If this is your first time encountering the fact that your cat has brown discharge from the eyes, you probably don’t know what to do. Now there are many folk methods of combating and preventing diseases of our pets, and pharmacies offer a huge range of medications.
Following the advice of friends, you can easily make a mistake and harm your pet. After all, what your friend used to treat her rabbit when his eyes were watery is unlikely to be suitable for a cat.
This article will help you determine the type of disease and choose a method for its treatment and prevention.
Types of discharge
Each type of opaque liquid indicates the presence of health problems. The darker the color of the discharge, the more serious the animal’s illness.
Normal discharge
Healthy cats may produce a thin, clear secretion. It usually clears any dust or debris from the eyes. Also, after sleep, liquid or jelly-like droplets may accumulate in the corners of the eyes. The cat removes them herself while washing.
Another secretion can be released as a defensive reaction in bright light, strong odors or smoke. Once you eliminate the factor, the cat's eye condition will be restored.
Liquid transparent discharge
Uncontrollable discharge, when the eyes begin to water, does not indicate anything dangerous. Most likely this is an allergic reaction.
White discharge
White mucus-like substance is a sign of a viral infection. May be a symptom of conjunctivitis or eyelid lesions. At this stage, treatment should begin.
Yellow discharge
They may also have a greenish tint. Indicate the presence of pus. This is a symptom of a bacterial infection, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the cat's general health. The temperature often rises, there is no appetite, and nausea begins.
Brown discharge
The color indicates the presence of blood in the fluid. Dark discharge from a cat's eyes is a symptom of an acute infectious eye disease. May be bloody or black.
Features of hemorrhage in the eye in newborns
You should know! In newborns, hemorrhages in the eyes are more common than in adult patients or older children.
This is due to the presence of certain additional factors:
- use of dinoprostan during complicated childbirth;
- use of a vacuum extractor , necessary in some cases for the same reasons;
- performing a CT scan while the baby is in the womb.
All this has a negative impact on the vessels, which are not yet strong enough to withstand such loads.
Causes
If your cat has brown discharge from the eyes, it is always a sign of health problems, but it is not always caused by an infection.
Non-infectious causes
These are congenital pathologies, hereditary diseases or acquired characteristics due to injury.
- Features of the anatomical structure of the eyelids.
Anomalies can be congenital or acquired. Typically, the eyelashes come into contact with the cornea. An example of such an anomaly is entropion of the eyelids. Also, impaired eyelash growth causes irritation of the tear duct.
- Third century injuries.
May be caused by a fall or impact. As well as injuries to the nose or facial part of the skull.
- Tear duct defects
Pathologically narrow lacrimal canals or congenital obstruction of the ducts.
What is an eye hemorrhage?
Reference! Bleeding in the eye is a common phenomenon, which mainly occurs due to disruption of the integrity of the blood vessels.
Such disorders, depending on the cause, nature and severity, can have different sizes and look like bright red spots on the surface of the outer shell of the eyeball.
If this pathology is of non-traumatic origin, a person in most cases does not experience any pain , although in some cases the patient complains of a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the eye and a feeling of burning and stinging.
Often such a disorder is accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity, which can be temporary or permanent (this also depends on the cause).
Minor hemorrhages, provided that they are not felt in any way by the patient, may not require treatment , and if they do not increase over time, then treatment may not be necessary (such hemorrhages go away on their own over time).
But it is better, even with minor formations of this nature to consult an ophthalmologist , and it is even more necessary to do this if the bleeding occupies a large area.
Symptoms
The following information will help you recognize some common illnesses at home.
Conjunctivitis
Infection occurs through contact. It can be identified by swollen eyelids, redness of the eyes and purulent discharge. If the discharge from the eyes of cats is brown, it means that the disease is already advanced.
Conjunctivitis is treated with medications: you can wash your eyes with an antiseptic or chamomile decoction, it relieves inflammation well. Then apply an antimicrobial ointment, such as Tetracycline, to the eye. In severe cases, injections into the conjunctiva may be necessary.
Blepharitis
It is an infection that has entered the hair follicles of the eyelashes. It may appear due to low immunity, infection in the eyes, or general weakening of the body. It is identified by inflamed eyelids, and dark grayish fluid may accumulate in the corners of the eyes.
When the disease is advanced, ulcers form on the inside of the eyelids, and the secretions become brown or dark.
In such a case, first of all, it is necessary to increase immunity and treat the eyelids with an antiseptic or chamomile. In severe cases of the disease with black discharge, hormonal ointments are used.
Keratitis
Damage to the cornea of the eye occurs most often due to damage to the surface of the eye. In advanced cases, a purulent ulcer appears.
Dark discharge from your cat's eyes will accumulate in the corners.
For treatment, a whole set of antibacterial, antiviral, antihistamine and other drugs are used, as prescribed by the doctor.
Iridocyclitis
With this disease, the iris becomes inflamed. It can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus. You can recognize it by photophobia, pain and redness of the eyes.
In advanced cases, there will first be purulent discharge, and then bloody or black. The iris of the eye may change color.
If the disease lasts for a long time or treatment is ineffective, vision can be severely damaged. For treatment, detoxification and antiviral drugs are used as prescribed by the attending physician.
Types of hemorrhages
Important! Depending on the nature, type and cause of such formations in the eye, such disorders can be classified as follows:
- Subconjunctival . The cause of such disorders is damage to the walls of blood vessels. Most often, such disorders can appear suddenly and without any serious reasons, so treatment in this case may not be prescribed.
- Hemophthalmos . It is diagnosed when a blood clot forms inside the vitreous body of the eye, and the patient complains of decreased quality of vision (blurred areas form in front of the eyes). Hemophthalmos can be partial or complete, and in the second case there is loss of vision, which, in the absence of timely and adequate treatment, can be irreversible.
- Hyphema. Hemorrhage into the anterior chamber of the eyeball. The main reason for this disorder is various eye injuries, which cause pain and blurred vision. Medical assistance is required, since the healing and regeneration of eye tissue in such cases can be slowed down due to dysfunction of the protective and restorative systems of the visual organs.
- Retinal . Appear as a result of damage to blood vessels located in the retina. The most dangerous type of hemorrhage, which even with small blood formations can lead to loss of vision.
Retinal formations, in turn, are further divided into:
- preretinal (formed between the vitreous membrane and the retina and exceeds the optic disc in size);
- intraretinal (look like small circles or streaks and are localized in the retina in areas of accumulation of retinal vessels);
- subretinal (they look like contourless spots and are formed between the layer of nerve fibers and the pigment cover, as a rule, they arise when newly formed vessels grow).
Keep in mind! Regardless of the type of hemorrhage, they quickly resolve if they are small in size and generally do not pose a threat to vision.
Significant hemorrhages are eliminated by instilling ophthalmic drops, and the largest formations can only be removed through surgery - for this purpose, laser coagulation is performed.
Washing
It takes two people to help a cat with watery eyes. Holding it tightly and at the same time carefully rinsing the eye alone will not work.
For the procedure, make any antiseptic solution without alcohol: you can take furatsilin, chamomile or oak bark. The liquid should not be hot and slightly concentrated.
One person should hold the pet firmly to prevent it from twitching. You can take her on your lap: if it is the owner, the cat will smell him and calm down. Hold her paws with one hand and hold her head with the other.
The second person will need a gauze swab or cotton pad and a prepared warm solution. Soak the swab in the broth and squeeze it out lightly, then gently rub it over the animal’s eye. Make sure your cat is not in pain from this procedure, especially if she is bleeding.
Repeat wiping until the new swab is clean.
If your cat's eyelids are stuck together due to the amount of discharge, then you can apply an unwrung swab to the eye and leave it for a while. Warm liquid will quickly help the eye open, and after that you can rinse the eye.
After the procedure, you can put tetracycline ointment under the eyelid. It will help relieve inflammation and make the cat feel a little better.
How to treat and what to do in case of hemorrhage?
Subconjunctival hemorrhages do not require therapeutic or drug treatment.
But at the same time, the ophthalmologist can prescribe medications that relieve painful symptoms.
If swelling or inflammation occurs in the area of capillary ruptures, appropriate medications may be prescribed.
If the cause of hemorrhages is infectious ophthalmological pathologies, it is possible to prescribe antibacterial solutions.
Remember! In any case, such treatment of hemorrhage in the eye lasts no more than two weeks and is characterized by favorable prognoses that do not imply the development of any complications.
The absence of painful symptoms suggests instillation of ophthalmic drops if the hemorrhage does not resolve for at least a week.
The most common of these drugs are:
- Visine. Decongestant and vasoconstrictor drug for local use. It is characterized by rapid action and is not absorbed into the systemic circulation, eliminating the development of side effects. It has proven itself well as a drug against the development of allergic reactions that provoke ruptures of blood vessels in the eyes.
- Emoxipin. A drug that activates the regenerative mechanisms of the vascular system. The product also strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reducing their permeability. Additionally, it stimulates blood circulation processes and ensures access of a sufficient amount of oxygen to the vessels, as a result of which the resorption of formations occurs in the shortest possible time.
- Taufon . Taufon is a drug similar in mechanism of action to emoxipine, which helps restore intraocular pressure and reduces the risk of vascular rupture. In the event of hemorrhage formation, it promotes rapid healing, having a positive effect on the regenerative systems of the eye.
Prevention
By nature, a cat is capable of independently caring for itself and its health. If your pet leads a clean lifestyle, and his eyes begin to become inflamed, then the source of the infection is in your home. The exception is when the animal has free access to the street.
In any case, if there are animals in the house, frequent and thorough cleaning is necessary to avoid introducing infection into the body of your pets.
If for some reason the cat is not able to clean its eyes and face on its own, then this concern falls on your shoulders. Veterinary stores sell special lotions to clean the eyes of animals. They need to be used daily.
A real owner takes great care of his pets. He takes them to all the necessary vaccinations, prevents various diseases and monitors the cleanliness of the house.
Follow our advice, and your pets will have excellent health!
This article has been checked and approved by a veterinarian. Knyazeva Anna Vladimirovna, veterinarian in private practice, Moscow. more about the expert.
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Tags: cat discharge, cat health, cat
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Useful video
This video presents the best treatment options for hemorrhage in the eye:
Depending on the reason why hemorrhages occur, the prognosis for the development of the disorder directly depends .
If, given the subconjunctival nature of the hemorrhage in most cases these prognoses are favorable , then similar pathologies localized in the retina or vitreous can lead to visual impairment, even if at first the person is not bothered by painful symptoms.
Determining the severity of the pathology
It is important to understand that an eye swollen with blood and bleeding from the conjunctival cavity are completely different phenomena, of varying degrees of severity. If a small amount of bloody exudate simply flows out of the eye, then there is no particular reason to panic. But in situations where the cat's eye resembles a blood globule, it is necessary to show the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
As a rule, eye diseases accompanied by the appearance of bloody exudate are quite easy to treat. Pathologies that turn the eyeball into a bloodshot sphere almost always lead to blindness of the animal. In addition, it is necessary to contact the clinic as soon as possible if the following signs appear:
- Small red dots appeared on the surface of the eye.
- Some pets develop thin reddish stripes on their corneas.
All these signs may indicate the initial stages of a pathology called “hyphema.” If you do nothing, the dots and/or stripes will gradually merge, the eye will fill with blood, as a result of which the cat will go completely blind.
What to do at home
Keep your cat at home as quiet as possible to stop bleeding, allow the hyphema to settle in the eye, and reduce the risk of further bleeding. It may be necessary to limit your cat's physical activity for 7-10 days.
Since in some cases vision deteriorates, it is recommended not to allow the cat to go outside without supervision until complete recovery.
Do not give your cat over-the-counter human medications such as Visine or other ophthalmic medications designed to reduce eye redness or irritation, as these products are not effective for hyphema.
Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible, because some causes of hyphema are dangerous not only for the eyesight, but also for the life of the animal.
Neuroprotectors in the treatment of glaucoma
In the treatment of glaucoma, drugs that have a neuroprotective effect stand out. They help improve microcirculation in the optic nerve area and improve the nutrition of nerve cells. A number of studies have shown the high effectiveness of this group of drugs, which improve the prognosis and course of glaucoma. It is especially advisable to prescribe neuroprotectors in advanced forms of the disease and in advanced cases.
Interestingly, some antiglaucoma drops (beta blockers, prostaglandins) also have a slight neuroprotective effect.
The main groups of neuroprotectors are presented below:
1. Medicines to improve microcirculation (trental, ginkgo biloba, dicynon). 2. Drugs to improve the regeneration of nervous tissue (cinnarizine, picamelon, nootropil, fezam). 3. Substances to activate the nutrition of nerve cells (Semax, Cortexin, retinalamine, Noben, Cerebrolysin). 4. Vitamins and antioxidants (mexidol, emoxipin, aevit, ascorbic acid, vitamins B and E, lutein complex, riboxin, histochrome, mertilen forte, erisod).
Neuroprotectors should definitely be prescribed in the combined treatment of glaucoma. Drugs from different groups combine well with each other and even potentiate the effect. To select the optimal treatment regimen with neuroprotectors, you need to contact an experienced ophthalmologist.
