition, if the feline conjunctivitis is caused by an infection and the infection is advanced it can spread and cause damage to other parts of the eye leading to things like vision impairment or corneal ulcers. Conjunctivitis can cause vision loss in cats if treatment is delayed. It could also be a symptom of other cat health problems.
If your vet discovers the cat eye problem is feline conjunctivitis he or she will probably prescribe eye drops or ointment to help treat the condition. Depending on the cause an infection or an allergydifferent medications will be prescribed.
Its important to follow the full treatment even if it appears the eyes are getting better. It usually takes one to two weeks for cats to recover from feline conjunctivitis.