What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is an itchy, uncomfortable inflammation of the ‘conjunctiva’, which is the membrane which covers the eyeballs and lines the eyelids.
It can be just as common in pets as it is in humans, so it’s always best to get it checked if you suspect your pet may be affected.
What are the symptoms?
These are some of the most common symptoms –
- Discharge from the eyes (can be watery or thick)
- Red, bloodshot eyes
- Pawing at the affected eye due to discomfort
- Blinking more than normal
- Squinting
- Eyelids sticking together
What causes conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis has a number of possible causes, the most common being an allergic reaction to dust, pollen, smoke or other airborne irritants.
Smaller animals may be affected by dusty bedding like sawdust.
It can also be caused by bacterial or viral infections, such as feline herpes.
There are a few more serious causes, such as ‘dry eye’ or abnormalities to the structure of the eye.
What is the treatment?
The best thing you can do for your pet is get them to the vet as soon as you suspect an eye problem so they can be diagnosed and treated before the condition worsens.
Your vet can also diagnose any underlying health issues which may have caused the infection.
For example, rabbits may have teeth issues, which press against the tear ducts causing eye problems.
In most cases conjunctivitis can be treated with medicated eye drops or ointments prescribed by your vet.
Please call us on 01435 864422 if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s eye health.
