To all of us cat lovers who can't resist the temptation to help everyone who meows incessantly under a car, it has crossed our minds to think about the cause of that poor kitty is so rheumy that he can't even open his eyes.
Beyond the helplessness that the dispersion of the litter entails, and the defenselessness that not seeing at this critical stage implies, there are many guilty parties involved in the answer to the question ofwhy does your cat have so much rheum Therefore, in this article on our site, we will introduce you to the most common.
Feline herpesvirus type 1
Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is one of the causes of what is known as " cat flu". It has ocular and respiratory tract tropism, that is, it causes a condition that we can simplify by calling it conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract problems: sinusitis, sneezing and rhinorrhea (runny nose), etc.
Almost no kitten in a litter will be spared if the mother is a carrier, since the infection reactivates in her with the stress of childbirth, even if it has lain dormant in her for quite some time. This virus can affect kittens even when they are in the womb, in which case they will be born with their eyeball already missing. It usually gives rise to acute infections in cats less than 3 months old, and moderate or latent infections in adults that have managed to control the initial infection thanks to a competent immune system.
Symptoms
At the ocular level, it can give rise to numerous clinical manifestations that have a common denominator: the appearance of many rheums in the cat, of different viscosity and color. In short, what happens in these ocular processes is that a tear deficit is generated, thus predominating the mucous and lipid part of the tear over the aqueous portion, and that is why rheum arises. In addition, you have the following symptoms:
- Blepharitis: inflammation of the eyelids, which become stuck together by ocular discharge.
- Uveitis: inflammation of the anterior chamber of the eye.
- Keratitis: inflammation of the cornea.
- Corneal ulcer.
- Corneal sequestration: a part of the dead cornea is already "sequestrated" in the eye, giving rise to a dark spot.
Treatment
After the herpesvirus infection, the inviting bacteria can arrive to complicate the picture. The use of local therapies with antiviral eye drops, such as famciclovir, quite recently, or acyclovir, and the control of opportunistic bacteria withantibiotics is essential, as well as lubrication and cleaning of secretions on a regular basis. They are usually long treatments that require a lot of dedication on our part.
In any case of rheum production in the cat, our veterinarian will surely carry out the so-called Schirmer Test, which measures tear production, before starting to apply eye drops.
And FHV-1 infection lasts forever?
If a cat overcomes the acute infection without damage, although there is always some sequel in the form of a corneal lesion, it will remain a chronic carrier, reactivating the infection from time to time, and giving rise to milder conditions, which sometimes even go unnoticed, if you have been vaccinated against herpesvirus. We usually notice that our cat "winks" one eye, or looks like a "crying cat", due to the regular secretion that we observe in the lacrimal groove.
Feline calicivirus
The calicivirus is another of those responsible for "cat flu", along with the previous one. It can exclusively affect the eyes, or cause a respiratory condition along with eye discharge But it can also cause ulcers on the oral mucosa without other symptoms, for example.
Although the trivalent vaccine in cats, which includes FHV-1, calicivirus and panleukopenia, protects them against infection, there are two problems:
- There are many different strains of calicivirus impossible to cover in the same vaccine, which also mutate constantly, while there is only one of FHV-1, luckily.
- Normally vaccinations start at two months, and the kitten may already have had the infection.
After infection, the virus is constantly excreted, so there are frequent relapses, either of conjunctivitis alone, or with associated respiratory signs such as cough, sinusitis, sneezing…
Treatment
Because it is almost always accompanied by respiratory signs, it is most likely that an oral antibiotic is prescribed which is also excreted through tears, thereby controlling secondary infection by bacteria. If our veterinarian considers it appropriate, he can indicate an antibiotic and/or anti-inflammatory eye drop, if the conjunctiva is very affected. Since tear production is usually decreased, it is a widely used option. Antivirals do not have the same efficacy as in FHV-1.
Diagnosis by serological tests is the most widely used, as in the case of herpesvirus, although clinical suspicion and response to treatment may be enough.
Feline chlamydiosis
The bacterium Chlamydophila felis does not participate in cat flu, but it can appear in the eye secondary to a viral infection, taking advantage of lowered defenses.
It usually causes an acute infection in the affected cat, with an intense mucopurulent ocular discharge and great inflammation of the conjunctiva.
The treatment for feline chlamydiosis, once identified by laboratory tests (a sample of the conjunctiva is taken with a swab and sent to the laboratory for culture), is based on ointments or eye drops of a specific group of antibiotics (tetracyclines) for several weeks.
If the infection and production of rheum in our cat's eye does not subside with regular eye drops, our veterinarian will suspect this bacterium during check-ups, and will surely request specific tests to isolate it and proceed to the correct treatment.
Legañas in flat cats
In brachycephalic breeds (flat cats such as the Persian or exotic), it is very common to constantly find secretions in the lacrimal groove, since these cats tend to live with grumbling.
Due to the conformation of the head in these breeds, their nasolacrimal ducts can be obstructed, causing the tear to overflow to the outside and leaving the dry production stuck to the medial corner of the eye. The final appearance is a slimy brown crust or crust, and a feeling of lack of cleanliness in the area, including redness in the conjunctiva. In addition, their eyes protrude from the profile (bulging eyes), and they may suffer from dryness.
The daily cleansing of the secretions to prevent them from drying out and forming wounds, either with saline solution or with specific products, is essential in these cats. If our veterinarian considers it appropriate, he can recommend the use of artificial tears to prevent corneal problems due to dryness. Don't miss our article to learn how to clean your cat's eyes step by step.
