Sometimes it can be difficult to detect blindness in cats, at least at first sight. It may take tests and look closely at the cat's behavior to repair his lack of vision. In this article we talk about the main causes, symptoms and methods of detecting feline blindness.
Causes of blindness in cats
Do you think your cat could be going blind? The most common causes of vision loss in cats are:
- Systematic arterial hypertension: usually has blood or spills in the eyes and dilated pupils. After treatment, you may or may not recover your vision, depending on the severity and other factors.
- Waterfalls: as the lens becomes more opaque, the cat with cataracts gradually loses vision. If they are severe, they can result in total blindness.
- Injuries: accidents that cause eye injuries, retinal detachments, lens problems ...
- Glaucoma: caused by high intraocular pressure.
- Uveitis: It is the inflammation of the uveal tract, which includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid.
- Corneal ulcers
- Degeneration in the retina.
Symptoms of blindness in cats
Blindness will undoubtedly cause changes in your cat's behavior:
- Walk squatting trying to glue the body to the ground.
- It moves close to the walls.
- Show more insecurity when jumping, or directly does not.
- In general, he has less confidence and moves more awkwardly.
- He is afraid to move in the dark.
- Change your personality, becomes more distrustful, scary and elusive.
- The presence of your eyes changes, may become reddish or dull or cloudy in appearance.
Of course, not all cats have to present all the symptoms. Stay tuned for those who may appear!
Tests to know if your cat is blind
Do you have suspicions? Blindness in cats can be tested in the following ways:
- Test your ability to respond to the threat. Bring something, your hand or an object to your eye, of course, being careful not to touch or harm it, or create current. A cat with normal vision should react by looking away, or at least closing the eye.
- Follow-up test: Cats have a great hunting instinct and are very curious, so they do not hesitate to pursue any visual stimulus they find. You can do tests by showing off and moving a laser pointer, or by dropping balls of wool from your height and see if your cat tries to hunt them.
- Glare Test: Direct light in the eyes causes them to blink or close as a reflection. If you don't react to glare, your cat is blind without a doubt.
If you suspect or prove that your cat does not see well, you should go to the veterinarian as soon as possible. So you can know the cause behind, what degree of blindness it has and whether or not it is reversible.
Symptoms of cataracts in cats
The main symptom of cataracts in cats is, as in humans, a bluish blue spot in the eye. They may start small, but over time, if left untreated, they can grow to cover the pupil completely, making vision much more difficult. However, there are other ways to realize that your cat has cataracts:
- Take very high steps
- Wander as lost
- Walk insecure and stumble
- He does not recognize his relatives
- Miscalculate distances
- He has very watery eyes
- If the cataract is the result of an infection, a runny nose may come out
Sometimes cat cataracts are congenital, other times they develop throughout their life. They can occur in one eye or both.
Treatment of cataracts in cats
It is convenient to detect them as soon as possible, since An early diagnosis makes recovery much easier. Some cataracts, especially those of puppies, may remit on their own and need no treatment. Even so, An anti-inflammatory eye drops can help cats recover eye comfort.
In cases of cataracts in cats in which the lens is already severely affected and vision is reduced, Surgery is the only option, although it is usually expensive. If not carried out, the cat will end sooner or later by completely losing sight of the affected eye or eyes.
Even though a blind cat can continue to be guided by smell, it is advisable to resort to the operation, since the cataracts will always make you lose agility and security of movement, in addition to causing discomfort and pain, sometimes really unbearable.
Cataracts in cats can be really annoying, Stay tuned to your cat's eyes and behavior to detect them if they appear! And do not hesitate to go to your veterinarian.
Symptoms of cataracts in cats
The first thing we should do is recognize the symptoms of cataracts in cats, one of the main ones is the appearance of a bluish spot that will be found in the pupil of the animal.
This spot may remain small or increase over time, in many cases the cataracts evolve rapidly and eventually cover the entire pupil, so it is common to observe the Sight loss as one of the consequences of the opacity of the lens.
However, vision impairment can be very variable and present other symptoms such as the following.
- Your steps become abnormally high.
- Wander abnormally.
- Insecure sample> Cataracts can develop in one eye or even bothThere are cases where their presence is due to a congenital factor, that is, they are present from the birth of the cat.
The presence of a cloudy nasal discharge may appear in cases of infectious cataracts, which are usually caused by an infection underlying present in the animal.
Treatment and diagnosis in cases of cataracts in cats.
Once the first symptoms appear, it is essential that the veterinarian be consulted immediately, in this way an early diagnosis will be determined that will be decisive to treat the primary causes and stop the advance of the cataract in the animal.
Cataracts that affect puppy cats can improve spontaneously, and do not require treatment. Similarly, cataracts in adult cats that have a mild opacity and do not alter the animal's vision will not require treatment.
However, in the cases mentioned above, the veterinarian may prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops They can help keep our pet comfortable and without discomfort.
There are cases of cataracts that are caused due to nutritional problems, here the evolution of it will stop when changing the food to a balanced diet and nutritional supplements suitable for the needs and requirements of your pet.
recognize the symptoms
In cases where vision impairment is chronic, surgery is the only alternative available, this is the surgical resection of the affected lens which is changed to an artificial one, this is necessary for the cat's vision to improve, if I dont know implant the artificial lens It is possible that the cat can only see from afar and do it wrong.
The prognosis is encouraging when the surgery is performed early, the veterinarian must ensure that the cat health status Be the best before performing the surgery.
Ideally, the surgery be performed by a veterinarian specialist in ophthalmology, which in many cases makes it somewhat expensive, which is why many pet owners prefer not to do it, since many mininos end up adapting to their surroundings even after vision loss.
The life of a cat with cataracts.
Well, as we mentioned before cats they end up adapting to their surroundings after losing their sight, since our friendly feline friends use their powerful sense of smell for most of their activities, and besides they are not possessors of an exceptional sight.
This does not mean that because a cat can adapt, it must leave the house, the best thing in cases of cats with these types of problems is that stay inside the home, that way they will be safer and more protected.
If you decide not to operate your pet it is best that you provide regular follow-ups with your veterinarian That way you can determine the evolution of the disease in the pet.
Although sooner or later you will not be able to escape the cruel reality and you should later intervene your pussycat to remove the affected eye For the cataracts, since these can cause pain and discomfort in the animal and the idea is that it improves their quality of life, so that the ideal is that the eye is removed and your pet can be at peace.
The best thing to avoid any evil or progress of any anomaly is to keep in shape constant medical checkup of our pet, so it is in good health, that way we avoid many inconveniences and unnecessary expenses, in addition to offering our cat a better quality of life.
seek veterinary help
Remember that pets are part of our family, we must take care of them and love them, respect them and above all have them under a lot of responsibility, since they depend on us for many things, responsible ownership is extremely important. Adopt don't buy!
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What are cataracts?
Cataracts are opacities of the lens of the eye, which is behind the iris and pupil. It is one of the main causes of vision loss and blindness of both domestic animals and humans. In the specific case of cats, the diagnosis can be delayed since they can take time to show symptoms, especially when they only have one affected eye.
What are the symptoms?
Cats are experts in hiding pain. And this is something they do instinctively: in nature, animals that are weak do not have much chance of survival. Although they now live in a safe house with a family that loves them, they take a while to reflect pain and / or discomfort. Because, we have to be very aware and start worrying if we see any of these symptoms:
- They walk insecure
- They take abnormally high steps
- Stumble
- His eyes change color
- Pupil size or shape changes
- The eyes have them very wet
- Do not recognize, or have trouble doing, family members
How is the treatment?
If our cats have cataracts or we think they can have, we must take them to the vet as soon as possible. Once there, the professional can make an early diagnosis, thus avoiding the worsening of the problem.
The treatment may consist, depending on the severity of the case, in pouring a few drops of an anti-inflammatory eye drops, O well in surgical resection of the affected lens which will be replaced by an artificial lens.
The symptoms of cataracts in cats
If our cat suffers from cataract, the main symptom we are going to observe is a bluish gray spot when looking at our cat's pupil. Is opaque stain It may remain small or increase in size over time. Sometimes the cataracts evolve rapidly and cover the entire pupil, it is common to observe Sight loss as a consequence of the opacity of the lens.
Vision impairment may vary, and the symptoms you may observe are:
- Abnormally high steps
- Abnormal wandering
- Insecurity when walking
- Trip with familiar objects
- Miscalculate distances
- Does not recognize family people
- Have abnormally moist eyes
- Color change in your eyes
- Change in the size or shape of the pupil
Cataracts can develop in one eye or both. Many cataracts are congenital: they are present from the birth of the cat.
A runny nose that may be cloudy or clear may appear. Actually this secretion comes from the eye, this occurs especially when the cause of the cataract is an infection, when the cataracts are caused by an underlying infection.
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The treatment of cataracts in cats
A early diagnostic It is decisive to treat the primary causes and stop the progression of the cataract in either adult puppies or cats:
- Cataracts that affect cat puppies may improve spontaneously and may not need treatment.
- Cataracts in adults that have a slight opacity and do not alter the cat's vision do not necessarily need treatment.
Even so, in those cases anti-inflammatory eye drops can increase the comfort of our cat. There are also cataracts due to food deficiencies, the evolution and worsening of these cataracts can be stopped by balanced diets and food supplementation.
For cats with impaired vision, the surgical resection of the affected lens It is the only fully effective treatment. Then it is replaced by an artificial lens, if an artificial lens is not implanted, the cat can see only from afar and very badly.
The prognosis is better when surgery is performed early in the course of cataract development, and the veterinarian will ensure that the cat is healthy before operating it.
This surgery should be performed by a veterinarian specializing in ophthalmology and its high cost It makes many owners decide that it is not necessary since their cats are able to adapt to their environment even with their vision loss. Indeed, our feline friends use their nose for most of their activities, and they do not originally have a very good view. Even so, for their safety and well-being, cats with partial or total loss of vision should be kept indoors.
If an owner decides not to operate his cat from his cataract he should ensure frequent monitoring by the veterinarian to monitor the progression of the cataract.
By losing vision, at a certain point, the cat could suffer pain, and then it might be best to surgically remove the affected eye of our friend on all fours to avoid unnecessary pain.
Do not forget to comment if you have advice or recommendations for other users who have a cat with cataracts!
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cataracts in cats - symptoms and treatment, we recommend you go to our Other health problems section.
Symptoms that cats present
It is easier than we think to check if our pet has cataracts. The main symptom is the appearance of a bluish gray spot in the cat's pupil. That spot can be of various sizes and the larger it gets the more the waterfall is advancing. Sometimes the cataracts evolve rapidly and end up covering the entire pupil, making it impossible to see the cat. In addition, they can develop in both eyes or even may be present from the birth of the cat, being considered congenital.
In addition to this clear symptom, others can be appreciated if we look closely at our pet:
- Difficulty at the time of recognize people of its surroundings
- Steps abnormally high
- Wandering abnormal
- Change in shape and size of the pupil
- Runny nose Derived from the eye. This is because the cataract has been formed by an infection.
- Insecurity when walking
- Clumsiness when moving around their usual environment
- Miscalculate the distances
- His eyes turn very wet and can change color
Treatment
Just detect any of the symptoms mentioned above is necessary take our pet to the vet with the maximum possible speed, since the sight of the cat is at stake. A timely diagnosis is crucial to remedy the primary symptoms and stop the progression of the cataract.
The veterinarian will check both eyes of the pet and verify that it is obviously a cataract. For it similar devices are often used to those found in an ophthalmologist's office, to check the different structures of the eye and the seriousness of the matter. In addition, on many occasions the veterinarian will perform an ultrasound of the animal to check for tumors, hemorrhages or retinal detachments. Once the procedure is finished, the causes of the cataract and the best treatment for our pet will be known.
In the case of adult cats the treatment may vary depending on the state of the cataract. Which they have a slight opacity and do not alter the cat's vision They do not necessarily need treatment, unless it continues to get worse over time. On the other hand, cataracts that affect baby pups can improve on their own, without the need to provide a treatment.
Within the existing treatments we find the anti-inflammatory eye drops, which help eliminate the possible infection causing cataracts and relieves feline symptoms. This medicine is Recommended for cats that do not have a highly developed cataract and should not necessarily be operated. Next to the eye drops will be recommended feed the cat in a balanced way and add vitamins to your diet, since nutritional deficiencies are a factor that can make cataracts worse.
The other option to treat our pet is undergo surgery. This treatment is carried out when felines show severe vision impairment. The operation consists of make a small incision in the cornea and, using high precision instruments, absorb the cataract thanks to the use of ultrasound. After this the lens is replaced by an artificial one that will allow the cat to see both near and far clearly. The forecast of the operation will be more favorable for the cat if it is done as soon as possible.
After surgery the pet should not be admitted to the veterinary center. An Elizabethan collar will be placed to avoid touching the eye and harming or causing an infection. In addition, the veterinarian will prescribe the necessary medication for pain, swelling and dilation. By last, several revisions must be made to check the evolution of the cat and the effectiveness of the operation.
The problem with this type of surgery is its high price, which leads many owners not to subject their cat to intervention. In the event that the owner decides not to submit his pet to the surgical intervention, he must submit it to continuous veterinary reviews to monitor the progress of your cataract.
What happens if we do not subject our cat to treatment?
It is known that cats do not have a good view, being the smell their most developed sense. Therefore, a small waterfall that does not advance in time would not make life difficult for the cat. As a recommendation, a cat with a partial or total loss of vision must be kept inside the house to ensure your well-being and security.
The consequence of not subjecting our pet to surgical intervention is varied. The cat can go completely blind or simply lose some sharpness if the cataracts don't get worse. The development of cataracts until vision loss can end by cause great pain to the pet, caused by a state of hypermaturity of the cataract. This involves the entry of small particles in the lens that cause a dangerous inflammation called phacolytic uveitis. The inflammation will cause the lens to acquire a larger size, which will end up becoming a glaucoma or ocular hypertension, and the only solution reached at that point will be surgically remove the affected cat's eye to avoid unnecessary pain.
