A cat's eyes are watery: reasons, what to do, prevention and treatment, symptoms

How to examine a cat?

Quite often, the appearance of tears in a cat's eyes indicates the presence of some kind of disease. It is important for the owner to pay attention to whether tears appeared for a limited time and then disappeared, or in the pet’s eyes the discharge is present throughout the day, or, what is much worse, not for several days.

If the tear discharge is insignificant, appeared in the morning and quickly passed, then there is nothing to worry about, so there is no need to worry;
If it is clear that the eyes “cry” for a long time, then you need to look for the cause of this phenomenon.

Before examining your pet, you need to clean your hands to prevent additional infection. Next, you need to pull down the upper eyelids on each eye. If the eyes are shiny and not clouded, the pupils are the same size, the cornea is noticeably transparent, and the back surface of both eyelids has a pale pink tint, then there are no problems with the animal’s eyes.

The fact that there are certain problems with the eyes can be judged by redness or swelling of the eyelids, clouding of the cornea.

If the animal’s eyes are difficult to open or there is a thin light film on the inner surface of the eyelid, then it is recommended to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Symptoms

The disease is manifested by several symptoms: itching of the mucous membranes, sneezing, watery nasal discharge (rhinorrhea), and nasal congestion, and sometimes even conjunctivitis. With obstruction (obstruction syndrome of the human respiratory system), headaches often occur. Allergic rhinitis can lead to complications such as sinusitis.

The causes of rhinitis can be pollen, mold spores, wool, fluff and waste products of animals (cats, dogs, rodents), dust mites, cockroaches.

Asthma is a frequent accompaniment of allergic rhinitis, but it is not yet clear whether a false runny nose is the cause of asthma or whether both of these diseases are based on the same cause - the allergic process. With asthma accompanying hay fever, the patient may experience shortness of breath and a severe cough.

Causes and treatment

There are several common reasons why a cat's eyes may start to water.

Some foreign body has entered the eye. It could be a speck, a twig, a fluff, a midge or dirt. If something like this is discovered, you must first rinse the pet’s eyes under running water. Once the foreign object is washed away, you can use one percent tetracycline ointment to apply to the cat's upper eyelid area. It is recommended to take the animal to a veterinarian for consultation.

The pet has a weakened immune system. This happens if the kitten was separated from its mother too early. However, only a veterinarian can reliably determine whether this is the case. He will also develop a regimen for taking the required medications and correct the pet’s nutrition.

The presence of an allergic reaction, which is inherent in cats as well as in humans. The same thing that can act as an allergen can act as a human allergen: chemicals, dust, pollen, etc. In this case, it is imperative to contact a qualified specialist for consultation, since the owner will not be able to independently determine not only the allergy itself, but also the cause of its occurrence.

Worms are a fairly common reason why a cat's eyes may begin to water. To exclude this, it is necessary to regularly treat the animal for parasites.

Pet breed. Some cat breeds have a characteristic skull structure with deformed nasolacrimal ducts and a flattened nose. In this case, only washing the eyes every day helps, as well as special attention to hygiene procedures in such a risky area.

Diseases of cold origin. If your pet coughs and sneezes additionally, absorbs a lot of water, and begins to sleep much more, then it is quite possible to suspect a cold. It is not recommended to treat the animal yourself; you need to contact a specialized specialist.

Cat distemper also has discharge from the eyes as one of its symptoms. In addition, the appearance of pus, high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and general weakness are noted. It is not allowed to treat a pet with such symptoms on your own.

Signs and symptoms of pathological lacrimation

Pathological lacrimation in cats is most often accompanied by the following symptoms:

the pupil dims or changes color;
darkened iris;
injuries to the eye or the area around it: scratches, abrasions, bruises;
change in the shape of the eyeball;
inflamed eyelids;
nasal discharge, the appearance of a purulent substance;
swelling on the face;
increased body temperature;
lack of reaction or delayed response to changes in light flux;
a cloudy, opaque liquid is released from the eye, which leaves a dirty sticky mark on the animal’s fur.

You can treat a cat at home only after it has been examined by a veterinarian.

Eye diseases accompanied by the production of tears

There are several different eye conditions in pets that cause tear production:

Infection. If the eye is noticeably swollen and red, and there is discharge of pus, then the help of a veterinarian is definitely needed to prevent the development of feline conjunctivitis.
Directly eye diseases, in particular glaucoma or cataracts. A clouded cornea in the first case or a whitened lens in the second are the most obvious symptoms of these diseases. Of course, you definitely need to go to a clinic for treatment.
Diseases caused by fungi or viruses (such as toxoplasmosis or chlamydia) can only be cured by a veterinarian.
Inflammation of the cornea can be identified by reddened and very watery eyes, on which a soapy film forms.
Some breeds experience entropion of the eyelid - usually Sphynxes or Persians. The appearance of swollen eyes and suppuration in their eyes is a reason to visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Eye injuries that a cat can get if it fights with its fellow tribesmen, hits itself, or gets caught on some branches. Wounds or other damage to the eyeballs are obvious symptoms of this injury. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian to determine the severity of the damage.

Prevention

Moderate production of clear tears is normal for many breeds and therefore should not be a cause for concern. To maintain your pet’s health, it is important to carry out preventive measures:

regularly treat your eyelids with hygiene lotion, which can be bought at any pet store;
Long-haired breeds must undergo an additional grooming procedure. When blinking, long hairs touch the eyeball, which stimulates the lacrimal gland;
try not to smoke in the room where the animal lives, regularly ventilate, wipe off dust, and do wet cleaning.

In addition, it is important to systematically give your pet medications for helminths, as well as monitor proper nutrition. All these measures will help keep your eyes clear and save you from many problems.

The color of the discharge from the eyes matters

It is important for the pet owner to carefully look at the color of the discharge coming from the eyes.

If they are transparent, similar to ordinary tears, then this may be due to the characteristics of the breed, mechanical irritation, or the occurrence of an allergic reaction.

If yellow or green discharge appears, in which pus is present, we can say that there is an infectious disease.

If a cat's eyes are watery red or brown, then there is a high probability that the cat is infected with worms.

Meaning of lacrimation

Tearing has two main functions: hydration and protection. Tears are primarily composed of water and electrolytes, but also contain small amounts of mucus and albumin. Thus, when the tear enters the outer part of the eyeball, it moisturizes the mucous membrane of the eye.

In addition, the production of tears is a natural way of flushing the eyes. With the current of tears, all foreign particles (including dust and microorganisms) are removed from the eye.

The Scottish Fold cat's eyes are watery: why?

It was previously mentioned that certain breeds of pets have a non-standard nasolacrimal duct, and among them the British, Scottish and Persian breeds stand out. Due to such features, the lacrimal canal is not able to fully remove secretions, which are the norm for all other breeds. In this case, the excess comes out through the eyes. If this happens after the animal has slept, then there is no reason to worry. This phenomenon is normal from a physiological standpoint.

If your pet constantly produces tears, this is no longer considered normal, so you need to seek the help of a veterinarian to find out the reasons.

Such animals need to wash their eyes once a week or more often, and in some cases up to 2-3 times a day. With a normal level of discharge, it is quite enough to simply wipe them periodically.

If your cat's eyes often water, it is recommended to bring the animal to the veterinarian for a full examination.

How to help your pet

Helping your pet can go in two directions: eliminating the cause and symptomatic relief of the condition. In order to eliminate the cause, in most cases a consultation with a veterinarian is necessary.

At home, you can carry out hygiene procedures and use eye drops. For rinsing, it is better to use saline solution (at a concentration of 0.9%) or special drops. At home, non-concentrated herbal decoctions (for example, chamomile) can be used for preventive rinsing. You need to rinse your eyes at least 2 times a day (morning and evening).

Cat protection

A very correct approach is the use of hygienic methods that protect the animal from the need for treatment in the future. It is recommended to periodically wash your pet's eyes with a cotton swab dipped in warm water towards the spout.

If there is dried discharge on the eyes, then you need to carefully soften and remove it, and then rinse the eyes with a clean swab.

You cannot use the same swab to treat both eyes; you need to take a new one each time.

If your pet has watery eyes, you do not need to buy and apply drops or medications yourself without consulting a veterinarian, as this can make the animal sick.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is carried out, first of all, with conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis often accompanies many ocular and periocular pathologies: primary keratitis (ulcerative and non-ulcerative forms), dry eye, blepharitis, uveitis, glaucoma, dacryocystitis. It is necessary to distinguish between hyperemia of episcleral and conjunctival vessels in order to differentiate dangerous eye diseases (such as glaucoma or uveitis) from superficial and less dangerous processes (for example, from superficial keratitis). [29], [30], [31], [32]

Preventive procedures

If there is no obvious problem at the moment, you can use the recommendations for prevention. A warm decoction of medicinal plants, which are also intended for humans, drops that do not contain an antibiotic, or green tea are suitable for this.

If your cat's eyes are watery due to an infectious disease confirmed by a veterinarian, then tetracycline ointment can be used.

To treat bacterial infections, “Diamond Eyes” drops or some of their analogues are used.

When to contact a veterinarian

If you suspect a pathological cause of lacrimation (infection, trichiasis, foreign body, injury to the eye block), you should seek medical help. The veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate tests, determine the diagnosis and begin treatment.

You should seek emergency help if you have the following symptoms and conditions:

disturbance of consciousness in a cat;
injury to the eyeball, which is accompanied by its loss, bleeding or the presence of a penetrating wound;
suspicion of a serious infectious disease (panleukopenia, calicivirosis).

In these cases, you should not delay treatment; you should contact a veterinarian immediately after identifying symptoms.

Treatment of tearing in cats

The nature of the treatment depends entirely on the cause of the pathology. If problems are detected with the anatomical structure of the nasopharynx, resulting in lacrimation and difficulty breathing, the doctor may even prescribe surgical intervention. In other situations, treatment is not difficult.

If an allergic reaction is detected, you need to get rid of the allergen and prescribe antihistamines.

If there are injuries or a foreign object is found in the eye, the wound should be treated and the object removed.

If an infection is detected, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications or antibiotics. It is important to understand that there are diseases that require not only local treatment, but also general treatment.

Cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, and keratitis are most often treated with drops. The drug and dosage are selected individually, taking into account the general condition of the animal.

Treatment of conjunctivitis: how can an ophthalmologist help?

The doctor chooses a treatment strategy depending on the type of conjunctivitis. The disease is treated with medications, rinses and physiotherapy.

Medicines

In case of allergic conjunctivitis, it is necessary to establish the cause and stop contact with the allergen. At the same time, anti-allergy and decongestant drugs, drops to relieve inflammation, vitamins and other general health-improving agents are prescribed.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotics. They are simultaneously prescribed internally and externally, the course is usually 7-14 days. The infectious type is treated with antiviral, immunostimulating and bactericidal drugs of local (drops, ointments, gels) or general action.

Drug therapy for eye fungi is complex and includes local and general antifungal and immunostrengthening agents. In special cases, IVs are placed.

For injuries or burns, the doctor will prescribe wound-healing, decongestant, antimicrobial agents in the form of drops, sprays, etc. For severe cases of any type of conjunctivitis, a course of injections may be prescribed.

Washing

With conjunctivitis, it is extremely important to maintain good hygiene, so the course of treatment includes frequent eye rinsing. For this purpose, solutions, herbal decoctions with a disinfecting effect, or simply clean water are prescribed.

To carry out the procedure, there are special containers (small oval-shaped glasses) and devices (syringes, bulbs, etc.).

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for conjunctivitis involves the administration of drugs using physical methods - current (electrophoresis), laser (laser phoresis), magnet (magnetophoresis), ultrasound (phonophoresis), etc.

Use solutions with anti-allergenic, anti-edematous, antiseptic, wound-healing, softening, anti-inflammatory effects.

Redness and itching in the eyes: what to do?

At the first signs of conjunctivitis, you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist. But the opportunity to visit a specialist “here and now” is not always possible. Since the disease can be contagious, precautions must be taken.

Hygiene rules before visiting a doctor:

Don't rub your eyes. Often, infectious and bacterial conjunctivitis first affects one eye and spreads through the hands to the other. If the itching is unbearable, scratch the eye through a bandage or clean cloth, throw it away and wash your hands.
Don't wash your face. Wipe your cheeks, neck and forehead with a damp cloth, and your eyes with a sterile gauze pad. There is a separate one for each eye.

The exception is contact with chemicals in the eyes. In this case, on the contrary, rinse your eyes generously with boiled water.

Avoid glasses and contact lenses until diagnosis.
Wash your face towel, otherwise you risk infecting your family.
If fluid flows from your eyes, wipe them with boiled water using a sterile bandage. Do not use cotton wool, as the lint from it can make the situation worse. You should wipe your eyes from the inner corners to the outer ones. A separate gauze swab for each eye; do not put it in a cup of water. Throw away after use.
Do not visit the pool, gym, avoid close contact with people.

Noticed redness, tearing and itching of your eyes? Do not wait for it to “go away on its own” and do not self-medicate.