Feline Conjunctivitis

Feline conjunctivitis is mainly caused by trauma, bacterial or viral infection, foreign body stimulation, and secondary to other diseases. Affected cats usually begin to show symptoms in one eye, including crying, redness, itching, and the upper and lower eyelids being stuck together by purulent secretions. If treated promptly, it can prevent the development of other eye and respiratory diseases. Once diagnosed with conjunctivitis, symptomatic treatment should be provided according to the cause. For instance, foreign body-induced conjunctivitis requires the removal of the foreign body before treatment; bacterial infections necessitate eyelid washing and the use of drugs containing ingredients like tetracycline under a doctor's guidance; and viral infections necessitate oral or injectable antiviral drugs.

The main causes of feline conjunctivitis include: First, accidental injury to the conjunctiva; Second, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection of the eye; Third, stimulation of the conjunctiva by dust, eyelash reversal, and other foreign bodies; Fourth, indirect stimulation by other diseases that the cat is suffering from.
When a cat has conjunctivitis, it will exhibit symptoms such as crying, itching, burning sensation, redness, and the upper and lower eyelids being stuck together by purulent secretions. The symptoms usually begin in one eye.

As the condition worsens, the cat's eyes will show significant photophobia and foreign body sensation. If not treated promptly, it can lead not only to complications such as corneal inflammation and corneal ulcers but also cause infections in other tissues and organs. This can result in frequent sneezing, rapid breathing, and other respiratory symptoms, and even pneumonia.

The treatment for conjunctivitis generally depends on the underlying cause. If it's a bacterial infection, eyelid washing with drops containing lysozyme is recommended, followed by the use of drugs containing tetracycline or tylosin 30 minutes later. For viral infections, in addition to applying medication to the eye, oral or injectable drugs are also needed. For foreign body-induced conjunctivitis, it's essential to remove the foreign body promptly and perform anti-inflammatory treatment.