It's no secret that cats have good vision, especially in the dark. But, alas, tragedies happen in the lives of some pets - they go blind. There may be several reasons:
- abnormal intrauterine development of the kitten or birth trauma;
- mechanical damage;
- age-related changes;
- complications after advanced eye infections.
The latter serves as another reminder that in case of any inflammatory process that affects the cat’s visual organs, it should definitely be shown to a veterinarian. Indeed, in some cases, vision can be restored or its complete loss can be prevented.
However, if this has already happened, if you decide to adopt a kitten that is blind from birth, or if blindness gradually occurs due to the animal’s advanced age, do not despair. The main task of the owner in this case is to provide his pet with complete comfort.
Instead of vision, the animal's main sources of information will be smell, hearing and touch. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on them.
What are hallucinations, what are they?
Hallucinations are images that appear in a person’s consciousness. Most often these are symptoms of a psychological illness. A person may also experience auditory hallucinations. Healthy people can also experience hallucinations, but as a result of severe overwork of the body. If this condition is not uncommon for you, then you should think about treatment.
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A little later, the cat dared to independently explore the room
Within a week the cat got used to it. The very next day he began to climb onto the sofa and bed. At the same time, it is easier for a blind cat to climb up than to go down. In the first case, he can feel with his paws and assess the situation, but when jumping down, this will not work. At first, pillows were placed everywhere for him to create a semblance of a step. Vibrissae help the cat navigate. And in general, Vladimir notes that cats rely more on hearing and smell.
Symptoms and signs of hallucinations
To explain it in simple terms, hallucinations arise as a result of a malfunction of any system responsible for the perception of the surrounding world. So the patient may seem to have some visual objects or his auditory perception may be distorted. A psychiatrist diagnoses hallucinations.
Most often, at the initial stage, such hallucinations occur with the eyes closed, when a person goes to sleep. This is preceded by frequent abuse of alcohol or drugs.
Hallucinations can be true or false. The difference is this: true hallucinations - a person is confident in their reality, and does not question the fact that they do not exist in reality, and this is the result of a failure in his perception system. The patient sees such phenomena in the world around him.
False hallucinations arise in a person’s head. For example, a patient hears voices in his head; he may believe that someone is communicating with him mentally and influencing his condition and decisions. Such conditions accompany schizophrenia.
How does the sense of smell compensate for the lack of vision?
Another analyzer that plays an important role as a compensator for lack of vision is the sense of smell. With its help, the cat will navigate where the food is and where its tray is. Therefore, the first few times you will need to take the kitten to the tray yourself and not immediately remove it. The smell will allow the baby to navigate where to go next time.
As for old cats that were trained to use the toilet while they were still sighted, they rarely have problems finding it. After all, they have walked a familiar route many times, and are able to reach it (or, say, their bowl) without thinking. In this case, it is not recommended to change the location of important objects for the cat: toilet, water container, food bowl, favorite resting place (house, chair, etc.)
Types of hallucinations
To understand what to work with, hallucinations must be classified into certain types.
It must also be said that all hallucinations are divided into 2 types.
- True hallucinations - a person perceives false objects in the world around him and believes that they are part of reality.
- False - a distortion of reality occurs in the patient’s head. imply
Hallucinations can be simple or complex. Those. the malfunction may affect one or more sensory organs. And the more organs that are affected by hallucinations, the more difficult the treatment becomes.
Visual hallucinations
As a result, false images of objects, people, living beings, and various objects appear in the human mind, but the patient perceives them as part of reality. In addition, a person sees a certain sequence of actions (as if some plots of a film) and can take an active part in them. This happens after an overdose of alcohol, drugs, or taking serious medications incorrectly. Such visions haunt a person.
Auditory hallucinations
A person hears voices, various sounds, hears his name or being told to do something, but only he hears it; in reality, it does not exist. Auditory hallucinations are detected in acute mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.
Sometimes they can be caused by an overdose of various substances, similar to visual ones.
Olfactory hallucinations
They are the least common. A person smells non-existent odors. Occurs after brain injury or schizophrenia. They may also appear after the passage of an infectious disease.
Taste hallucinations
The patient experiences sharp and unpleasant sensations in the oral area, resulting in a refusal of any food.
Tactile hallucinations
A person feels the presence of an object (creature) on the body that does not exist; there may also be a sensation of the object moving around the body. In this case, a feeling of sharp heat or cold occurs. The patient experiences unpleasant tactile sensations on the body. Severe pain or scratching.
Hypnagogic hallucinations
They appear when a person (and most often a healthy one) falls asleep. Awareness appears in the form of masks, plant monsters and any other physical objects. Such hallucinations are a harbinger of an imminent mental disorder and a reason to consult a specialist, or call a psychiatrist at home.
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COST OF TREATMENT
Causes of vision loss
Slow
Cat's eyes have a complex structure, so if the structure of the organ is damaged for some reason, the eye loses its functionality, which, if not treated in a timely manner, inevitably leads to a partial or complete loss of the ability to see.
With some types of diseases, the animal becomes blind slowly, gradually getting used to and adapting to this condition. Gradual blindness in a pet can develop against the background of such dangerous pathologies:
- Malignant neoplasms in the eye or brain tissue. With this disease, the eyeball may increase in size or move to the side. In addition, the cat has other pathological symptoms: disorientation in space, weakness, drowsiness, weight loss.
- Glaucoma. This is a dangerous pathology in which the animal’s intracranial pressure increases. The cat suffers from chronic headaches and is constantly irritated. As the disease progresses, the field of vision narrows significantly; if the disease is not identified and treated in a timely manner, the animal becomes completely blind.
- Cataract. With this disease, clouding of the lens is observed. Cataracts often develop against the background of diabetes mellitus and helminthic infestation, in particular, when infected with chlamydia.
- Elderly age. An old cat, even if he lives in good conditions, with age ceases to clearly and clearly see objects located in the house. The cat's pupil stops reacting normally to a light stimulus, and the field of vision narrows.
Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency in a pet can lead to gradual loss of vision.
Other reasons:
- poor nutrition;
- avitaminosis;
- inflammatory diseases of the cornea;
- congenital anomalies of the development of organs of the visual system.
Sudden loss
If a cat suddenly becomes blind in one or both eyes, it is first of all important to rule out injury to the organ of vision, as well as a concussion. Optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve, can also negatively affect an animal's ability to see normally. At the initial stage, the signs are not pronounced, but as it progresses, the animal can no longer live a full life because it does not see as well as before.
Another cause of sudden loss of visual function is arterial hypertension. If blood pressure rises sharply, small vessels in the cat's eye become damaged. Excessive hemorrhages appear in the area of the iris or on the whites, which often leads to retinal detachment and a sharp loss of the ability to see the outside world. Other characteristic signs of hypertension: mydriasis, corneal edema, lacrimation, nausea and vomiting.
It is rare, but it still happens that an eyeless kitten is born, which, due to a congenital anomaly in the development of the visual system, is completely missing eyes. Blind kittens, in addition to the fact that they do not see anything, are no different in growth and development from their sighted relatives. There are cases where a blind pet had free access to the street and successfully hunted using only hearing and smell.
Causes of hallucinations
Let's figure out why hallucinations can occur. Medical experts identify the following reasons:
Excessive and systematic consumption of alcohol. Drug use. Use and overdose of psychostimulants. Schizophrenia. Brain damage. The influence of psychosis. Syphilis. Age. As a result of the aging of the body, changes occur that entail a failure of the sensory organs. Frequent stress, pessimism, anxiety. Hallucinogenic mushrooms. Neoplasms of the brain. Infection of the body. Epileptic syndrome. Heart disease. Atherosclerosis. Prolonged insomnia.
Causes of hallucinations in older people
In older people, the development of hallucinations may occur due to age. This is the result of age-related changes in the organs of perception. Such people are characterized not only by auditory hallucinations, but also by visual and gustatory ones. Elderly people with this disease begin to complain about strange odors in the room, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, etc.
Diagnostics
If the owner, based on characteristic symptoms, notices that not everything is in order with the visual function of his four-legged friend, it is necessary to find out an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible and begin treatment. Therefore, you should first visit a veterinarian who will conduct an initial examination and then give a referral for a comprehensive diagnosis. The following methods will help check the condition of the visual system:
- ophthalmoscopy;
- electroretinography;
- Ultrasound of the eyeball;
- MRI of the brain;
- blood pressure measurement.
What to do if you have hallucinations?
Today, there are a huge number of methods for treating hallucinations, and different methods are aimed at eliminating different types of hallucinations. It must be said that therapy is often aimed at treating the cause of hallucinations. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to eliminate the cause of the disease. It is necessary that hallucinations or the disease that caused them be diagnosed by an experienced specialist. Do not be shy or wait for an exacerbation; you should consult a doctor immediately.
Get a consultation at the psychiatric department of the KORSAKOV clinic.
How to identify hallucinations?
Diagnostics involves determining whether there is a difference from the illusory deception that a healthy person may have. It is necessary to look at the general condition and behavior of the patient, check whether he has delusions or other mental illnesses. Analyze his facial expressions, gestures, check whether he has a feeling of anxiety, and based on the overall picture, draw a conclusion about the person’s condition. This way you can understand whether a disease exists, and if so, determine the degree.
How to deal with hallucinations?
The first step is to diagnose the cause of the hallucination and possible diseases. Next, you need to prescribe a course of appropriate treatment.
At the diagnostic stage, an anamnesis is collected, it is clarified what exactly the patient sees, hears and feels. A thorough examination of what is visible, audible, and felt is carried out, an examination is carried out and a method of treatment is selected. The method of monitoring and caring for the patient is also selected.
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How to care for a sick pet: features
Blind cats that live in an apartment or house often adapt to this situation. It is important for the owner to follow certain rules and, of course, love his pet. First of all, you should give up free range. If your cat likes to walk outside, this can only be done with a leash. It is recommended not to make drastic changes in the apartment, so as not to disorient the cat. Young blind cats love active play, so it is recommended to use toys that make sound signals. Otherwise, you need to care for such animals in the same way as healthy relatives. Don't forget to visit your doctor periodically.
Treatment of hallucinations
The method of treatment depends on what the doctor finds out at the diagnostic stage. One of the methods for eliminating the pathology itself may be chosen. If it turns out that the cause cannot be eliminated, then therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, that is, the hallucinations themselves. If the disease develops as a result of the use of any drugs, then they are canceled.
In case of poisoning with alcohol or drugs, cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract is prescribed. The patient will need rest and care.
A course of psychotherapy can help cure hallucinations. Neurometabolic therapy and restorative medicine techniques are used.
How to determine pathology?
An unsteady gait and cautious, slow movements may indicate the animal is blind.
If an old or young cat for some reason has ceased to see normally, you can understand that something is wrong with the animal by the following symptoms:
- Careful, slow movements in a familiar room.
- In an unfamiliar place, the animal tries not to move, looks closely for a long time, and bumps into objects.
- The cat refuses to jump or climb to heights.
- The gait becomes unsteady.
- The gaze is cloudy, the pupils are large, and do not respond to light stimuli.
- The cat becomes shy, fearful, and nervous.
Overcoming blindness from birth
A creature born without visual function or blinded early needs constant care. In an urban environment, it is not difficult to provide such care, especially since the kitten quickly gets used to a familiar environment.
It is important to rearrange furniture in the apartment less often. Free walking of the pet is also excluded. A tailed disabled person should exercise only with the owner guiding him with a leash.
Such a companion will follow the person always and everywhere, like a devoted dog. A blind pet's excellent hearing will allow it to instantly respond to its owner's voice. A blind animal will not refuse toys equipped with sound signals.
Signs of blindness
A cat's blind eye is often covered with a veil, or the pupil remains dilated even in bright light.
The animal will not be able to say that it sees poorly. However, a person can determine by certain signs that a cat has lost its sight:
- the animal stops moving a lot and spends more time dozing;
- walks only on the floor, jumps less or not at all;
- walks around the house carefully;
- The blind cat's whiskers are broken off. This is due to the fact that the whiskers are the main sensory organ of a blind cat. With them she feels the world, catches vibrations in the air;
- eyes do not glow in the dark;
- while moving, it crashes into objects that are not located in their usual places.
A cat that is blind in one eye may lash out in self-defense if you make sudden movements on its blind side.
