Cat eye discharge can have a variety of appearances, such as watery, gray, yellow, green and thick, or bloody. Some amount of discharge from a cat's eye is not uncommon, and is the natural way that a cat's eyes will clean themselves out. However, if the discharge cannot be easily removed with a damp cloth, your cat could be suffering from an ailment. Here are some possible problems that result in eye discharge in cats:
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Keratitis: the inflammation of the cornea
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Conjunctivitis: the inflammation of the conjunctiva and sclera
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Blepharitis: the inflammation of the eyelids
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Corneal ulcer: the erosion through two out of three layers of the cornea
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Glaucoma: unusually high pressure inside the eye, caused by a problem in the draining of the eyes' fluids
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Uveitis: inflammation of the iris and blood vessels of the eyes
Discerning Which Treatment Is Appropriate
There are multiple reasons why a cat's eye will have discharge. The cat's eyes are susceptible to infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. It is also in danger of being damaged by foreign bodies. An object could be irritating a cat's eye, which could cause discharge, or a cat's eye could be subject to trauma. The eye can easily be damaged when cat's are engaged in a fight with another cat, or animal.
So, how do you tell what is causing the discharge in your cat's eye? Each situation that was described will have it's own symptoms that accompany the discharge, and distinct physical appearances.
Treatment for Infections
Depending on what is infecting a cat, it is sometimes impossible to eliminate the cause. The only option is to remove or alleviate symptoms. There are liquid eye washes and medicines (such as antibiotics) that can be applied directly to the eyes. Ointments are also available, but are usually more difficult to apply. Ointments tend to irritate the eyes more, but generally have to be applied less often than the drops. Pills or injections are sometimes available for certain diseases, and are required for the more persistent/difficult cases. The pills could consist of antibiotics to treat secondary infections, or anti-flammatory medication, such as aspirin. Pain medication can also be prescribed, as some of these diseases can cause a lot of pain to your cat.
Treatment for Serious Cases
While every disease of the eye has potential to permanently damage the eye, certain disease have more potential to do so. Glaucoma, corneal ulcers and uveitis can cause serious damage to the eyes, and may call for surgery of the eyes. The surgery can be as simple as removing/fixing the cause of the problem, to removing the entire eye.
Natural Treatments
Although none of these treatments will target the direct cause of the eye problems, it is helpful to give your cat's immune system a boost when battling disease. Some natural treatments include:
- Vitamins A, C and E: they have antioxidants that fight foreign bodies that can damage the eye
- Astragalus root: has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, by way of boosting the immune system
- Zinc: linked to good vision and can protect eye tissue from damaging light and inflammation