Animals are not people. They cannot say if they are in pain. An attentive owner will notice this from the atypical behavior of his pet. The cat becomes restless, and if the cause of her pain is external, she constantly tries to scratch or lick this place.
What if the cat has a red eye? Or both eyes? The reasons may be different. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to find out what caused the redness. We will try to help with this.
Why did my eyes turn red?
If the owner noticed that his pet had red eyes, the likelihood of developing any disease is not excluded. Why does the cat have red eyes? We will find out now.
Redness can occur for the following reasons:
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian. Postpone a visit to him is not worth it. We will talk about the most common and dangerous diseases, the signs of which are red eyes in cats.
Inflammation of the eyelids
The disease is caused by fungal and bacterial infections. The main signs of inflammation of the eyelids or blepharitis:
The eyelids are swollen, inflamed.
Over time, baldness of the eyelids begins to occur.
The pet rubs his eyes all the time, itch bothers him.
Eyes "cry." Discharges are purulent or mucous. The cat has a red eye or both. Most often, both eyes turn red.
Strabismus may occur.
The pet often blinks.
How to help your pet? Do not hesitate to visit a veterinarian. It is possible that surgery will be required. It is carried out in severe cases of the disease. The rest prescribe antibiotics, ointments, antifungal drugs.
Conjunctivitis
This is an inflammation of the protective membrane of the eye (conjunctiva). If the cat has a red eye and festering, sticks together and tears, he could become infected with conjunctivitis.
The disease is of two types: caused by a bacterial infection and a viral one. In the first case, the disease develops very quickly, in the second - rather slowly.
It is important to consider that not always with conjunctivitis, the eyes fester. In this case, the cat’s eye is red. Or both eyes. Colorless mucous liquid follows from them. And these secretions "inhibit" the rapid recognition of the disease. This is a viral form of the disease.
If the pet has caught bacterial conjunctivitis, then there may be no redness of the eyes. But purulent discharge is a prerequisite for the development of the disease.
How to treat the disease? Firstly, only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis. He will prescribe antibacterial or antiviral drugs that are necessary for treatment.
Glaucoma
The cat has a red eye and tears. Or both eyes blush rapidly, the animal ceases to respond to light, the eyes constantly “cry”. What to do to the owner? Take a close look at the symptoms first. If the owner of a sick pet has noticed the following symptoms, then do not hesitate to visit a veterinarian:
Loss of orientation in space.
The eyes of the pet are red.
Constantly there is a separation of tears from the eyes.
Eyeball swollen.
The cat is not able to completely close her eyes due to the fact that the eyelids are swollen.
The pupil is dilated.
The pet does not react to light, or, conversely, photophobia occurs.
The cornea becomes cloudy.
These are pronounced signs of glaucoma. The animal experiences very severe pain. And only a veterinarian can ease it. If only because it will give an anesthetic injection. And it is urgent to start looking for the cause of the disease. After it is found, the disease is eliminated quickly enough.
How to alleviate the suffering of a pet? Alas, you can hardly do it yourself. Here you need the help of a veterinarian. And the faster, the better.
Lower eyelid inversion
Does the cat have a red eye or both eyes? Are they watery? Does the animal rub it with its paws and sometimes screams in pain? All these are signs of entropion. That is, an inversion of the lower eyelid. Eyelashes scratch the ocular membrane, causing severe pain to the pet.
In this case, you can’t delay. The more you pull with a visit to the veterinarian, the more your pet’s eye will hurt. And only a veterinarian can help in this case.
Eye injury
If a foreign body is caught, the cat’s eye is red; the animal does not allow it to touch it due to severe pain. Two options are possible here:
Remove the stimulus on its own if it is on the surface, and the owner sees it.
Go to the veterinary clinic if the item is inside the eye or for some reason the owner of the cat cannot remove it when it is on the surface of the organ.
Allergic reaction
The owner found red spots in the cat’s eye. With what it can be connected? One option is allergy. Analyze what might have caused it. Have you changed feed? Did the cat eat something from the table? Tried a new cat weed? If the owner of the animal gave a positive answer to one of these questions, then you will have to take the following steps:
Return to the usual cat diet.
Carefully monitor the animal so that it does not climb on the tables.
Remove everything edible from the table.
Return to the previous grass grade for cats.
As a rule, an allergy goes away on its own after the pet has returned to the comfort zone.
If none of the above was present, and red spots formed on their own, it is advisable to go to a veterinary clinic to accurately diagnose and remove the cause of redness in the eyes.
Lichen
They took the pet to the country. Upon returning, the owner saw a red spot above the eye of the cat. Spot and spot, did not attach importance to this. It will pass by itself. And the spot began to grow. More precisely, they will spread along the face of the animal. Yes, and the wool fell on this place. The owner anointed with green - does not help.
And it will not help, because it is very similar to lichen. And only competent prescribing and diagnosis can help. Lichen is detected using a Wood lamp or by taking material from the affected area of ​​the skin for further research.
In the event that the diagnosis is confirmed, the cat will be prescribed antifungal ointments. Treatment can be carried out at home, lubricating the affected areas. Just remember that lichen is a contagious thing. The pet is protected from other pets. And it is advisable to keep away from households.
Lichen is treated for about 3 weeks. Its processing is carried out in disposable medical gloves. Gloves are disposed of immediately.
First aid for eye disease
We found out what can be hidden behind the red eye of a cat. Now let's talk about how to help your pet in the initial stages of the disease.
With conjunctivitis, the eyes are washed with a strong brewing of black tea. Or herbs like sage, chamomile and calendula.
Wipe the eyes several times a day (4 to 6). Each time a new cotton swab is used. It is wetted in solution and without pressing the eye very hard, it is carried out from its outer corner to the nose of the animal.
In no case should you bury the tea leaves and infusions of herbs in the eye. This will not only not help, but will aggravate the situation.
Prevention
A disease is easier to prevent than to treat it. It would seem such a hackneyed phrase. But how accurate is it. Instead of spending large amounts on pet treatment, follow these guidelines for preventing eye diseases:
All secretions are cleaned daily with a wet cotton swab. It can be moistened both in water and in chamomile infusion, for example.
If the pet’s “tear paths” appear, then they are removed with a cotton swab, preventing drying near the eyes.
Had to bathe a cat? Be careful not to get the shampoo in your eyes. Otherwise, a chemical burn is possible.
If the cat has long hair, it is necessary to ensure that it does not get into the eyes. Some owners cut their hair over their eyes.
Conclusion
Now the reader knows why cats eyes turn red. What diseases can the cat have behind the red eye, what to do, how to treat them, and most importantly - how to prevent the occurrence.