Cats Health Cards N°05. My Cat - Eye Care

The eyes of a healthy cat are clear and shiny. The area surrounding the eyeball should be white.

Common Signs of Eye Disease

• Redness of the inside of the eyelids
• Material "glued" to the surface or corners of the eyes
• Eye disorder
• Dull eye
• Third eyelid across the eye
• Excessive tearing or abnormal secretions
• Eye-wrinkled eyes around tears

During a consultation, your veterinarian may be required to carry out diagnostic tests to detect diseases of the eye

• Fluorescein test: it is used to detect the presence of corneal ulcers.
• Schirmer's test: it is used to measure the secretion of tears.
• Intraocular pressure: it allows to detect glaucoma.
• Ophthalmoscopy: it allows to examine the chambers of the eye.

Common eye diseases and signs

Conjunctivitis: inflammation of the membrane which covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the white of the eyes. It can be caused by an allergy or a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. In fact, chronic or recurrent conjunctivitis in cats is often caused by viral herpes infection which, as in humans, can recur several times. Since conjunctivitis can be contagious, the infected cat must be kept away from others.

Corneal ulcer: Corneal injury occurs when the cornea is scratched or damaged by a claw or, more importantly, a bacterial or viral infection.

Tearing or epiphora: If your cat's eyes are "running" or the hair around your eyes is wet, you may have an inherited condition that is characterized by a malformation of the tear ducts that block the eye, Normal flow of tears.

Cataract and glaucoma: The cat, like the human being, can be affected by these serious diseases of the eye. The cataract blurs the crystalline lens that is located in the eye. This disease mainly affects older cats or diabetics. Your cat should be thoroughly examined by the veterinarian because surgery is the only possible treatment. Glaucoma is a disease characterized by too much pressure inside the eye that occurs when the fluid that fills the eye is not normally discharged.

How to administer eye drops to your cat

1. Remove the secretions around the eyes with a cotton swab soaked in lukewarm water.
2. Hold your cat lying sideways on your lap or place it on a table at a comfortable height (you can ask someone to hold your cat if you opt for the second method).
3. Refer to your veterinarian's prescription for dosage. Shake the bottle if necessary.
4. With one hand, hold the bottle between your thumb and forefinger and use your other hand to support your head.
5. Flip your cat's head backwards. To keep the cat from blinking, hold your eyelids apart with your free fingers.
6. Hold the bottle close to the eye, NOT touching the surface of the eye.
7. By pressing the bottle, place the drops in the center of the eye, then release your cat's head.
8. Your cat will blink, allowing the drug to spread over the entire surface of the eye.
    

How To Apply Ointment In Your Cat's Eyes

1. Remove the secretions around the eyes with a cotton swab soaked in lukewarm water.
2. Hold your cat lying sideways on your lap or place it on a table at a comfortable height (you can ask someone to hold your cat if you opt for the second method).
3. Refer to your veterinarian's prescription for dosage.
4. Carefully lift the upper and lower eyelids apart.
5. While holding the tube parallel to the lower eyelid, press on the tube and place the desired amount of ointment on the edge of the eyelid.
6. Release your cat's head. Let it blink.
7. If necessary, massage the upper and lower eyelids together to distribute the medication.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: For the drug to be fully effective, it should be administered for the full duration of the medication. When you give a medication, remain calm, because your pet can feel your nervousness, which will make your task more difficult. You must always congratulate and reward it.