My cats eyes are leaking water

[mommytobuck]

My cat has very runny eyes. The substance that is coming out of his eyes is clear. But just recently it has gotten bad and he looks miserable like he doesn't want to open his eyes too much.

It is so bad I have to wipe the eyes about every 4 hours.

I called my vet but she hasn't called me back.

He has asthma and I have seen him get watery eyes before when his congestion builds. I can't tell if maybe I am out of medication and just don't know it? The inhalers don't have a counter on them. Though I thought I just started a new one in April.

 

[sivyaleah]

Hard to tell what the problem is by description.

I'm surprised there is no counter on the asthma medication - I know all my human types do.

All I can suggest is continue to wipe his eyes with warm water and make sure you are using a separate cotton ball for each eye so you don't cross contaminate. Pure cotton only too.

I'd be hesitant to try anything else since you don't know what the problem actually is. Hope your vet calls back soon, he must be very unhappy.

 

[mommytobuck]

I am suspicious that a medication is causing it. I just started him on Meloxicam and (for arthrtis) it has been about 21 days. I have been giving him the lowest possible dose but his eyes have been rapidly worse, I have given him the lowest possible dose ( and only gave it every other day) but...

I get the asthma medication from overseas (trusted place but it is a generic without a counter)

 

[sivyaleah]

I've never heard of meloxicam causing respiratory or eye problems. I assume the medication is being prescribed and administered under the care of your vet for frequency and dosage?

Is the asthma medication something your vet prescribed?

Has your cat been tested for various viruses and bacteria yet? What about allergy testing?

 

[mommytobuck]

Actually looking it up it does have "runny or stuffy nose" also water retention / burning eyes. Side Effects of Mobic (Meloxicam), Warnings, Uses Yes my vet gave me the drug -- she recognized there could be side effects. Yes the asthma medication is prescribed. But it cost a crap load of money in the USA so most cats with asthma get it from Canada (which is a cheaper generic) - never had allergy testing but never had this issue, and it has come on pretty dramatically.

 

[mommytobuck]

I caught him pawing at his eyes and when he got up his entire bed was wet. I don't know if the water came from his eyes or his mouth drooling at the great feeling of getting at the itching. Ugh. No vet call yet.

 

[sivyaleah]

Might be worth getting an e-collar for him to wear temporarily.
I'd call the vet back - always possible your message got lost or taken down improperly.

 

[mommytobuck]

I had to put the e-collar on - he wouldn't stop it with his eyes. They are now closed for the day. She better call after-hours.
I pray that it is the medication. It has a half life of 20 hours so if I can just make it to 2 AM today 1/2 of the medication will have warn off.
I think now that the watery eyes are 100% him pawning at them. I truly hope he hasn't done any damage. This has been going on for a week or longer. I am exhausted from running around all day trying to figure it out. If I can get him to sleep tonight it might work.

 

[mommytobuck]

So I had to put the collar on all night, in protest my cat went under the bed. So I let him stay there. When he got up I took of the collar and he was right back picking at the eyes so I had to put it back on. Now I think it is a habit.

I was also thinking last night that about 30 days ago I got him new food. I was wondering if that could have caused allergies. So that food and the medication have been stopped and I will give it a week. It it doesn't stop I will have to go to the vet.

His eyes are watering still without picking at them but they are much less.

 

[mommytobuck]

Vet still out of the office.. I made a video of my cat's eyes for her. Tell me what you guys think?

 

[mommytobuck]

So the vet got back to me and said we could "try a creme" for the eyes. I have no idea how I would get a creme in my cat's eyes. She was very dismissive about the Meloxicam. I can't quite see that because side effect of the medication DO have to do with eyes and it is known to also suppress the immune system so this could be a case of the herpies virus gaining hold. But 48 hours with no Meloxicam and his eyes are still running ...

 

[di and bob]

The creme is most likely a salve/ointment, Terramycin. I have used it many times when my cats get eye problems, including watering. Get to your vet and have her prescribe some. It definitely helps with inflammation, etc. You gently pull down underneath the eye, the lower lid, until a 'pouch' forms and put the ointment in the pouch. He should be pretty used to you wiping his eyes and should cooperate. I really believe it is either an allergy or feline herpes, NOT transferable to humans. Quitting the meds and the food is what I would do. at least temporarily.

 

[mommytobuck]

The creme is most likely a salve/ointment, Terramycin. I have used it many times when my cats get eye problems, including watering. Get to your vet and have her prescribe some. It definitely helps with inflammation, etc. You gently pull down underneath the eye, the lower lid, until a 'pouch' forms and put the ointment in the pouch. He should be pretty used to you wiping his eyes and should cooperate. I really believe it is either an allergy or feline herpes, NOT transferable to humans. Quitting the meds and the food is what I would do. at least temporarily.

Thank YOU! Your post was a million times more helpful than my vet. I do believe it was the meloxicam. Just seems too suspicious for it to happen right after giving a new medication.

I might try the creme and see what happens.

 

[sivyaleah]

The creme is most likely a salve/ointment, Terramycin. I have used it many times when my cats get eye problems, including watering. Get to your vet and have her prescribe some. It definitely helps with inflammation, etc. You gently pull down underneath the eye, the lower lid, until a 'pouch' forms and put the ointment in the pouch. He should be pretty used to you wiping his eyes and should cooperate. I really believe it is either an allergy or feline herpes, NOT transferable to humans. Quitting the meds and the food is what I would do. at least temporarily.

Totally agree with this. I've used Terramycin in several instances with all of my cats. I was never able to perfectly get it in as described but it always helped anyway. Instructions are on the tube.

Our younger one tested negative for the feline herpes virus but, based on all symptoms both her regular vet and the specialist we had to bring her to for her eyes, said she probably was not shedding the virus when tested. So we proceeded based on the assumption that's what it was. She's now over 2 and has not had any eye issues in at least a year so sometimes it can resolve. Hopefully it will work for your cat too.

 

[mommytobuck]

Well I remain cautious but four days off the meloxicam and his eyes imho are looking better. He still looks somewhat miserable when he looks at light but the insane water works has definitely stopped. I will still try the medication just in case but I think 4 days off the medication and food... he is probably 50% better.

 

[mommytobuck]

I did the ointment and to my shock I was able to get it in his eye(s). I think mine was Erythomycin? I used the elizabethan collar and I think it helped tremendously in making it easier to do.

I did actually notice some brown when I whipped his eye of the extra. Is that something to be concerned about?