Search Results
135 results for “conjunctivitis”
What Diseases Does the FVRCP Cat Vaccine Prevent?
The FVRCP vaccine, commonly called the cat triple vaccine, protects against three contagious feline diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus (FCV), and panleukopenia (FPV, or feline distemper). It greatly lowers infection risk but is not a full guarantee. Kittens can start at eight weeks, need two to three shots three to four weeks apart, and then an annual booster. Sick or pregnant cats should not be vaccinated.
Foods You Should Never Feed Your Cat
Cat food is the safer choice over table scraps because it is balanced for a cat's needs, while homemade meals are hard to get nutritionally right. Some human foods are downright dangerous for cats. Allium vegetables - onion, scallion, garlic, leek - cause vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, and bloody urine, and the toxins survive cooking; avocado brings similar dangers and can be fatal. Chocolate causes diarrhea and vomiting and, in quantity, sudden death. Raw eggs can trigger diarrhea, skin, and eye problems (cooked is fine); shellfish can cause skin disease; and dog food lacks taurine, so long-term feeding leads to taurine deficiency. Milk and fish are okay in small amounts, but go easy on high-magnesium dried seafood to avoid stones.
Canine Infectious Hepatitis: Can It Be Treated
Canine infectious hepatitis is an acute, often severe viral disease of dogs caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1). It spreads through urine, saliva, and nasal discharge and hits weaned puppies hardest, sometimes with no warning signs. Typical signs include a fever that rises then falls, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and a characteristic cloudy "blue eye" in about a quarter of recovering dogs. While there is no direct cure that eliminates the virus, most dogs recover with prompt supportive care such as fluids, liver protection, and antibiotics to control secondary infection. The good news is that the disease is highly preventable through routine vaccination, with puppy shots given at 8-9 and 10-12 weeks and annual boosters for adults.
Why Your Dog Has Tear Staining and Eye Discharge
A healthy dog's eyes are bright with little or no tearing or crust. When discharge increases, it is time to check the eyes, and a careful owner may reach for eye drops. The causes run from simple irritation to structural and whole-body disease, so the pattern of the discharge matters.
Why Dogs Get Tear Stains and Dirty Fur Around the Eyes
Dog eyes connect to the nose, so when the nasolacrimal duct is blocked or swollen by inflammation, tears cannot drain or evaporate and spill out. Tear stains form when tears and other eye discharge sit uncleaned on the fur and oxidize into dark marks - most visible on light-colored coats. Causes split into innate (flat-faced breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, Exotic and Persian cats have tight ducts), disease (ear infection, entropion, dacryoadenitis, conjunctivitis), and habits (salty food, overlong fur poking the eye). Clean gently with a boric-acid cotton ball or cool water from the inner corner outward, then apply eye drops; genetic stains need patient, regular care.
Why Does My Cat Have Uneven Eye Size?
A cat with one eye larger than the other is common and can be genetic, but if it appears later it usually points to irritation, inflammation, feline herpes, injury, or heat. The right response depends on the cause, so judge by the situation. If a foreign object is the culprit, gently clearing it often restores the eye quickly. Eyelid inversion may need surgery, so see a veterinarian. Other causes include eye disease such as conjunctivitis or keratitis, feline rhinotracheitis with discharge and sneezing, trauma, and diet-related heat that responds to lighter food and more water.
Why Does Your Cat Have Heavy Tear Stains?
Those dark streaks under a cat's eyes are more than cosmetic; they signal an underlying issue. Tear staining can come from structural problems like ingrown lashes and blocked ducts, from infections and parasites such as eye disease, ear mites, or eye worms, or simply from a salty diet. Understanding the cause is the first step to clearing the stains and keeping your cat comfortable.
Cat Upper Respiratory Infection: Symptoms and Treatment
A cat upper respiratory infection is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper airways. Affected cats typically cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose, sometimes with yellow nasal discharge, and a sudden drop in temperature, poor nutrition, or stress can trigger an outbreak. The usual culprits are viruses such as herpesvirus and calicivirus, bacteria such as Chlamydia, and fungi such as Cryptococcus. This article covers the common pathogens, how viral, bacterial, and fungal infections differ in their signs, what else can mimic these symptoms, and the supportive care and medications veterinarians rely on to treat them, from keeping the eyes and nose clear to antiviral, antibiotic, and antifungal therapy.
How to Give Your Cat Vitamin B
Ringworm often strikes weak, underfed cats and can stem from vitamin B lack, which also causes weight loss, hair loss, and serious nerve and eye damage. Use cat-specific B vitamins, not human ones they can't absorb, and feed B-rich food and fruit. After baths, dry fully, and disinfect the environment to stop ringworm spread.
Treatment for Corneal Ulcers in Cats
A vet diagnoses a cat's corneal ulcer with a full eye exam and fluorescein staining, though finding the cause can be tricky. Possible triggers include abnormal lashes, eyelid faults, dry eye, feline herpesvirus, and uveitis as a complication. A thorough exam, stain test, tear test, and cultures pin down size, depth, and infection so the right treatment can start.