The eyes of cats need a series of minimal care so that they are always healthy. They should be cleaned with gauze moistened in warm water regularly, to remove tear secretions. But ... even with these cares the reality is that they can get sick.
What are the diseases in the eyes of cats? Can they be prevented in any way?
More common diseases
The most common eye diseases in cats are the following:
Conjunctivitis
It is the inflammation of the conjunctival membrane, which can turn a deep red color; In addition, it can be quite swollen. The third eyelid is usually visible. It can occur in one or both eyes. If your cat suffers from it, you will see that he tries to scratch his eyes with his paw, and he starts to get a lot of grief.
It can be caused by virus (feline herpes), bacteria (chlamydiosis), or by some type of allergen (dust, pollen, tobacco smoke, among others). In the first two cases, the tear secretions will be purulent, with pus; instead, in the latter case they will be watery and clear.
Cataract
Older cats can have cataracts in one or both eyes. This pathology consists of an alteration of the lens, which makes vision difficult. The animal will present a dull spot in the affected eye or eyes, and will have trouble seeing well.
Treatment may consist of applying anti-inflammatory eye drops in milder cases, or in the extraction of the cataract and then placing an artificial lens in the most severe cases.
Keratitis
This disease can be confused with conjunctivitis, but if a cat has it, it will feel pain. If not, the animal may end up partially or totally blind.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is caused by a increased fluid pressure in the eyeball. In normal situations, there is an exchange of fluid between the globe and the venous circulation, but when this balance is disturbed, the pressure increases and the eye becomes inflamed.
The symptoms are: red eyes, loss of vision, dilated and fixed pupils, squinting almost constantly, and moderate tearing.
If you suspect that your cat has a problem with his eyes, do not hesitate to take him to the vet.
Can they be prevented?
Eye diseases in cats cannot be 100% prevented. Yes, there are some things we can do to avoid them, such as:
- Put the vaccines need.
- Avoid going outside in the evening, which is when there are more cats.
- Sterilize it so that it does not end in the middle of a fight, since if an infected cat scratches a healthy one, it can infect him.
- Take him to the vet whenever necessary.
The eyes of cats are a very important part for them. Whenever they have a problem, they must be taken care of.