Cats do not often suffer from eye diseases. However, against the background of infections or after injuries, they may cause damage to the organ of vision. Such pathologies require immediate treatment. Uveitis in cats is a fairly serious inflammatory disease, which often leads to eye removal or blindness. What is this ailment? And what are its manifestations? We will consider these issues in the article.
What is uveitis?
Uveitis in cats is a group of diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the vascular tract of the eye. In this case, the eyeball is affected and the nutrition of the organ of vision deteriorates.
The vascular system of the eye (uveal tract) consists of the following elements:
- irises;
- ciliary body;
- choroid (choroid).
The inflammatory process can develop in any part of the uveal tract. In some cases, there is a lesion of all structures of the vascular system.
This disease can lead to serious consequences. In advanced cases, it can result in blindness. Each pet owner needs to know about the symptoms and treatment of uveitis in cats in order to pay attention to the dangerous signs of pathology in time.
Causes
Both external and internal factors can provoke the occurrence of inflammation in the vascular system of the eye. The organ of vision is quite sensitive to various adverse effects. Veterinary experts identify the following causes of uveitis in cats:
- Injuries. Cats eye injuries most often get in fights with their relatives, as well as when falling from a height. If an infection gets into the damaged tissue, then inflammation can develop.
- Chronic conjunctivitis. The inflammatory process can go from the mucous membrane to the uveal tract.
- Bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. Uveitis often develops as a complication of herpes, candidiasis, mycoplasmosis, rhinotracheitis.
- Chlamydia Chlamydia infection in cats is accompanied by severe runny nose and conjunctivitis. In advanced cases, the infection can spread to the choroid.
- Lens diseases. Uveitis often develops against the background of cataracts in elderly animals.
- Erosion on the cornea. Due to injuries and burns, ulcers can appear on the corneal epithelium. If an infection penetrates the wound, then uveitis occurs.
- Diseases of autoimmune etiology. With rheumatoid pathologies, immunity attacks its own tissues, including the vascular system of the eye.
- Tumors of the organ of vision. Neoplasms in the eye press on the vessels and can lead to inflammation of the uveal system.
It can be concluded that uveitis in cats most often occurs against a background of serious illnesses. If the animal suffers from serious pathologies, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the eyes of the pet.
Pathology classification
Symptoms and treatment of uveitis in cats depend on the form of the disease. As already mentioned, inflammation can spread to different structures of the uveal tract. In this regard, veterinarians distinguish the following types of pathology:
- front uveitis;
- posterior uveitis;
- panuveitis.
Front uveitis is divided into the following types:
- Irit. This is an inflammation of the iris of the organ of vision.
- Cyclite. With this form of the disease, the inflammatory process affects the ciliary body.
- Iridocyclitis. A combined lesion of the iris and ciliary body is noted.
Veterinarians also distinguish various forms of posterior uveitis:
- Choroiditis. Inflammation extends only to the choroid.
- Chorioretinitis. Diagnosed with damage to the retina and choroid.
The most severe type of pathology is panuveitis. With this form of the disease, all parts of the uveal tract become inflamed.
Symptomatology
The clinical picture largely depends on the localization of inflammation. However, common symptoms of uveitis in cats can be highlighted:
- redness of the sclera;
- frequent discharge of tears;
- soreness in the eyes;
- fear of bright light;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- the appearance of blood clots in the organ of vision;
- narrowing and changing the shape of the pupils;
- lack of reaction of the pupil to light stimuli;
- lethargy, apathy, signs of general malaise.
With anterior uveitis, a pink corolla can be seen around the iris. The animal's vision deteriorates, exudate accumulates on the eyeballs. The pupil stops responding to light. The cat constantly squints and shakes its head because of photophobia and pain in the eyes. Often a pet changes the color of the iris of a sick eye. Blotches of light color can be seen on the cornea.
With posterior uveitis, visual impairment is often observed. It is quite difficult to diagnose this form of the disease on your own. Choroiditis and chorioretinitis can only be identified by an ophthalmologist. In sick cats, edema and redness of the fundus, as well as a change in the shape of the iris, are noted.
Panuweitis combines signs of damage to the iris and retina with symptoms of choroid inflammation. This form of pathology has the most unfavorable prognosis.
Possible complications
When symptoms of uveitis occur in cats, the veterinarian must be shown to the pet as soon as possible. If you delay with treatment, then inflammation of the vascular tract can lead to the following complications:
- retinal detachment;
- glaucoma
- cataract
- eversion of the century (ectropion);
- dislocation of the lens.
In advanced cases, the inflammatory process extends to deeper structures of the organ of vision, which eventually leads to blindness.
Diagnostics
An experienced veterinarian may suspect uveitis in the animal during the examination. This disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms: blotches on the cornea, severe redness of the sclera, swelling of the eyelids. To clarify the diagnosis, the following examinations are prescribed:
- fundus examination;
- Ultrasound eyes;
- measurement of intraocular pressure;
- study of discharge from the eyes for bacterial seeding and cytology.
It is very important to determine the cause of uveitis. For this purpose, a serological blood test is prescribed for antibodies to microorganisms.
Drug treatment
In most cases, uveitis is subject to conservative treatment. If it was possible to determine the cause of inflammation of the vascular tract of the eye, it is necessary to treat the underlying pathology.
To prevent the spread of inflammation to other tissues, corticosteroid hormones are prescribed:
- "Triamcinolone";
- Diprospan;
- "Methylprednisolone".
These drugs are injected under the mucous membrane of the eye. Injections should not be given if there are sores on the cornea.
For local treatment, anti-inflammatory eye drops and ointments will be used:
- Diclofenac
- Ibuprofen
- Ketarolac;
- Suprofen.
The use of drops to dilate the pupil (mydriatics) based on atropine and adrenaline is also shown. They are prescribed in short courses. You should not get carried away with such drugs, as they have many side effects.
With uveitis, antibiotic therapy is mandatory. Antibacterial agents are given to the animal in the form of tablets or administered intramuscularly.
It is important to remember that in no case should you independently treat the animal for uveitis. This is a rather complicated disease that cannot be eliminated with home remedies.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of uveitis in cats is very rare. During surgery, the animal is completely removed from the eye. Such an intervention is indicated in advanced cases, as well as with inflammation that occurs against the background of eye cancer.
This operation requires a long rehabilitation period and careful care of the animal. The cat is gradually accustomed to see with one eye and returns to its former active life.
Forecast
The prognosis of uveitis is favorable with timely treatment. In this case, it is possible to relieve inflammation and maintain normal vision. Be sure to conduct therapy for the underlying disease, otherwise relapse of uveitis is possible.
Often, inflammation of the vascular tract becomes chronic. In this case, the cat needs lifelong medication.
If the cause of uveitis was a malignant eye tumor, then the prognosis of the disease is complicated. It is far from always possible to preserve the organ of vision. Most often you have to do an eye removal operation.
Prevention
How to prevent the occurrence of uveitis? Most often, this disease develops against the background of other pathologies. Veterinarians advise you to follow these recommendations:
- Protect the cat's organ of vision from injuries and burns.
- Avoid independent walking of the animal. Cats often get eye injuries while on the street.
- In time to cure infectious pathologies in animals.
- Pets suffering from chronic eye diseases and autoimmune disorders should be monitored by a doctor.
- Regularly undergo preventive examinations by a veterinarian-ophthalmologist.
These measures will help prevent inflammation of the vascular tract of the eye and avoid severe visual impairment.