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Cat's Eye Swelling: Diagnosis and Concerns

Dec 04,2024 | puaintapets

If you’ve noticed your cat’s eye is swollen, it can be concerning for any pet owner. Swelling around the eye can occur due to several different causes, some of which are relatively mild and others that may require immediate veterinary attention. Understanding the underlying reasons for your cat's eye swelling is crucial to providing the best care.

swollen eyes in cats

Why Is My Cat's Eye Swollen? 

Swollen eyes in cats can be caused by a variety of reasons, here are some common conditions.

1. Eye infection

Bacterial infections: bacterial infections such as staphylococcus and streptococcus can cause conjunctivitis and keratitis, leading to symptoms such as redness and swelling of the eyes and increased discharge.
Viral infections: Infections such as herpes virus and cupripox virus also often cause eye inflammation and swelling, and viral infections can lead to recurring conditions.
Fungal infections: Less common, but can also cause eye infections that result in swollen eyes.

2. Eye trauma

Injuries such as bumps and scratches that may be sustained when cats play or fight, or foreign objects (e.g., sand, hair, etc.) that get into the eyes, can cause eye swelling and discomfort.

3. Allergic reaction

Cats may have allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g., certain cat food ingredients), medications, and substances in the environment (e.g., pollen, dust mites, etc.), resulting in symptoms such as swollen and watery eyes.

Also Read: Why Is My Cat's Eye Watering 

4. Other factors

  • Dietary problems

If the cat eats cat food and food with high oil and salt content, or eats too much human food, which is easy to catch fire, red and swollen eyes and increased secretion may occur.

  • Excessive hair around the eyes

Excessive hair around the eyes may irritate the eyes, or the cat has inverted eyelashes, which may also cause eye discomfort, redness and swelling.

  • Unhygienic environment

Raised dust and bacteria in the environment may lead to inflammation in the cat's eyes, causing swollen eyes.

  • Abnormal eye structure

Eye structure abnormalities such as inverted eyelids, double rows of eyelashes, ectopic eyelashes, etc., which irritate the cornea and conjunctiva for a long time, can lead to severe conjunctivitis, redness and swelling of the eyes.

  • Ear mites

If the cat has ear mites, ear inflammation may cause the cat to weep, and in turn, redness and swelling around the eyes may occur.

  • Systemic diseases

Systemic diseases such as feline distemper may trigger inflammation in the body, and redness and swelling of the eyes may be one of the complications.

What to do about Swollen Eyes in Cats?

Swollen eyes in cats need to be treated according to the specific cause. The following are some common treatment measures.

I. Emergency treatment

  • Clean the eyes

If the eye is swollen due to foreign body irritation, such as sand, hair, etc. into the eye, you can use saline to flush the cat's eyes to remove the foreign body.

If there is a lot of secretion in the eyes, you can also use saline or pet-specific eyewash to clean the eyes, wash the nose first, then wash the eyes.

  • Use eye drops
Eye Drops for Dog Allergies and Cats Conjunctivitis

Eye Drops for Dog Allergies and Cats Conjunctivitis

For the treatment of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs, neomycin eye drops for dogs and cats can reduce the harmful effects of conjunctivitis, and early use of the medicine can control the development of the disease and reduce eye congestion and photophobia, and other uncomfortable manifestations.

View Product

For common inflammation, you can put chloramphenicol eye drops, and you can usually see significant improvement after one day.

If it is conjunctivitis, you can use State Fun eye drops, 1 - 2 drops 2 - 3 times a day, directly into the inflamed eye.

II. Treatments for Different Causes

  • Eye infections

Bacterial infections: you can use antibacterial eye drops or eye ointment such as tobramycin eye drops, chloramphenicol eye drops, Pfizer eye ointment, Sugo Jet Therapy eye ointment.

Viral infections: such as herpes virus and cupripovirus infections, which require the use of antiviral medications such as acyclovir eye drops and cyclosporine eye drops.

Fungal infections: less common, require the use of antifungal drugs, specific drugs need to be determined according to the type of fungus, usually need to be used after professional diagnosis in the pet hospital.

  • Eye trauma

If it is a trauma such as impact, scratch, etc., you need to take your cat to the pet hospital for wound treatment, and the doctor may clean the wound and give anti-inflammatory drugs.

If a foreign body enters the eye, in addition to flushing, you need to check whether there is any residue, and if necessary, have it removed by a professional in the hospital.

  • Allergic reaction

First of all, keep the cat away from allergens, then depending on the severity of the allergy symptoms, anti-allergy medication may be required, and the specific medication should be used under the guidance of the veterinarian.

  • Other factors

Dietary problems: Adjust the cat's diet, choose ecological food with low oil and salt content, food should be light and let the cat drink more water.
Excessive hair around the eyes: Trim the hair around the cat's eyes regularly, and if there are inverted eyelashes, tweezers may be needed to remove them or surgical treatment.
Unhygienic environment: Keep the indoor environment hygienic and clean the cat's eyes regularly.
Abnormal eye structure: such as eyelid inversion, double rows of eyelashes, ectopic eyelashes, etc. Surgery is usually required.
Ear mites: Pay attention to the cat's ear hygiene and treat ear mites to prevent redness and swelling of the eyes caused by ear mites.

Also Read: Cat Ear Mites vs. Wax: Understanding the Differences and How to Manage Them

III. Precautions

During the treatment period, the cat should wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from scratching its eyes and causing secondary infection.
If the cat's swollen eyes do not improve within 24 - 48 hours or are accompanied by other serious symptoms, such as loss of vision, large amount of purulent discharge, fever, etc., the cat should be taken to the veterinarian immediately to determine the exact cause and provide targeted treatment.

swollen eyes in cats

What to Do if Cat's Eye is Swollen from Injury?

Cats with swollen eyes from injuries need to be treated differently depending on the situation. Here are some suggestions.

1. Initial treatment

  • Clean the wound: use saline or pet-specific eyewash to gently rinse the eye and remove dust, foreign objects, etc. to prevent infection.
  • Avoid scratching: Put an Elizabethan ring on the cat to prevent it from scratching the eyes with its claws, causing secondary injury.

2. Medication

  • Eye drops: Choose appropriate eye drops according to the cause of injury, such as antibiotic eye drops (ofloxacin, tobramycin, etc.), antiviral eye drops or eye ointment to reduce inflammation and infection.
  • Oral medication: If the inflammation is severe, oral or injectable antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed.

3. Observation and care

  • Observation of symptoms: Pay close attention to the condition of the cat's eyes, including whether there is any discharge, changes in vision, whether the eyeballs are damaged, etc.
  • Environmental cleanliness: keep the living environment clean to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, which will help the eyes to recover.
  • Isolation: If there are multiple cats at home, the sick cat needs to be isolated to prevent the spread of the disease.

4. Professional treatment

  • Timely medical treatment: If the cat's eyes are seriously injured, such as damaged eyeballs, massive bleeding, loss of vision, etc., it should be taken to the pet hospital immediately for examination and treatment.
  • Surgical treatment: In some cases, such as severe damage to the eyeball, surgery may be required, such as eyeball removal.

5. Preventive measures

  • Trimming hair: Trim the hair around the eyes to avoid hair irritation.
  • Avoid dangerous environments: Reduce the cat's exposure to environments and objects that may cause eye injuries, such as sharp objects and chemicals.
  • Regular checkups: Take your cat to the pet hospital for regular eye checkups to detect and deal with potential problems early.

In the process of handling your cat's eye injuries, make sure to operate carefully to avoid further damage to your cat. If you are unsure how to handle the situation, it is recommended that you consult your veterinarian or take your cat to the pet hospital in time.

How to Apply Hot Compresses to Relieve Swollen Eyes in Cats?

Hot compresses are a common method of relieving swollen eyes in cats, and by providing a warm stimulus, they can increase blood circulation and soothe tired and swollen eyes. Here are some effective hot compresses.

Wet heat compress: moisten a clean towel in warm water, then gently wring it out and cover the closed eyelids, alternating hot towels, cold and then hot, 3 to 4 times a day.

Dry hot compress method: use a hot water bag or a bottle that can withstand high temperatures, fill it with hot water, wrap it with gauze or a clean towel on the outside, and place it on the eye that needs a hot compress. Apply hot compresses for about 15 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day.

Eye mask hot compress method: use a special hot compress eye mask, open the package, the eye mask and air contact will slowly generate heat and steam, and will control the temperature at about 40 °, can be long-lasting, gentle nourishing eyes.

When applying a hot compress, you need to pay attention to the following points:

  1. The temperature of the hot compress should be moderate so as not to cause burns to the eye tissues. Generally, a warm hot compress item, such as a warm washcloth, warm water bag or hot eye mask, kept around the eyes for about 10-15 minutes is sufficient.
  2. If eye swelling does not resolve or symptoms worsen, it is recommended that you seek medical attention to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment.
  3. It should be noted that although hot compresses can relieve eye swelling, if the symptoms of swollen eyes do not improve within 24-48 hours or are accompanied by other serious symptoms, such as loss of vision, large amounts of purulent discharge, fever, etc., the cat should be taken to the veterinarian immediately to determine the exact cause and receive targeted treatment.

When to Seek Veterinary Care

If the eye is mildly red and swollen, it may be mild inflammation or irritation and can be observed with home care first. However, if the redness is so severe that the entire eye cannot be opened or the eyeball is visibly protruding, this condition requires medical attention as soon as possible.

Under normal circumstances, the cat's eyes may have a small amount of clear or light white discharge. If the discharge increases and becomes yellow, green or purulent in color, this may be a sign of infection and requires medical attention.

Observe your cat's behavior. If it shows signs of reduced vision, such as bumping into things frequently and slow reaction to the surroundings, this may be damage to the internal structure of the eye and requires professional examination.

If the cat shows respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and coughing in addition to swollen eyes, or systemic symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite and depression, this may be a sign of a systemic disease and requires medical attention.

swollen eyes in cats

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, a swollen eye in a cat can have multiple causes, ranging from relatively minor allergies to more serious infections or injuries. By being aware of the possible reasons and monitoring our cats closely, we can ensure that they receive prompt veterinary care when needed, protecting their precious eyesight and overall well - being.

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