Search Results
135 results for “conjunctivitis”
How to Tell If Your Dog Has an Eye Problem
Eye trouble shows as constant cloudy tears, hardened gunk, rubbing or bumping the eye, swollen or red lids, bulging (glaucoma), white clouding (cataracts), or entropion/ectropion. Clean with pet eye drops and wipes daily; correct lids and cornea with vet care. Flat-faced and loose-skinned breeds need extra caution.
Why Your Cat Licks You (and When to Stop It)
A cat that licks you is usually showing love, asking for food or a clean box, marking you with its scent for security, or telling you it's unwell. But the barbed tongue can abrade your skin into red patches, and a cat's mouth carries bacteria including Bartonella (cat-scratch disease, from fleas/ticks), which can pass through tiny unseen wounds. Stop licking promptly, separate the cat at night, or use a scent it dislikes. If licked, wash 15 minutes with soap and running water, disinfect with dilute iodine, and see a doctor for visible breaks—watching for rabies too.
How to Tell If Your Cat Has Feline Rhinotracheitis (Cat Flu)
Cat flu and a common cold look alike, which leaves many owners unsure whether their cat has feline rhinotracheitis — an infection caused by the feline herpesvirus. The reliable approach is twofold: watch the symptoms and confirm with a test. Early signs are subtle — sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, low appetite, no fever — while the active phase brings a high temperature near 40°C, persistent coughing and sneezing, and thick eye and nose discharge. A test strip or a PCR check at the clinic confirms it, but the result must be read alongside the symptoms.
Why Does My Rabbit Keep Tearing Up?
Rabbits that constantly tear up may be reacting to simple irritants, eye infections, blocked tear ducts, dental disease, or even congenital eye conditions. Because persistent tearing can signal discomfort or an underlying problem, owners should keep the eye area clean, maintain a hygienic habitat, and ensure a balanced diet. If the tearing worsens or appears with redness, discharge, swelling, or loss of appetite, a veterinary exam is essential. This article covers the common causes and the practical home care steps you can take to keep your rabbit comfortable and healthy.
Dealing with Cat Tear Stains
Tear overflow (epiphora) happens when tears overproduce or the nasolacrimal duct blocks, spilling onto the fur. The reddish-brown stain comes from porphyrin—an iron waste in tears that oxidizes in air and sunlight. Common causes: too much salt (human food, salty kibble), 'heat', ear infections that stimulate tearing, duct blockage, entropion (inward lashes), dacryoadenitis, and feline herpes (tears plus nasal discharge—watch unvaccinated cats). Genetics play a role too. Cut salty food and see a vet to find the true cause.
How to Supplement Vitamin B for Your Cat
Vitamin B deficiency in cats frequently appears as skin trouble—especially ringworm—along with a dull coat, weight loss, and loss of appetite, and in serious cases it can progress to eye and nerve problems. Because cats cannot store or synthesize enough B vitamins on their own, daily diet matters. This guide covers the warning signs of deficiency, why human B supplements are a poor fit for cats, and safe ways to meet their needs: B-rich cat food, small amounts of fruit, thorough drying after baths, regular disinfection of bedding and surroundings, and sunlight to help keep skin healthy.
Why Does My Dog Have Bad Tear Stains?
Tear stains form when tears (water plus salts and protein) evaporate and leave dark-brown marks—and they can signal health trouble, not just looks. Causes: poor eye cleaning (dust, smoke irritation), ingrown eyelashes from eyelid inward-rolling (needs vet care), unclean ears (mites or bacteria stimulate tear glands), and oily or salty food (switch to low-salt natural kibble and more water). Some breeds (Pekingese, Chihuahua, Pug) have genetic over-tearing from bulging eyes; severe cases may need a tear-duct opening surgery. Disease (blocked ducts, tear-gland inflammation) needs a vet. Daily: gentle cleaning, trim surrounding hair, light eye massage a few times a week, and a bland diet.
What Injections Does a Cat with a Cold Need?
Never give a cat cold medicine or injections blindly. For anti-inflammatory or antibiotic shots, a vet must diagnose first—injecting without guidance can harm the cat. An ordinary cold shows sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, sometimes fever, with little change in spirit or appetite. A viral cold (upper-respiratory infection) brings cough, congestion, sneeze, fever, thick nasal discharge, heavy eye discharge, conjunctivitis, and mouth ulcers; it's more severe, can block tear ducts and cause light aversion and hiding, even vision loss and refusal to eat. When to inject: high fever needs an antipyretic shot (vet-guided); viral colds get antiviral fluid; severe secondary infection needs the right antibiotic; serious dehydration needs subcutaneous glucose. Leave all injections to a professional.
Can a Cat Die from a Cold?
A cat's cold is usually not fatal if it stays mild, but ignoring it—letting a secondary virus take hold or failing to care during an outbreak—can indeed be deadly. Viral and bacterial colds are the dangerous ones; feline herpesvirus (cat flu, or rhinotracheitis) is the common viral form, and stray cats left untreated can die, while house cats should see a vet for targeted treatment. Later signs include thick nasal discharge, weeping or cloudy eyes, conjunctivitis, constant sneezing and cough, lost appetite, and low spirits. Prevention centers on vaccination against herpesvirus (though vaccines aren't 100% effective) plus disinfecting the environment, since the virus survives about 24 hours. Keep a sick cat warm—the virus replicates better at low temperatures.
What to Do When Your Cat’s Eye Is Swollen
A swollen cat eye usually comes from a play-related bump or scratch, a stray foreign object, an insect bite or sting, or inflammation such as conjunctivitis. Gentle cleaning with saline and a cat-specific eye drop often helps mild cases, while a suspected bee sting (with a venom-bearing stinger) or viral conjunctivitis from cat flu needs veterinary care. Keeping your cat's paws clean also prevents further infection.