Purulent discharge from the eyes

Some owners, having noticed discharge from the eyes of their pet, do not hurry to contact a veterinarian, preferring to rinse with folk remedies. This is a big mistake. Pus on the muzzle may not be conjunctivitis, but a symptom of a serious infectious or systemic disease.

Causes of purulent discharge from the eyes of cats and dogs

Attentive owners often notice traces of discharge in the corners of the eyes of the pet. If they are not much, the substance has a transparent, slightly greyish or brownish colour - this is normal. It is just necessary to observe hygiene more carefully. When the discharge is abundant, pus-filled, green, yellow, whitish shades - you should urgently make an appointment at the clinic. The causes of such a deviation are different.

The most common of them are:

allergic reaction;

bacterial, viral infections;

inflammation;

mechanical damage by foreign objects, claws, long hair on the muzzle;

ophthalmological pathologies (diseases of the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea);

fungal lesions;

neoplasms;

diabetes mellitus;

worm infestations;

irritation from constant contact with chemicals that have a caustic odour;

vitamin A deficiency.

According to the observations of veterinarians, in cats, ophthalmological problems are more often of an infectious nature. They are provoked by: panleukopenia, chlamydia, herpesvirus, calcivirosis, rhinotracheitis. Dogs are more susceptible to mechanical damage to the eye sockets, abnormalities in the development of the eyelids. In some cases, the violation provokes such dangerous diseases as adenovirus or plague.

Unilateral lesions usually indicate a problem of a local character, bilateral - systemic.

It is believed that eye bleeding is the norm for representatives of brachycephalic breeds with flattened short muzzles. This is not the case, and the cause of the abnormality must be determined in any case.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

In the early stages of the development of the disease, the discharge is poorly visible. Eye problems in the animal can be suspected by the following signs:
corneal opacity;

restless behaviour;

constant need to rub the orbital area with paws due to itching or burning;

decreased appetite;

combing;

"piling", yellowing of the hair on the muzzle.

Depending on the main cause of the appearance of discharge, additional symptoms may be observed.

With viral, bacterial infections are observed:

refusal of food, water;

vomiting;

sneezing, flow from the nose;

ulcers in the oral cavity;

coughing;

elevation of body temperature to critical values;

weakness, fatigue;

diarrhoea, sometimes with blood;

sudden loss of body weight and other signs.

Signs of foreign body ingress are: corneal trauma, dulling, discoloration of some parts of the eyeball.

It is not possible to understand the occurrence of ophthalmological problems on your own. The veterinarian at the reception will examine the animal, conduct the necessary instrumental tests. If an infection or disease of internal organs is suspected, additional analyses of faeces, urine, blood will be required. After receiving all the results, the veterinarian will prescribe drug therapy or surgical intervention.

Treatment of the disease in pets

The course of treatment of the pet should be under the strict control of the attending physician (in severe cases, placement in a hospital is required). Before a visit to the clinic, you can slightly relieve the condition of the animal by washing the eyes from excretions with hygienic means, for example, lotion Rosinka company Apicenna.

To stop purulent discharge, ophthalmic drops are used. Specialists recommend the use of Apicenna preparations for the treatment of cats, dogs:

Ophthalmosan quickly buys inflammation, relieves swelling. For additional moisturisation of the eye, succinic acid is included in the composition;

Dekta-2 has pronounced antibacterial, anti-inflammatory effects. Helps to stop allergic reactions.

Drops are easy to use, well penetrate into the tissues of the affected organ, provide a sustained therapeutic effect.

Purulent discharge in pets is a fairly common phenomenon. It is important to contact the clinic in a timely manner. Self-treatment can be not only useless, but also cause serious harm to the health of the furry patient. Lack of professional help can lead to complete blindness, sometimes - death of the animal.