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Unfortunately, cat breeders, even the most experienced of them, periodically face the negative consequences of communicating with their pets. Let's consider the question of what to do if a cat scratches its eye. In case of unforeseen consequences of the behavior of a domestic predator, it is very important to know the sequence of correct actions in a given situation. The principle of action is almost the same regardless of who is injured - an adult, a child or a recently acquired puppy.
We will not delve too deeply into the reasons for this behavior of a pet or pet. Perhaps the animal was just acting out, perhaps the question is that the aggression was shown by a cat - a mother instinctively protecting her kittens, or a sick animal, which now, perhaps even accidentally, was hurt during medical procedures.
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Eye injury from a cat's claw
If a cat's claw gets into the eye, then several conditions are possible: non-penetrating corneal injury, penetrating corneal injury, lens injury. Each of these injuries can potentially lead to vision loss and even loss of an eye. After all, a cat's claw is a very dirty thing. Numerous bacteria live on it, there are enzymes and just particles of dirt. Because of which scratches left by a cat heal so poorly and take so long.
As soon as this entire mixture ends up in the cornea or inside the eye, the “feast” begins. Microbes actively multiply, releasing waste products that are toxic to any structure of the eye. This may lead to corneal abscess, keratomalacia, uveitis, panophthalmitis, secondary glaucoma, or ocular atrophy.
If a cat's lens is damaged, traumatic cataracts develop. And in this case, it is important to operate on such a pet as soon as possible, because the contents of the lens are foreign to the eye. It causes severe intraocular inflammation, which is already quite actively trying to “eat” the microbes left by the claw.
When all this “explosive mixture” comes to an appointment with an ophthalmologist, the matter often ends in surgery. Washing the anterior chamber of the eye, sealing the cornea, and lens surgery in cats are effective methods of minimizing the risks of complications. However, in fairness, I note that not all patients need this. An ophthalmological examination of the cat with a specialized ophthalmologist and equipment allows you to choose an effective treatment method.
How to protect yourself from corneal injury
As a rule, a scratch on the cornea of the eye appears under the influence of external factors, and often the injury could have been avoided. When performing work that increases the risk of injury, you should wear safety glasses. This applies to operating power tools and chemicals, cleaning premises and mowing lawns, playing certain sports, riding a motorcycle, and performing metalworking work.
Scratches on the cornea can be caused by careless use of mascara or prolonged wearing of contact lenses. They cause excessive dryness of the cornea, making it more vulnerable. Wearing poorly adapted or damaged lenses is especially dangerous. Dry cornea increases the risk of injury; using moisturizing drops will help eliminate the problem.
Eye contusion or blunt trauma to the eye in a cat
Eye contusion is a condition that can easily be caused by a fist fight. And a bruise to boot. As you know, cats usually fight with their paws, not their fists, but this does not prevent them from receiving concussion injuries to the eyes. In addition, injury can be caused by any blunt object: a rubber ball, the corner of a door, etc. When struck with a blunt object, the eye is deformed for some time and then returns to its original shape. Depending on the degree of deformation, either simple inflammation, or intraocular hemorrhage, or rupture of eye structures with serious consequences may develop.
Just like with a claw injury, it is very difficult to understand how serious the eye injury is in a cat. Externally, they can be almost identical. But in one case everything will go away on drops, and in the other the eye will be lost.
That is why treatment of an eye injury in a cat begins with getting the patient to the doctor as quickly as possible. I recommend that any cat with an eye injury see a veterinary ophthalmologist as quickly as possible. Despite being busy, staying at the dacha or other reasons. Find time for this. Otherwise, it makes sense to immediately accept the idea that the eye can be removed.
Prevention of corneal injury
If there are several cats in the house or a cat and a dog, it is recommended to trim its nails regularly. How to do this correctly, watch our video. You can also wear special anti-scratch caps. A wide selection of nail clippers and anti-scratch clippers are presented in the Averia Market online store.
But, if an injury does occur, it is necessary to take the animal to an appointment with a veterinary ophthalmologist as soon as possible for examination, assessment of the severity of the injury and the appointment of timely therapy. This increases the chances not only of saving the eye as an organ, but also of preserving vision.
Eye injuries from a claw do not always occur without serious consequences, so try to avoid the possibility of fights involving your pets. This is especially important when traveling with “tails” into nature, where they may not share the territory with local street animals.
What is the treatment for an eye injury in a cat?
If the case is simple, then the owner will limit himself to only fear and short-term treatment with eye drops, sometimes tablets. But if, as a result of an eye injury, a rupture/displacement of the eye structures and other complications occur, the matter may end in eye microsurgery. If the degree of injury is not comparable with the future life of the eye, it is either too late - removal or prosthetic eye replacement will be the only option.
Penetrating eye injury, iris prolapse Reduction of the iris in a cat
What will the doctor do at the appointment?
A complete ophthalmological examination will be performed, which includes:
- biomicroscopy of the eye (examination under magnification);
- ophthalmoscopy (examination of the retina and optic nerve head for post-traumatic damage);
- assessment of pupil reactions to light;
- An ultrasound of the eyeball is done when there is severe swelling of the cornea and it is impossible to examine the internal structures of the eye;
- fluorescein test (staining the cornea with a safe dye) - if necessary.
The test allows you to evaluate several positions at once: the area and depth of damage, the retention time of the tear film. Thanks to this, one can judge the presence or absence of dry eye syndrome and the patency of the nasolacrimal duct.
What to do if your cat has an eye injury?
You can help your pet by putting any antibiotic drops into the eye. It doesn’t matter whether they are human or veterinary. First, make sure that the drops do not contain hormonal substances (for example, dexamethasone, prednisolone and other anti-inflammatory drugs). If in doubt, do not drop anything until you consult with your veterinary ophthalmologist. The best treatment for your pet is to bring it to an animal eye specialist. The sooner you see a veterinary ophthalmologist, the better.
Veterinarian ophthalmologist Yastrebov Oleg.
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Symptoms of a scratched cornea
If an animal accidentally or intentionally scratches your or your child's eye, the following symptoms will be present::
- Palpable pain that increases when opening or closing the eyelid
- Blurred vision
- Tearing
- Reddened cornea
- Photosensitivity
In some cases, a headache may occur after a cat scratches an eye.
© shutterstock
Help with serious bleeding
In case of bleeding from the neck or torso, it is necessary to apply a thick layer of gauze or napkins, or absorbent cotton wool and bandage tightly. In order to speed up the stop of bleeding, proceed as follows: moisten the dressing in a decoction of chamomile, or oak bark, in a solution of alum or in iodoform. Collagen sponge is considered the most effective hemostatic material.
Sometimes an animal gets seriously injured in a fight. Then you can’t do without the help of a veterinarian
So, how to provide first aid to a cat in case of various injuries?
To begin the “treatment”, the pet must first be caught, since after the fight he is extremely excited and behaves aggressively. A better option may be to throw a blanket or soft cloth over the cat to prevent it from scratching your hands and face. After twisting, he will stop resisting, and you can begin providing first aid.
Sometimes a cat just needs first aid after a “showdown” with his relatives
A street cat scratched a dog's eye during a fight.
What should you do in this case? At home, you can prepare an infusion of chamomile or calendula and gently rinse the injured eye with it. To prevent infection of the second healthy eye, it is recommended to rinse it with a fresh swab dipped in chamomile infusion.
If a dirty cat's claw has slightly scratched your eye, your veterinarian will prescribe an antiseptic wash lotion and eye drops to relieve irritation and inflammation. The course of treatment is individual, as it depends on various factors. The animal is under the supervision of a veterinarian for 1-2 weeks. In case of suppuration, experts recommend treating with antibiotic therapy.
Actions after injury
So, what should you do if your cat scratches your eye? The best option, of course, is to go to the clinic to see an ophthalmologist. Although minor scratches usually heal on their own within a few days, there are times when the doctor prescribes medications or contact lenses to the patient. The latter are needed to reduce discomfort from injury and speed up healing.
If the cat scratched more seriously, comprehensive treatment will be required. It includes :
- Eye drops or ointment to prevent infections
- Antibiotics to block the development of the inflammatory process
- If necessary, painkillers
Today, ophthalmologists prescribe new generation medications. Medicines that combine an antibiotic and a pain reliever help much faster.
Please note that all of the above applies to pets that are regularly examined by a veterinarian. If the injury was caused by a stray cat, a visit to a specialist is required, regardless of whether the incident occurred during the day or evening. Delay may result in the development of a serious infection.
In conclusion, let us remind you that, despite the affectionate nature of our pets, cats by their nature remain predatory animals. A loving owner knows his pet well and is able to determine his mood, while avoiding cat scratches.
At first I just blinked, then my eye became inflamed and drool with bubbles came out from behind my mouth, please tell me how to treat it. DO NOT APPLY TO THE HOSPITAL, DIFFICULT SITUATION.
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The animal needs to be calmed down
Remember that the best sedative is kind, comforting words spoken by the owner in a gentle and calm tone. Panic and screaming, on the contrary, will make the cat even more anxious. In addition, you can give your pet a little sedative, for example, “Cat Bayun”. When the animal has calmed down, you can wash the fresh scratches with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and wipe the wounds with a gauze pad that needs to be soaked in brilliant green. Algorithm for treating wounds.
In case of any, even the most minor injury, the wound still needs to be treated with antimicrobial drugs. We propose to do this using the following algorithm. After the bleeding has stopped, carefully trim the hair that surrounds the damaged area. If there are foreign objects in it (sand, grass, pieces of glass), they must be removed with tweezers. Next, we treat the wound with three percent peroxide or a weak solution of potassium permanganate in order to eliminate bacterial flora and remaining dirt. We recommend disinfecting the skin around the wound with a solution of brilliant green, alcohol or iodine.
This is followed by treatment of the damage with “Sanatol” or “Streptocide”. If you see a deep defect, then you first need to stop the bleeding, treat everything according to the above method and then apply a sterile bandage to the wound, the edges of which are fixed with a regular adhesive plaster.
Getting particles, dust, sand and other small particles from the environment into the eye
Before visiting a veterinarian, it is recommended to rinse the injured eye with saline solution of sodium chloride or warm boiled water. In a veterinary clinic, the doctor treats the affected eye and applies a solution of novocaine (2%) to reduce pain. Then manipulations are carried out to remove the speck from the eye.
To do this, take a swab moistened with a special solution. The veterinarian spreads the eyelids and pours the solution out of the swab into the place where the speck is approximately located. If it is clearly visible, then you can remove the particle with the corner of a cotton swab. After its removal, anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial eye drops are instilled to prevent infection of the damaged organ of vision.
Diagnosis and treatment
First of all, the veterinarian will urgently try to determine the nature and severity of the injury received by the sick animal. This can be done using either a simple collection and analysis of a medical history or a number of specialized tests.
A high-quality examination of a sick animal is very important. It is imperative to check whether the animal has a closed craniocerebral injury, fractures of the facial part of the skull, whether the intracranial sinuses are damaged (this risks the cat simply choking on blood) and the jaw. If there are signs of other injuries (the animal fell from the balcony, resulting in damage to more than just the eye), the cat should be urgently sent for a more detailed examination. They also immediately find out whether a penetrating or non-penetrating injury is dealt with in a particular case. This information helps determine the prognosis.
And only after this can you completely switch to examining the affected eye. So, to identify possible corneal lesions, special staining is used. When special compounds are applied, ulcerative lesions begin to glow brightly in ultraviolet light. If in a particular case the veterinarian has any doubts, he can send the cat for a separate examination by an “animal” ophthalmologist. Other research methods:
- In severe cases, when an eye injury is caused by an animal falling from a height or being hit by a vehicle, it is strongly recommended that an examination be carried out by a veterinary neurologist.
- An X-ray of the skull is required to identify possible fractures and other damage to its internal structures.
- If the animal's eyes are too cloudy for visual examination, or the veterinarian suspects that the injury has damaged some structures directly behind the eyeball, an ultrasound examination of the entire affected area is prescribed.
- Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indicated in all cases where eye injury occurs as a result of severe head impacts.
In case of eye damage
In this case, veterinarians recommend using Diamond eye drops. They are used when it is necessary to remove dried exudate in the corners of the eyes, after injury to the eyes by foreign bodies, with excessive lacrimation, in case of inflammation of the mucous membrane, and with “red eye” syndrome. They are dripped 1-2 drops up to three times a day until complete recovery.
To prevent your pet from scratching its eyes, further injuring them, we recommend putting a protective collar on it.
Protective collar
In addition, it is very useful to wash your cat’s eyes with chamomile infusion (not tea). And behind the lower eyelid you can put tetracycline eye ointment.
So, if you notice that after a fight your mustachioed fighter’s eyes are watery and this brings him discomfort, use our tips.
What are the consequences of not visiting a doctor?
As a rule, vision loss is rarely caused by a simple scratch to the cornea of the eye. But sometimes its consequences are quite serious. First of all, trauma can negatively affect the exacerbation of existing eye diseases. The consequences of a late visit to an ophthalmologist can be:
- inflammation;
- formation of purulent exudate;
- spread of infection deep into the eye, sepsis;
- corneal edema, scarring, pupil displacement;
- increased intraocular pressure;
- traumatic cataract, which is accompanied by clouding of the lens and a gradual decrease in vision;
- brain abscess.
People with weak immunity and various metabolic disorders are at risk. But even for healthy people, a scratch on the cornea can cause serious consequences. Correctly provided primary care is of great importance, so visiting an ophthalmologist is extremely important.
Clean View Clinic specialists provide high-quality diagnostic and treatment services for all types of eye diseases.
The center's website contains up-to-date information; you can make an appointment online or by phone. High-quality equipment and many years of experience of the best ophthalmologists in Moscow will help determine the severity of the injury, prescribe the correct treatment and avoid further vision problems. At the Clean View clinic you can undergo a full range of procedures for diagnosing vision and treating eye diseases. More details by phone.
