Hello everyone!
“First aid” for our own “harmless” runny nose is droplets. And you can run to work. But when our eyes water and fester... We don’t run anywhere - we sit at home and get treated properly.
If our beloved pet—the cat’s eyes and nose are running—our concern has every reason: after all, any illness, if left untreated, becomes dangerous. Including the “banal” cold, which cats supposedly don’t get. They're sick! Yes, less often than us, but like us, due to hypothermia, drafts, cold food and low immunity.
So why does this happen and what should we do? That is the question!
Discharge from the eyes.
Transparent or brownish tears, occasionally and a little - this is natural.
By the way, brown liquid happens due to mixing feed from different manufacturers or artificial with natural ones. Adjust your diet and wash your pet's eyes with chamomile decoction.
But excessive tearfulness (and redness of the eyes) indicates that the outflow of tears is impaired, foreign objects have entered, or a disease has begun.
Suppuration of the eyeball, swelling and redness of the eyelids, the animal squints, cannot open its eyes - is associated either with a serious infection (conjunctivitis, for example), or due to a foreign body located there, or damage during a fight. On the same day - consultation and treatment, and in case of self-medication, you will miss precious time.
Treatment of conjunctivitis in children
Obviously, the treatment of conjunctivitis is determined by the factors that caused it. It is the prerogative of the doctor to establish these reasons, and in this case there is no need to speculate, for example, “The year before last there was diathesis, which means allergic conjunctivitis.” As first aid, it is allowed to wash the eyes with decoctions with aseptic and soothing properties (chamomile, sage, regular tea leaves), special solutions of furatsilin or boric acid.
Any eye bandages are contraindicated: if the conjunctivitis is bacterial, the bandage will contribute to the accumulation of mucopurulent secretions infested with the pathogen, which then dry out, stick the eyelids together, cause additional irritation, and infect the second eye (if the inflammation began in one). You should remember the importance of following asepsis rules, and provide the child with individual bed linen, towels, etc. The pipette, if needed, should have rounded edges to avoid even accidental injury.
Further treatment will be prescribed by the doctor, as they say, according to indications.
Nasal discharge.
They, as protection against dust and germs, are normally always present during washing.
If they become abundant, then the cause may range from simple irritation to problems with parasites, fungi, tumors, but if the kitty is still sneezing and breathing heavily, it means it is already seriously ill.
In the case of yellow or green snot, purulent and serous discharge with the formation of crusts, also the presence of blood in them, swelling of the muzzle - the diagnosis can be no less terrible! All infections develop very quickly and require immediate medical attention!
For example, for rhinitis - inflammation in the nasal passages, in which the protective secretion is produced especially strongly, experts prescribe:
- various types of warm nasal rinses (the simplest: 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 liter of water, boil for 2 minutes, strain) using a convenient insulin syringe without a needle: pour 0.5 ml into the nostril, and as soon as the cat snorts and sneezes, the passage will become free, then you can wash the second passage;
- warming with a warm bag of salt or sand (not possible if the mucus is yellow or green!);
- treatment with sea buckthorn oil and oxolinic ointment;
- instillation of naphthyzine for children;
- antibiotics.
When hit by a small particle or insect, the animal sneezes and is usually released in this way. And if he doesn’t succeed, then you can first try to carefully remove the speck yourself with tweezers. Sometimes mucus comes out of a damaged nostril along with blood. Then contact your veterinarian, because in difficult cases you will need an x-ray and even extraction under anesthesia.
Cancer in the nasal cavity has many symptoms, including discharge, sneezing, loss of appetite, lethargy, bleeding and foul odor. The success of treatment depends on the stage and takes place in the hospital.
Common Causes of Eye Pain
Migraine
Migraine is the most common type of headache that deprives us of the joy of life. This is a headache that comes in hot flashes, can last up to 72 hours, and is often characterized by severe throbbing pain on one side of the head and behind the eyes. Pain may also be felt in the back of the head. Other classic migraine symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, smells, and sounds.
“Migraine comes from the term “migraine,” which means “pain in half the head.” People with migraines have a very hard time,” says Green. “This is a severe pain, and it comes in different types, that is, there are several types of headaches. People may feel differently, but they all have migraines.”
Visual disturbances such as flashing lights or halos around light sources may precede headaches. However, most people who suffer from migraines do not have these symptoms.
There are many triggers that can trigger a migraine. These include fatigue, emotional stress, not enough or too much sleep, skipping meals, bright or flickering lights, strong odors, loud noises, certain foods, and changes in temperature and humidity.
There is also a genetic predisposition to migraines: 70% of patients report at least one close relative who also suffered from migraines.
When caught early enough, migraines can be successfully treated with over-the-counter pain medications, but there are several prescription medications that can be used both preventatively and to reduce the number of attacks and pain symptoms.
Chronic migraines and eye pain may require daily medication to treat.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headache is a condition characterized by multiple and frequent attacks of headaches. These cluster periods can last weeks or months, followed by a period of remission where headaches do not occur for several months or years.
Cluster headaches usually occur quickly, sometimes the pain has warning signs, and the pain can last up to three hours. Symptoms include excruciating pain (often a headache behind one eye) that radiates to other parts of the face, head and neck; red and swollen eyes; and excessive tearing.
Cluster headaches are thought to be caused by abnormalities in the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls many important body functions). What may be causing the pain has not yet been identified, and there is no cure for cluster headaches in the eyes yet.
Treatment for cluster headaches aims to reduce the severity of symptoms, shorten the period of cluster headaches, and prevent future attacks. Treatment options include oxygen therapy, triptan injections, and local anesthetics.
Sinus infections
The sinuses are the air-filled spaces of the skull. They are located behind the nose, forehead and cheeks, as well as behind the eyes. A sinus infection (sinusitis) is a common cause of pain, including headaches, in the eyes.
Migraines are often mistaken for sinus infection headaches. Treatment for headaches localized to the sinuses involves treating the underlying infection with prescription antibiotics and decongestants.
Ophthalmic diseases causing headaches localized behind the eyes
Finally, there are a number of eye diseases and other problems that can cause eye pain. Among them:
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve, causing loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, difficulty adjusting to darkness, and halos around light sources.
A special type of glaucoma, acute angle-closure glaucoma, can cause nausea and severe headaches behind the eyes. If you experience these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor immediately.
Scleritis
Scleritis is severe inflammation of the sclera, or outer covering of the eyeball. It is most often caused by autoimmune diseases. Symptoms include a headache behind the eye, red or pink eyes, watery and blurred vision, and light sensitivity.
Optic neuritis
Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is accompanied by eye pain or headache behind the eye, blurred vision, loss of color vision, floaters, nausea, and loss of vision.
Graves' disease or Graves' disease
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease associated with problems with the thyroid gland. Basedow's disease affects the eyes, they become very bulging, reddened, the eyelids retract, patients have limited ability to move the eyes, the image is double, and sometimes there may be loss of vision. In some cases, Graves' disease can also cause eye pain.
What if both at the same time?
Transparent discharge from both the eyes and nose, as well as sneezing, are symptoms of eye inflammation, which you can first try to treat at home: rinse with warm chamomile infusion. But only if no other deterioration is observed. However, even here, a doctor’s advice will not hurt, because a runny nose that is not completely cured can become chronic (and even... turn into pneumonia!).
If wheezing and swelling of the eyelids are added, then an allergy is quite possible (the same signs with an accidental one-time inhalation of powdery or sharp-smelling household chemicals). The condition will worsen if treatment is not started! Before visiting a doctor, try to first identify the allergen yourself (house dust, fungi and mold, plant pollen, household chemicals or strong odors, cigarette smoke) in order to relieve the sufferer from it.
If pus also flows along with the above, an increase in body temperature is already life-threatening symptoms of damage to the respiratory tract.
Manifestations of a viral infection, in addition to everything else, include poor appetite, lethargy, fever, sneezing, coughing, and dehydration. Serious, responsible and long-term treatment will be required.
Causes of lacrimation in kittens
Kittens can have watery eyes for the following reasons:
- Physiological. In small kittens, the lacrimal glands work quite actively, but babies do not yet know how to “wash themselves”. Therefore, in the morning, clear transparent tears may appear in their eyes, which dry quickly without leaving crusts. This phenomenon occurs quite often and does not require treatment.
- Colds. Until 2-3 months of age, the kitten’s immune system is not yet sufficiently developed, and therefore it catches colds easily. In addition to increased lacrimation, signs of rhinitis are observed during a cold: snot, sneezing.
- Traumatic eye injury. A kitten can damage its eyes while playing; sand or debris can get under its eyelid.
- Allergic conjunctivitis. Every fifth kitten suffers from this disease. It can be triggered by plant pollen or vapors released from household chemicals. Sensitization can also be caused by foods containing dyes, fragrances or flavoring additives.
If your kitten has very watery eyes and snot only during or immediately after eating, these are most likely signs of a food allergy - intolerance to a given type of food.
Inflammatory eye diseases (keratitis, blepharitis).
- Helminthiasis. Some types of helminthic infestations cause symptoms such as serous discharge from the nose and eyes.
- Breed predisposition. Tearing in kittens can be explained by the genetic characteristics of the breed. For example, in Persians, Scottish and British cats, due to the special shape of the skull, the tear ducts are somewhat narrowed. After the skull bones are fully formed, by about 2 years of age, lacrimation disappears. Kittens of the Rex and Sphynx breeds often suffer from lacrimation; they often have partial eyelid inversion, so their eyes are more often injured.
