How to Tell If Cats Swollen Eyes Are From a Virus or Bacteria
Feline eye infections can be painful, inconvenient and cause serious health problems if left untreated. There are two types of eye infections: bacterial and viral. It is difficult to distinguish one from the other as they both cause the eye to swell and produce discharge. It is best to consult your veterinarian to obtain a correct diagnosis.
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Instructions
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Viral infections
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Ask your veterinarian to test your cat for viral infections. Viral infections are the most common type of infections in the eyes of cats. The two prevalent viral infections are feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. These viral infections are highly contagious between cats and can reoccur later in life after one episode subsides. Both of these infections can cause feline conjunctivitis or pink eye.
Feline herpesvirus is sometimes called the cat flu. Symptoms include swollen eyes, eye discharge, sneezing and nasal discharge. Feline calicivirus is a mild version of the cat flu, with the most prominent symptom being mouth ulcers.
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Ask your veterinarian to test for bacterial infections. Chlamydia bacteria can cause eye infections in cats. This illness is not transmissible to humans, but it can be transmitted from cat to cat. According to acatdog.com, it is impossible for an untrained individuals to tell the difference between a chlamydia bacterial infection and a viral infection in cats.
Toxoplasmosis is another bacterial infection of the eye that mainly causes redness and inflammation. Bacterial eye infections, like viral ones, can cause pink eye.
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Take your pet to a professional for an accurate diagnosis. Do not try to guess which type of infection your cat has. Your vet will examine your cat and usually take an eye swab to analyze for viruses. Both bacterial and viral eye infections have similar symptoms.
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Apply the treatment recommended by your veterinarian. The most common treatment for any type of feline eye infection is an ointment called terramycin. According to acatdog.com, this medicine has an effect on viral infections, conjunctivitis, and on the chlamydia bacteria. Natural remedies for eye infections are also available. Consult your veterinarian before treating your cat with any remedy, natural or otherwise.
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