Eye Care
A healthy cat’s eyes should be clear and bright and the area around the eyeball white.
Common Symptoms of Illness
Eye Tests used to Diagnose Eye Problems
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Common Eye Conditions & Symptoms
Corneal Ulceration can occur when the surface of the cornea is scratched or damaged, either as the result of a cat fight or more seriously, a bacterial or viral infection.
Cataracts & Glaucoma Cats, just like humans, can have these serious eye diseases. Cataracts, which cloud the lens inside the eye can be seen in elderly cats. A thorough evaluation by your veterinarian is necessary as surgery is the only treatment. Glaucoma stems from too much pressure being exerted upon the eye’s interior as a result of a decrease in the amount of fluid draining from it.
How to Administer Eye Drops
- Remove any discharge around the eye with a cotton ball moistened with warm water.
- Hold your cat sideways on your lap or place him or her on a table at a comfortable height (you may want someone to help restrain your cat if you choose the second option).
- See the instructions on the bottle for dosage. Shake if necessary.
- Use one hand to hold the bottle between thumb and index while using the other to support the cat’s head.
- Tilt the head back and, to prevent blinking, use your free fingers to hold the eyelids open.
- Hold the bottle of drops close to the eye but DON’T touch the eye’s surface.
- Squeeze the drops onto the eye and once the drops are in, release the head.
- Your cat will blink, spreading the medication over the eye’s surface.
How to Apply Eye Ointment
- Remove any discharge around the eye with a cotton ball moistened with warm water.
- Hold your cat sideways on your lap or place him or her on a table at a comfortable height (you may want someone to help restrain your cat if you choose the second option).
- Check the instructions on the tube for dosage.
- Gently pull back upper and lower eyelids.
- Hold the tube parallel to the lower eyelid, squeeze out the ointment onto the edge of the eyelid.
- Massage upper and lower eyelids together to spread the medication.
- Release the head and let your cat blink.