Adopting is an act of pure love that gives a new opportunity to millions of dogs and cats. But we must consider that abandoned animals or animals born on the streets are vulnerable to various diseases that can put their well-being at risk. That is why it is so important to provide them with adequate preventive medicine from their first weeks of life.
What is the uvea and what are its functions?
The uveal tract (or uvea) is a kind of vascular veilwhich represents the main protective barrier of the eye. Among its functions, the participation in the production of aqueous humor stands out, responsible for lubricating the eyeball. Its structure includes a posterior portion, formed by the choroids, and an anterior portion that includes the ciliary bodies and the iris. In this way, it forms an immunological barrier to protect the main internal components of the eye.
Thanks to its delicate vascular structure, the uvea becomes very vulnerable to pathological agents inside and outside the body. When the uveal tract is affected, it usually involves dysfunctions in the eye's immunity, which can cause partial or complete loss of the visual faculty.
Uveitis in cats: definition and types
The term "uveitis" is applied by Veterinary Medicine to designate different inflammatory processes that affect the uvea of felines and canines. Depending on the affected ocular region, we have the following types of uveitis:
- Anterior uveitis: primarily affects the iris and/or ciliary bodies.
- Intermediate uveitis: Predominantly involves the posterior portion of the ciliary bodies.
- Posterior uveitis: develops mainly in the choroids.
As the boundaries between the components of the uveal tract are diffuse, it is common for the inflammation to spread and affect different uveal structures together. In more advanced cases, uveitis in cats can reach the retina and lead the animal to blindness To learn more about the condition in canines, you can read our article about Uveitis in dogs.
Causes associated with feline uveitis
As we mentioned earlier, uveitis in cats is associated with endogenous and exogenous factors. Next, we highlight the main causes of this pathology in domestic felines:
Endogenous causes
About 70% of cases of uveitis in cats are caused by severe systemic pathologies, such as:
- FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
- FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or "Feline AIDS")
- FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus)
- Systemic mycoses
- Systemic toxoplasmosis
Many diagnoses of uveitis were made in cats with intraocular tumors, mainly in cases of iris melanoma. High blood pressure also appears as a risk factor for the development of uveitis, thrombosis and intraocular hemorrhage.
Exogenous causes
Exogenous causes of feline uveitis are almost always associated with street fights, accidents or trauma Wounds, punctures, cuts and bruises resulting from of these phenomena can favor the appearance of uveitis.
Symptoms of uveitis in cats
The first symptoms of feline uveitis are considered homogeneous and silent. For this reason, they are often difficult to recognize early, since they are visual difficulties or disorders of the ophthalmological tract. A cat suffering from uveitis usually presents:
- Ocular hypotension
- Miosis (constriction of the pupils)
- Retraction of the eyeball
- Photophobia
- Excessive tearing
- Pain
- Hypersensitivity in the eye area
In addition, you can develop secondary diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment.
A very characteristic aspect of eyes affected by uveitis is the phenomenon known as Tyndall. The pathology causes the accumulation of erythrocytes, leukocytes and proteins in the aqueous humor, generating turbidity in the anterior portion of the eyeball. When subjected to the impact of light, these particles continuously reflect and can reveal spots on the eyeball.
Feline uveitis treatment
The specific treatment of feline uveitis will depend on the recognition of the cause of the pathology in each animal. The veterinarian will proceed appropriately to arrive at a differential diagnosis, and then may prescribe appropriate drugs to eliminate or control the advancement of pathogenic agents.
Normally, eye drops with anti-inflammatories corticosteroids and non-corticosteroids are used to control and prevent the progression of uveitis. In some cases, injections of methylprednisolone that are given under the connective tissue are also recommended. If the animal is in moderate pain, analgesics may be recommended to improve its well-being. If the cat has sustained trauma and perforations, surgical intervention accompanied by controlled administration of antibiotics will probably be necessary.
It is worth remembering that AnimalWised articles are for informational purposes and are in no way a substitute for specialized care. The veterinarian is the only qualified professional to diagnose and recommend an appropriate treatment for our pets.
