By Mary Lucille Walsh, DVM, DACVO
I love my feline patients, but most of them are battling similar issues – red and puffy eyes that will not get or stay better. Our best treatment strategies are based on knowing the most common causes of feline conjunctivitis, how to diagnose it and how to treat it.
When a cat presents with a history of red eyes, squinting or watery discharge, it is important to do a complete ophthalmic exam and create a problem list. Limited kitty minutes? Be sure to have all of your tools together before starting the exam, and remember that checking for an ulcer is an important part of this assessment. Once you have completed a fluorescein stain, looked for any irritants (eyelid masses, hairs), and found the intraocular exam is normal, you conclude that feline conjunctivitis is the diagnosis.
In cats, the most common underlying cause for conjunctivitis is an infectious etiology. This includes feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), Chlamydia felis, and Mycoplasma spp, among the most common.
This article originally appeared on dvm360.com on December 17, 2024, as part of Thrive Pet Healthcare's Strategic Alliance with dvm360.
About Mary Lucille Walsh, DVM, DACVO Dr. Mary Lucille Walsh is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist at
Eye Care for Animals on Far West Boulevard in Austin, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2013 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 from North Carolina State University. Dr. Walsh then completed a small animal rotating internship at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital and advanced her expertise with a specialty internship and three-year residency in ophthalmology at Texas A&M University. Dr. Walsh brings extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of ocular conditions to her role at Eye Care for Animals, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner. Eye Care for Animals operates 40 locations across 16 states, providing compassionate and innovative ophthalmic care to over 55,000 pets annually. Dr. Walsh is dedicated to improving the vision and quality of life for her patients through specialized care and expertise.
