Ectropion in cats – Symptoms and treatment

El ectropion in cats It is a disease that can generate mild conjunctivitis to loss of vision and is that maintaining a correct eye hygiene of our cat is essential to prevent future diseases.

There are ocular alterations such as ectropion that are easy to detect during the cleaning routine. Keep reading and discover in this article the features about ectropion in cats, symptoms and treatment.

What is ectropion?

Ectropion is a ocular pathology which consists of the Eversion of the upper or lower eyelid outwards, so that the conjunctiva of the eyelid is exposed. It can occur in one part of the eyelid or in its entirety and be unilateral or bilateral.

This condition makes the eyes of our cats prone to recurrent infections and dry keratoconjunctivitis since the tear film is not distributed normally. We must differentiate it from entropion, which is characterized by bending the eyelid inwards, generating some similar consequences.

Causes of ectropion

Ectropion can be congenital (the cat is born with this defect) or acquired. Acquired ectropion will occur as a result of trauma, chronic inflammation, eyelid surgery, decreased orbicular muscle tone (senile) or paralysis of a cranial nerve.

Image of an ectropion in a dog from www.dierenartsenzodiac.be:

Ectropion symptoms in cats

The affected animals present a greater conjunctival surface exposed to the external environment. In other cases, it may exacerbate other diseases such as “dry eye”, since ectropion can hinder the distribution of the tear film.

This condition can generate clinical signs such as:

• Conjunctivitis of different degrees.
• Epiphora (excessive tearing)
• Dry keratoconjunctivitis (insufficient tear production and poor quality thereof)
• Eye pain
• Coloring of facial hair in the lacrimal area

Diagnosis and treatment of ectropion in cats

Any owner can detect this condition by observing the eye and the symptoms of ectropion that the cat presents. Through a ophthalmologic exploration complete, the veterinarian will diagnose the ectropion and will explain the treatment to follow.

If it is a mild ectropion, the treatment consists of washing more frequently with physiological saline or with an ocular cleansing solution in order to reduce congestion, hydrate and sweep the particles of the exposed conjunctiva. In addition, the infection of the conjunctiva will be treated if it exists.

In case of severe ectropion, the indicated treatment is surgical and consists of correcting the position of the eyelids leaving the cornea protected. The surgical correction is performed under general anesthesia and the postoperative period is not complicated.

If the ectropion in cats is not treated, the patient will be more predisposed to suffer conjunctivitis for life, chronic keratoconjunctivitis and dry keratoconjunctivitis. Also, as the cornea is more exposed, it can become inflamed and opaque, leading to loss of vision.

Prevention

To prevent ectropion in cats, it is advisable not to use felines that present this pathology congenitally as reproducers. Likewise, it will be fundamental to maintain a correct hygiene and health of the eyes of our cats so that they do not acquire it due to chronic inflammations.

This article is merely informative, in .com we do not have the faculty to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.

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