Blepharitis In Cats: Symptoms And Treatment

Eye diseases are common in cats that do not have adequate hygiene and health conditions. Among these diseases is blepharitis, which also manifests itself as a sign of other types of pathology, such as leishmaniasis.

Cats can suffer from different illnesses throughout their lives. The eyes are very sensitive and can develop diseases like blepharitis, which we’ll talk about next.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a disease defined as an inflammation of the eyelids. The origin of this disease is varied and can be infectious, immunologically mediated (immunomediated) or allergic.

Despite being called ‘inflammation of the eyelids’, it is rarely located only on the eyelids. It usually manifests as a generalized dermatosis on the skin of the face.

Therefore, the  most inflammatory processes eyelids shows changes in skin part. For this reason, they should be treated like dermatological changes.

generalized blepharitis

Blepharitis is called generalized  when the inflammation simultaneously affects all the elements that go into the formation of the eyelids. Inflammation is often noticed in the upper eyelid.

partial blepharitis

Blepharitis is called partial  when the inflammation affects only a part of the elements involved in the formation of the eyelids.

Partial blepharitis can receive the surnames of mucosa, glandulosa or furunculosa. And the professional will classify the disease according to the signs presented by the animal.

Source

The origin of this pathology can be multiple, so it is necessary to know the different etiologies that can cause it.

One of the options for the origin of the infection is bacterial. Bacterial eyelid infections can be transmitted in two ways: by biting or by scratching between cats.

The pathology can also be caused by parasites, being another symptom of the disease caused by them. Among the parasites that can cause this disease are  Leishmania spp. , which causes leishmaniasis, or  Sarcoptes scabiei, which  causes scabies.

It can also have an immunological origin, that is, it can be caused by autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or pemphigus, among others.

On the other hand,  it is also possible that it has a fungal origin. Among the fungi that can cause this disease is the genus Microsporum  or the genus  Trichophyton.

Finally, other causes can be allergic or seborrheic reactions. More rarely, medial corner blepharitis, which is associated with race and autoimmune etiology, is detected.

blepharitis symptoms

The etiology of this pathology can have multiple origins and, therefore, the lesions can be varied. Despite this, among the symptoms that can be observed in this disease are the following:

• Eye discomfort. The animal is uncomfortable and tries to rub its eyes frequently. It is possible to observe lesions such as edema, pustules, crusts, ulcers, etc.
• Red eyes.
• Conjunctivitis. This pathology causes intense tearing, itching and redness. It can be caused by a bacterial or viral organism. It can also be an allergic response or a manifestation in the presence of a foreign body.

• Mucous or mucopurulent secretion. This doesn’t always happen.
• Focal Shapes. Sometimes there are focal forms, such as a sty, which are easier to diagnose and treat.
• Skin lesions. Since it is a dermatological disease, manifestations and lesions are usually observed on the animal’s face.
• Strange behavior of the animal. If the animal is irritable, if it tries to rub its eyes repeatedly, or unusual behavior is observed, the best thing to do is to consult a professional.

Symptoms usually appear progressively, although acute presentations may sometimes occur. ​​Cases of mild conjunctivitis are usually seen before redness and subsequent swelling of the eyelids occur.

Treatment

Depending on the etiology of blepharitis, your veterinarian will suggest a specific treatment or other treatment. If the origin is bacterial, a systemic broad-spectrum antibiotic will be prescribed. If no improvement is seen, other tests, such as cultures or an antibiogram, should be performed. Furthermore, viruses can also be the cause of this disease.

On the other hand, if the cause of the disease is a parasite, a topical and systemic treatment will be performed. The prognosis for this disease is generally good. However,  the treatment is long as it takes several weeks.

Tips

Cleaning the eyelids prevents the appearance of problems such as conjunctivitis or blepharitis. Therefore, it is advisable to clean them daily.

Cats are generally clean animals that sanitize themselves and thus avoid different diseases. However, in the face of any unusual signs in the animal, the best thing to do is to consult a specialist.