Tear Deficiency
Conjunctivitis means a reddening (inflammation) of the pink tissue (onjcunctiva) around the eyeball itwelf. There is a difference between inflammation and infection of the conjunctiva. Both are described as conjunctivitis as infection always causes inflammation, but the opporsite is not always the case.
The causes of Conjunctivitis vary among different spceies, so a detailed review of causes of conjunctivitis in different animals is given below.
Conjunctivitis in the cat is most commonly associated with signs of Cat Flu, often caused by Cat Herpes Virus (FHV-1) or Chlamydia. Other Possibilities of conjunctivitis in the cat include true primary infections (secondary to scratching/fights/accidents), infections of the tear duct , tear disorders, eyelid disorders, eye-lash problems.
Cat Herpes Virus is similar to human Herpes Simplex that causes "cold sores" around the edges of the lips in people. As in human Herpes Simplex, Cat Herpes Virus will be dormant in nerves, when not causing any disease. Any period of immunosupression (systemic illnesses, colds, infections, pregnancy, etc.) may spike off a reactivation of the Herpes and cause conjunctivitis.
Possibilities of diagnosis of Cat Herpes Virus include:
Culture: a swab or scraping is taken from the conjunctiva and throat of the cat. A positive culture result is a clear indication of the cat being infected with Cat Herpes Virus.
DNA testing
In dogs in the cat is most commonly associated with signs of Cat Flu, often caused by Cat Herpes Virus (FHV-1) or Chlamydia. Other Possibilities of conjunctivitis in the cat include true infections (secondary to scratching/fights/accidents), infections of the tear duct , tear disorders, eyelid disorders, eye-lash problems.
Conjunctivitis in the cat is most commonly associated with signs of Cat Flu, often caused by Cat Herpes Virus (FHV-1) or Chlamydia. Other Possibilities of conjunctivitis in the cat include true infections (secondary to scratching/fights/accidents), infections of the tear duct , tear disorders, eyelid disorders, eye-lash problems.
Conjunctivitis in the cat is most commonly associated with signs of Cat Flu, often caused by Cat Herpes Virus (FHV-1) or Chlamydia. Other Possibilities of conjunctivitis in the cat include true infections (secondary to scratching/fights/accidents), infections of the tear duct , tear disorders, eyelid disorders, eye-lash problems.
Conjunctivitis in the cat is most commonly associated with signs of Cat Flu, often caused by Cat Herpes Virus (FHV-1) or Chlamydia. Other Possibilities of conjunctivitis in the cat include true infections (secondary to scratching/fights/accidents), infections of the tear duct , tear disorders, eyelid disorders, eye-lash problems.
This section of Mammaleye.com is written for Owner's of patients under my therapy. Others may of cause gain knowledge about eye diseases in pets. Remember that other veterinary ophthalmologists may wish to treat diseases of the eye in a different way than myself.
If you as an owner want further information (scientific) about eyedisases then have a look at www.mammaleye.com/prof.htm or go to pubmed and do a search on Medline - the main resource of scientific information for the whole medical profession.
