Kitten Season...

[My_Goldie]

So it's kitten season again.
And just like every other year, I've ended up with an orphaned kitten to care for.
She's a little siamese mix kitten about 5 weeks old (so bottle feeding/weaning very soon)

She was abandoned by her mommy because she's a bit sick. (Or so we think)
Her eyes were gunked shut when we found her :(

We gave her a good bath to get all the dirt and stuff off her and to get her eyes opened, and she is just the cutest little girl.

My question, is does anyone know of any home remedies that will help with the gunky eyes?

She's going to the vet in about a week (pay day), and I'd like to help speed the process up if at all possible.

Thanks!

I'll get some pics of her and post them soon

[jackiomy]

Just keep cleaning them with a cotton ball and warm water. It is usually a sign of an upper respiratory infection and will need antibiotics. It is important to keep the gunk off so the infection doesn't get worse in her eyes.

[kyryah]

Terramycin opthalmic ointment. The gunky eyes are almost assuredly a herpes infection, and can cause permanent eye damage. The ointment is only $13 a tube at Tractor Supply.

Is the third eyelid somewhat swollen?

Kristina

[My_Goldie]

Yeah I've been doing that.
Cleaned them off really well, and have been re-cleaning them every couple of hours.
I also flushed her eyes with a saline solution to get any dirt and stuff out

[My_Goldie]

And no the third eyelid isn't swollen or sticking out at all.

She's got clear bright eyes they just get a bit gunky.

I'll look into the ointment from a feed store. thx

[kyryah]

Just keep cleaning them with a cotton ball and warm water. It is usually a sign of an upper respiratory infection and will need antibiotics. It is important to keep the gunk off so the infection doesn't get worse in her eyes.

It can be a secondary infection to a upper respiratory infection, but if there are no respiratory symptoms present, than it is most likely a localized infection of the eye.

Administering the terramycin twice a day for ten days will clear it up completely. The swelling will be down by the second day.

Kristina

[kyryah]

And no the third eyelid isn't swollen or sticking out at all.


GOOD. That means it is early enough to save her sight!

Kristina

[My_Goldie]

Yay! :)

And I figured it was just something with her eyes because other than that she seems pretty healthy, if not a bit skinny. She was a tad bit dehydrated which is understandable as it is starting to get HOT here and she was left by her mom. She is having no other signs of a respiratory infection. No sneezing or nasal discharge, she nurses like a champ, and is very curious about her surroundings.

[bettagurl]

Good luck... I normally end up fostering 10-15 kittens every spring/summer.

[dixienut]

years ago our vet said to use a weak solution of boric acid, but i can't remember what the mix was, just boiled water cooled and boric acid we used to put it in a bottle for future use, used cotton ball and cleaned them every day and it worked out fine got it a drug store, perhaps the mix is in the bottle??? not sure,.

[bettagurl]

I think it's best to go to a vet rather than make your own meds...

[kyryah]

Well, I am not a vet, but I do have training as a vet tech, and the opthalmic ointment is available over the counter, and that is what it is for.

Kristina

[jackiomy]

Waiting for pics!