Cat and Dog Eye Infections - The Facts

It is very important to maintain healthy eyes in your pets and watch for any unusual signs, to prevent diseases and illnesses from developing. Eye infections in cats and dogs are not uncommon and this article aims to give you all the information on how to spot and manage your pet's eye problem.

Eye infections are usually be attributed to of one of three different pathogens: viral, fungal and bacterial. Therefore, you will need to establish which one has caused the symptoms before administering the most effective treatment.

Symptoms of an Eye Infection

Eye infections exhibit various symptoms that you should be on the look out for. The most obvious sign is if your cat or dog is squinting. This is a sign that their eyes are causing pain. Often accompanied with this is inflammation of the eyes or discharge around the eye area. Here is a list of all the possible symptoms:

• Avoiding light
• Bulging eyes
• Closed eyes
• Cloudiness
• Discharge
• Excess tearing
• Redness
• Rubbing the eye
• Rubbing the face on the ground

If you notices any of these symptoms then you should consult your veterinarian immediately.

Treatment

There are usually several different treatment options available that will be effective in managing your pet's eye problem.

For eye infections with a bacterial cause, your vet will probably recommend antibiotic ointments. These will contain the infection and will usually clear it up completely. If the infection is viral then the treatment may be in the form of a topical cream. Great care should be taken when applying these creams as it is important not to touch the inner part of your pet's eye. To prevent further infections from developing in the future, your vet may also prescribe oral medications.

The length of treatment required will depend on the severity of the infection. Also viral infections are self-limiting, whilst bacterial infections will probably need one or two weeks of treatment.

To prevent your dog or cat having eye problems in the future, you should have a proper eye care regime in place. Using clean cotton balls dampened with lukewarm water, you should carefully wipe away dirt and dust that naturally collects around the eye area. You should do this once a week and always use a fresh cotton ball for each eye.

Diet is also of major importance in preventing infections of any kind in your pet's eye. This is because if they are not receiving the right vitamins, their immune system may suffer. To counteract this you should be adding leafy green vegetables, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds to their diet.

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