A cat, a cat, a kitten has watery eyes: why and what to do

Inflammatory eye diseases
develop as a result of a specific reaction of the body to damage or the introduction of a foreign agent, and constitute the main part of all ophthalmological pathology. If left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious complications: clouding of the cornea, decreased vision, and spread of the process to adjacent tissues and organs.

The inflammatory process can occur in any part of the eyeball: cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, iris, choroid. Most often in the practice of an ophthalmologist, pathology of the anterior part of the eye occurs.

Conjunctivitis

The conjunctiva is the outer membrane covering the eyeball and eyelids, which is the first to come into contact with harmful environmental influences. Therefore, conjunctivitis accounts for 60% of all inflammatory diseases.

According to the course, acute and chronic variants of the disease are distinguished. Main symptoms of eye diseases

in the acute stage: redness of the conjunctiva, intense lacrimation, a feeling of “sand in the eyes,” intolerance to bright light, pain and burning. In the chronic form, bilateral inflammation always develops.

Keratitis

This disease occurs when the cornea (the transparent membrane at the front of the eye) is damaged. A distinctive feature of the pathology is a sharp decrease in the size of the palpebral fissure up to complete closure of the eyelids, which occurs due to irritation of nerve receptors. Other signs: increased sensitivity to light, lacrimation, intense pain, foreign body sensation. With a long course of the disease, ulceration of the cornea is observed.

Barley (hordeolum)

The disease is an acute inflammation of the sebaceous gland or hair follicle of the eyelid. The pathology has a characteristic clinical picture: first there is swelling and redness of the eyelid area, which may be accompanied by itching, burning, and a sensation of a foreign body. After a few days, the swelling thickens and a yellow dot appears in its center, which indicates the maturation of the abscess. Then the barley is opened with the release of pus. In severe cases of the disease, an extensive abscess forms with a tendency to spread to surrounding tissues.

Blepharitis

This eye disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the edges of the eyelids of various etiologies. Local symptoms of the pathology: hyperemia and swelling of the eyelids, pain and burning in the eyeball, decreased clarity of vision. There may also be mucous or purulent discharge, which leads to sticking of the eyelids and the inability to open the eyes. With scaly blepharitis, intense fine-plate peeling of the skin of the eyelid is noted. With ulcerative blepharitis, superficial skin defects are formed, accompanied by inflammation of the hair follicles of the eyelashes.

Uveitis

Depending on the location of the lesion, anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis) and posterior uveitis (chorioretinitis) are distinguished. With iridocyclitis, pain and burning, intense lacrimation, redness, and decreased visual acuity are noted. Chorioretinitis is characterized by scant clinical symptoms. The disease occurs in a chronic form, the first signs are dull pain inside the eyeball, “fog” before the eyes, distortion of the shape of surrounding objects. Without treatment, the disease can result in complete loss of vision.

Causes

The factors leading to teary eyes are varied. There are situations when it is a physiological norm.

Tears in a cat are a normal reaction of the body if:

• no swelling;
• the pupil reacts normally to light;
• the color of the discharge is transparent, without shades or impurities of pus;
• no signs of foreign objects;
• the shell has not changed color;
• the animal does not experience discomfort.

In addition, some breeds have a predisposition due to anatomical features. For example, the tear duct in the Scottish and British breeds is too short, while in the Persian it is curved. Kittens are genetically predisposed to tearfulness.

In these cases, it is enough to wipe the eyes with a sterile napkin and periodically rinse them with chamomile decoction; no additional procedures are required without changing the transparency of the tears.

Also normal is morning whitish discharge in the corners of the eyes, which is the result of the cleansing work of the lacrimal glands. The cat independently removes accumulated crusts from the eyes, but if this does not happen, the owner can help the pet with a napkin or swab soaked in saline solution or regular clean warm water.

In kittens that are just opening their eyes, increased tear production is a reaction to a physiological change that protects their delicate eyes. If the tears are transparent and not viscous, there is no reason to worry. They last no more than one week.

Why is the kitten crying?

It is natural for a kitten to shed tears when its eyes open and adapt to the bright light. But their number is small, and the mother cat often licks the kittens and the owners rarely notice it. Babies need to be examined carefully. Excessive lacrimation may also indicate helminth infection. Kittens up to 2 months old can receive anthelmintic therapy only after examination and as prescribed by a veterinarian, who will calculate the dosage of the drug.

Tears in a kitten separated from a cat early may indicate a weakened immune system. If he has difficulty opening his eyes, wipe them with a damp cotton swab and contact your veterinarian. He will give nutritional advice and prescribe a vitamin complex to strengthen the immune system.

Pathologies

Any change in the animal's condition requires urgent contact with a veterinarian. The owner should be wary if:

• dullness and change in eye color;
• unnatural reaction of the pupil to light;
• change in the shape of the eyeball;
• the occurrence of edema;
• change in color or viscosity of the secretion,
• the appearance of purulent discharge;
• increased body temperature;
• presence of foreign bodies;
• change in color of the mucous membrane;
• runny nose;
• blood;
• strange behavior of the animal (tongue sticking out, rapid breathing, rubbing eyes).

Read the article about eye diseases in cats.

Infectious diseases, worms

It is necessary to understand why tears flow from a cat’s eyes in order to exclude infection with helminths and infectious diseases, which not only can lead to the death of the animal, but also pose a danger to humans. Excessive lacrimation is observed with chlamydia, calcivirosis, rhinotracheid, which a person can become infected with from a sick animal.

Severely watery eyes and drooling are also observed when infected with rabies - an incurable disease transmitted from a sick animal to a person through a bite, saliva, or tear fluid getting into wounds, microcracks in the skin. To prevent infection with rabies, vaccinate your cat against rabies and other infectious diseases, and give anthelmintic drugs twice a year.

Symptoms

If a pathological cause is obvious, all manifestations of the disease should be observed to give the doctor as complete a history as possible to ensure the best decision.

Common cat diseases manifest themselves as follows:

Types of allergic rhinitis

There are two types of allergic rhinitis: chronic (year-round) and seasonal. The first appears all year round, since the allergens that cause it are always present in a person’s life. And the second is associated with the seasonal flowering of plants and the appearance of spores of some fungi (Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria).

A characteristic sign of seasonal rhinitis is an increase in symptoms when certain plants appear outside during flowering, using cosmetics and medications containing extracts of plants to which a person is allergic, deterioration in health when coming into contact with rotten grass, and so on.

With persistent rhinitis, sensitivity to allergens of dust mites, animals, birds, insect allergens (from insects), food allergens, mold fungi and chemical elements (platinum salts, chromium compounds, nickel compounds, epoxy resins, etc.) increases.

What to do if your cat's eyes are watery

After the symptoms have been recorded and the first auxiliary measures have been taken, it is necessary to take the cat to the doctor.

First of all, you should tell your veterinarian about:

• age;
• behavior change;
• change in food preferences or lack of appetite;
• reactions to light;
• injuries;
• color of discharge;
• body temperature;
• timing of the last vaccination and treatment against parasites;
• change of environment for the cat.

Self-medication is dangerous and always leads to negative consequences for the animal’s health. Under no circumstances should you:

• use potassium permanganate for rinsing;
• giving an animal human medications without a veterinarian's prescription;
• take antibiotics without consulting a doctor;

The best solution before visiting the veterinarian is to rest the animal. The cat should eat a lot, drink water and stay warm.

If you haven’t had anthelmintic treatment for a long time, now is the time to do it.

Your pet should not freeze or go hungry.

How to treat allergic rhinitis

Three main methods are used to treat the disease:

• non-medicinal (removal of allergens),
• medicinal (using various drugs),
• surgical.

The first two methods are discussed in detail in the previous paragraph, and now we will talk about the third.

Surgical intervention is performed in three cases: when non-drug and drug treatment methods do not help, when correction of structural disorders of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is needed, when pathologies appear (purulent or polypous sinusitis, etc.). This method is distinguished by its accuracy, the ability to penetrate any part of the nose and sinuses where surgery is necessary, functionality and efficiency. If the operation is performed in a timely manner, recovery and return to a full life occurs quickly and without serious complications.

Important: operations are performed with complete exclusion of contact with the allergen. The procedure is not carried out during flowering or other active exposure to allergens.).

After surgery, scars, osteomyelitis, empty nose syndrome, facial pain, bleeding, and atrophic rhinitis may occur.

In addition to surgical intervention, laser coagulation (cauterization) of the nasal turbinates is also performed (submucosal, targeted, selective ablation of hypertrophied areas).

Among the most effective drugs for the treatment of sinusitis symptoms are
Sialor Rhino based on silver ions. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and prevents the proliferation of bacteria. Thanks to the mild action of the drug, the balance of microflora is maintained and favorable conditions are created for the regeneration of the nasal mucosa.

Treatment

Self-medication is dangerous for your cat's health. The wrong medications can undermine it even further by attacking the microflora of the intestines, liver and kidneys. Potassium permanganate dries out the delicate mucous membranes of the eye, leading to problems including loss of vision.

The veterinarian knows best what will help the pet. To relieve irritation, the drugs Anandin, Tsiprovet, and Iris are usually prescribed. Bars eye drops can be used as a cure for infections and as a preventative hygiene product. Albucid is often used to relieve lacrimation in a kitten, but only after a prescription from a veterinarian.

For a viral infection, the doctor will prescribe chloramphenicol or tetracycline ointment. If the cause is helminths, you need to find out from the doctor how best to carry out the treatment in this case.

A radical surgical solution is rarely prescribed, for example, if a cat has an entropion of the eyelid. However, there is no need to worry ahead of time - most often, the cause is allergies and colds. In this case, the doctor will tell you how best to carry out prevention and prescribe the vitamin supplements or anti-allergy medications needed for your pet.

Be sure to read the article about vitamin deficiency in cats, because these conditions may be related.

Prevention

You should know! You can prevent the appearance of pain and tearing in the eyes by adhering to the correct daily routine, in which sleep will be complete and timely.

When working at a computer for a long time, it is important to take short breaks every one and a half to two hours.

At the same time, there should be good lighting in the workplace, and the monitor screen should be at least 50 centimeters from the eyes.

also eye exercises during breaks

Basically, such exercises involve rotating and moving the eyes in different directions and alternately focusing on close and distant objects.

It is important to treat any infectious eye diseases in a timely manner , without waiting for the disease to progress to an acute, or even more so, to a chronic stage.

A balanced diet , in which the diet contains enough vitamins and microelements that strengthen the immune system, to prevent the development of such pathologies

Note! People with sensitive eyes should additionally protect their eyesight.

For example, when visiting public swimming pools, you must use special swimming goggles to prevent water from getting into your eyes.

If you are hypersensitive to sunlight, you need to wear sunglasses, but it is important to choose high-quality optics, since glasses with low-quality lenses can, on the contrary, aggravate the situation.

Rules for washing and instilling eye drops

If one of the points of treatment for a cat is eye drops, then it is important to know how to carry it out while causing minimal discomfort to the pet.

For this you need:

• sterile pipette or syringe;
• product (drops, ointment) at room temperature;
• clean wipes or tampons;
• food to encourage and relieve stress in cats.

It is advisable to carry out the burial with an assistant who will help hold the frightened animal. The cat must be well secured. In extreme cases, it is tied with soft cloth.

With a moistened swab, wipe the pet's eye from the outer corner to the inner, removing crusts and drops of secreted liquid. Then the eye is wiped again with a clean napkin.

Now you can start instilling: open the cat’s eyes wide with the thumb and forefinger, after which the product is quickly instilled directly under the eyelid. Excess liquid is blotted with a napkin, then the cat is rewarded for its bravery and released.

Pregnant and small pets require a special approach. Cats expecting the birth of babies are rarely prescribed medications; rinsing is done with chamomile or calendula decoctions, a tea solution, and in extreme cases, tetracycline ointment is applied. Newborn kittens with high tear production are prescribed Bars or Anandin drops.

Establishing diagnosis

Before starting treatment, it is imperative to conduct a diagnosis that will help identify the true cause of excessive lacrimation and carry out effective treatment therapy. Only a veterinarian can conduct a correct and thorough examination.

Important! Before going to the veterinarian, be sure to prepare a pet card, which should indicate all vaccinations, anthelmintic treatments, and past illnesses. It is advisable to write down symptoms of malaise and other suspicious signs on a piece of paper.

Sometimes the veterinarian may be interested in the following important questions at the appointment:

• how long the symptoms last;
• how did the first symptoms of tearing from the eyes appear and the peculiarities of the course of this condition, for example, did two eyes immediately begin to water at the same time, or vice versa, first one began, and then the other, and whether there are other additional symptoms;
• when the last procedures to eliminate helminths, fleas, ticks and other parasites were carried out.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the veterinarian will definitely take a urine and stool test. It is advisable to already have the research material with you before going to the doctor. Also, at the appointment, he will definitely take mucus from the eye for examination; for this reason, there is no need to first rinse the pet’s eyes with various solutions.

Radical ways to fight

If there is no positive effect from drug treatment, or if the cause is a tumor or cyst, surgical treatment is performed.

Surgical intervention happens:

1. Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. A device with a camera is inserted into the duct. A puncture or incision is made using an endoscope. A special valve is created, the main purpose of which is drainage. The recovery period is 7 days. In parallel, antibiotic therapy is carried out to prevent the risk of developing an inflammatory process. The main advantage is the absence of visible marks after the operation.
2. Balloon dacrycytoplasty is an intervention that, due to its safety, is performed even on newborns. A conductor with a reservoir filled with liquid is inserted into the channel. Allows you to expand the area, thereby breaking through it. The procedure is carried out under local anesthesia. During the rehabilitation period, special drops and antibacterial drugs are prescribed.

Precautionary measures

When treating cat eyes, precautions must be taken. Hands are washed with soap and water before and after the procedure. Do not eat or drink while working with medications.

If drops get on your skin, it is recommended to wash them off with running water as soon as possible. The cat is carefully restrained throughout the procedure, as it can escape and seriously injure the person holding it.

Eye drops are popular medications among cat owners. They are used both for treatment and for regular cleansing of the cat's eyes. Some medications can help cope with corneal dryness, which often affects flat-faced pets (Persians, exotics, etc.).