Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Seeing Your Veterinarian
• Method 2 of 4: Treating colds and conjunctivitis
• Method 3 of 4: Treating Allergies
• Method 4 of 4: Scratches, foreign objects in the eyes, and chronic discharge

Discharge from the eyes in cats is most often a symptom of a medical condition. If your cat has watery eyes, it most likely developed an infection, an allergic reaction, or scratched its eye. At the first sign of eye problems, see your veterinarian for treatment.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Seeing Your Veterinarian

1. 1 Eliminate allergies. Allergies often cause eye discharge. As with humans, cats can have an allergic reaction to certain substances, which often results in eye discharge.
   • A doctor may do an analysis to check for an allergy.
   • Cats are allergic to pollen, trees and grass, just like humans. Allergies in cats can also be caused by milk, rubber, dust, flea bites, certain foods and fabrics (wool, nylon).
2. 2 Ask your doctor about a cold. See your veterinarian before giving your cat antiviral medications to treat signs of a cold, including eye discharge. The common cold is caused by two viruses: herpes and calicivirus. In addition, three types of bacteria can cause cold symptoms: mycoplasma, bordetella, and chlamydia.
   • Even a doctor can find it difficult to determine which virus or bacteria is causing the symptoms, but a doctor can narrow the search and find the right treatment.
3. 3 Ask your doctor about conjunctivitis. If your cat has symptoms of a cold, it may have conjunctivitis. In general, conjunctivitis is treated in the same way as other infections, but taking the cat to the veterinarian is essential.
4. 4 Get ready for a dye inspection. The doctor may put a dye-containing agent in the cat's eyes to better see the cornea and diagnose the problem. The veterinarian will shine a blue light in the eyes.
   • This examination can reveal an ulcer or corneal erosion.
5. 5 Be prepared for additional treatments. Other tests may be ordered by your veterinarian. For example, a doctor may flush the tear duct to check if it is okay. The veterinarian can also measure the pressure in the eyes to rule out glaucoma. Glaucoma increases pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve.
   • The cat may also need an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan.

Method 2 of 4: Treating colds and conjunctivitis

1. 1 Pay attention to the symptoms of a cold. The common cold in cats is similar to the common cold in humans. The cat may have runny nose or eyes, and may sneeze. Also, the animal can behave inhibited. A combination of these symptoms can indicate a cold, however, these symptoms can be caused by different viruses and bacteria, so the cat should be seen by the veterinarian. Don't wait for the symptoms to go away on their own.
   • A cat cannot infect you, and you cannot infect a cat with a cold. However, cats can transmit viruses and bacteria to each other.
   • As with humans, there is no cure for viral colds in cats. Drugs can be given to the animal to relieve symptoms. There are also medications to keep the virus from returning.
   • Conjunctivitis can be a complication of a cold, especially if the cold is caused by herpes, chlamydia, or mycoplasma. With conjunctivitis, the cat will try to close its eyes, and its eyes will water. The discharge may be cloudy and may have a greenish, yellow, gray, dark or rusty tint. The cornea and pupil can also change color: the cornea can turn red and the pupil can become dull. A cat's eyes can look different.
2. 2 Try giving your cat the antiviral drug Famciclovir. This medication is prescribed by your veterinarian and is used to treat the herpes virus in cats. This drug should be used in more serious cases.
3. 3 Treat other colds with antibiotics. Bacterial infections are easier to treat than viral infections. Drugs can not only relieve symptoms, but also kill bacteria.
   • See your veterinarian for an appropriate medication.
   • Calicivirus is also treated with antibiotics, as there are no specific drugs to treat the virus. The drug will help ease the manifestation of symptoms. Antibiotics will prevent other infections from developing. Pain relievers may also be prescribed for the cat.
4. 4 Bury your cat's eyes. If your eye problems are caused by a virus, you will need eye drops. "Betadine" is a relatively gentle antiviral drops, and the doctor can drop them himself. If the infection is more serious, your doctor will prescribe Cidofovir.
5. 5 Reduce stress to your cat. It is important not only to cure the infection, but also to relieve the stress of the cat, especially if the infection is caused by the herpes virus. The herpes virus can go from an acute state to a state of remission, but it cannot be completely eliminated. If the cat gets nervous, the virus may reappear.
   • Try moving the cat to a separate room, treating the areas where the cat is most often with pheromones, or buying more toys for the cat to reduce stress levels.
   • Stress is caused by the following things: a new animal appears in the house, the owner is not at home for a long time (vacation), the cat is moved to a hotel for animals, the usual way of life changes (moving, renovating the house). It is impossible to rid your cat of all stressors, but you can reduce their number.

Method 3 of 4: Treating Allergies

1. 1 Watch for signs of allergies. Discharge from the eyes can be a symptom of an allergy, but in cats, allergies also occur on the skin. If the animal is allergic, you will find dry patches and wounds on the skin. In addition, in some areas, hair may fall out and the cat may itch a lot.
2. 2 Give your cat antihistamines. Allergies in cats are treated in the same way as in humans, which means that your pet will be prescribed an antihistamine that will suppress the body's response to allergens. Most often, cats are prescribed chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Atarax), clemastine (Tavist).
   • In the event of a severe allergic reaction, the veterinarian may prescribe steroids, but they can only be used for a short time. Ask your doctor if steroids are indicated for your cat.
3. 3 Minimize your cat's exposure to allergens. If you take tests for a number of allergens (such tests are called allergen panels), you can find out exactly what the cat is allergic to and limit the animal's contact with allergens. For example, if your cat is allergic to pollen, grass or trees, keep the cat outside and try to keep windows closed. Remove dust from your home regularly and only give your cat food that she is not allergic to.
4. 4 Give your cat omega-3 fatty acids. In some cases, omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the manifestation of allergies. Buy only supplements that have fatty acids derived from fish oil. Ask your veterinarian what dosage is right for your cat.
5. 5 Bathe your cat. You may be intimidated by the need to bathe your cat, but more often than not, cats are not as afraid of water as you think.Use a special cat shampoo and wash your cat no more often than recommended on the package. You can also wash your cat's coat with colloidal oatmeal, hypoallergenic shampoo, or hydrocortisone shampoo (for cats). This will ease the itching.
   • Bathe your cat when it itches a lot and when the allergy worsens.

Method 4 of 4: Scratches, foreign objects in the eyes, and chronic discharge

1. 1 Check for a foreign object in the cat's eye. Sometimes objects that cause irritation come into your eyes. This can be wood chips, sand, glass, metal, or some small substance that has stuck to the eye.
   • In this case, the eye will leak, redden, and swell. The cat will constantly wash its eyes and it will itch.
   • If something is wrong with the eye, you should immediately take the cat to the veterinarian.
2. 2 Look for signs of a scratch. Sometimes cats can accidentally scratch the eye with their paws, or the scratch can be caused by another cat (during play or fighting). Cats also scratch their eyes on random objects. Erosion on the surface of the cornea can form even due to insufficient amount of fluid when a dry eyelid rubs against a dry eye.
3. 3 Deal with scratches and remove foreign objects. The doctor will be able to remove the foreign object from the cat's eye. Sometimes it is enough to simply rinse the eye, but sometimes forceps are needed. In rare cases, the eye has to be sutured. The veterinarian will also prescribe antibiotics in the form of drops or pills.
   • Sometimes doctors sew up the eye so that it can heal.
4. 4 Decide if your cat needs surgery. Sometimes, due to friction of the eyelids or hairs on the eyelid, the eyes water all the time. In these cases, the cat can undergo ophthalmic surgery to correct the situation, but surgery does not always help.
5. 5 Treat eyes for chronic discharge. Sometimes a cat's eyes are constantly watering, and nothing can be done about it. If your cat has runny eyes, wipe them with a warm, damp cloth every day. Remember to dry the eye area thoroughly.