Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the ocular membrane that causes the eye, and sometimes the lower part of the eyelids, to become red. In cats, conjunctivitis can also include the third eyelid located around the cornea. If you regularly examine your pet, you can easily recognize the signs of conjunctivitis. However, it is essential that you go to your trusted veterinarian, since this inflammation could have many causes. Keep an eye on the health of your furry companion!
Check your eyes regularly
Although there are many causes for pink eye, the symptoms are almost always the same. Among them are the following: blinking quite frequently (since they cannot stand the itch), red eyes, yellow-green discharge (in the case of an eye infection), watery eyes and swollen eyelids. If you notice any of these signs, you should go to the vet as soon as possible.
As for the causes, conjunctivitis is sometimes not related to a health problem, as it can be due to a foreign body that enters the eye. However, it could also be due to the following reasons:
- Allergies: Some felines have allergic conjunctivitis, in which pollen or other allergens cause an allergic reaction.
- Irritants: Dust that gets into the eye, shampoo, or perfume could cause irritation leading to eye inflammation.
- Foreign bodies: It could be a grass that has been caught under the eyelid or a hair that has been caught in the eye.
- Dry eyes: It is rare for cats to suffer from dry eyes, a health problem known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca. When cats suffer from this disorder, they do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eye, so it becomes dry and later becomes inflamed.
Go to the vet
Without a doubt, the best thing for your pet is to go to the vet to check for an eye infection. Your trusted veterinarian knows your feline’s medical history, so they can review the vaccine history and examine it thoroughly.
On the other hand, conjunctivitis can appear if the cat suffers from another disease or its immune system has been weakened. In fact, this inflammation could appear due to the feline immunodeficiency virus, so if you notice that your cat also has a fever, diarrhea, you should go to the vet urgently.
