Eosinophilic keratitis in a cat. Clinical case. Keratitis - inflammation of the cornea in cats. How long does it take to treat keratitis in cats?

Keratitis in cats is a disease accompanied by inflammation of the cornea of ​​the animal's eye. Externally it manifests itself as suppuration, redness and clouding of the eye.

The disease is a consequence of infection or mechanical damage. Depending on the causes, keratitis can be superficial (vascular, purulent) or deep.

Causative agent of keratitis

Adenoviruses and herpes simplex viruses are causative agents of keratitis in cats, which are transmitted through infected contaminated objects or droplets. Typically, viruses affect both eyes.

Gram negative and Gram positive microorganisms, coccal flora and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause bacterial keratitis in cats. It spreads after mechanical damage to the eye by a claw, twig or blade of grass.

Symptoms of keratitis

The main symptoms include:

• photophobia;
• not fully open eye;
• corneal clouding.

If treatment is started in time, the transparency of the cornea is restored over time. An unfavorable outcome can lead to the development of an inflammatory process.

If keratitis starts, serious consequences can occur:

• corneal breakthrough;
• secondary glaucoma.

Keratitis in sphinxes

Hairless cats, unfortunately, are more likely to suffer from keratitis than others. This is due to the physiological structure of the body and the complete absence of eyelashes. Numerous folds on the animal's skin create pressure on the eyelids - tucking them in. Entropion (even in a minor form) can cause damage to the cornea of ​​the eye, as it rubs the cornea, creating mechanical damage.

Treatment of keratitis in cats

Before drawing up a course of treatment, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause of keratitis. The age of the animal and the degree of damage should be taken into account. Diagnosis should be carried out by a professional - an ophthalmologist, who, based on many factors, will make the correct conclusion. This disease, in most cases, is easily treatable, without any consequences.

In veterinary clinics, the main method for studying keratitis in cats is eye biomicroscopy. This procedure allows you to fairly accurately determine the nature and size of the lesion, as well as identify signs of the disease in the early stages.

Greenish or yellowish color of discharge from the eye indicates purulent damage to the cornea. If a purulent lesion is suspected, a bacterioscopic examination should be performed. To do this, a 1% solution of flurescein is instilled into the conjunctival sac; the affected area should turn green.

To treat bacterial keratitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed in the form of drops, ointments, gels and medicinal films. Viral keratitis is treated with antiviral, immunomodulating and immunostimulating drugs. Sometimes antiviral therapy is combined with microsurgery.

If a cat has severe corneal ulcers, microsurgery is recommended.

Keratitis is a condition that affects the eyes of cats and can become chronic and eventually affect the pet's vision. It manifests itself as excessive redness of the eyes and photophobia. Keratitis can be treated if detected early. What kind of keratitis occurs in cats, how to recognize it and cure it - we will look at it below.

Keratitis is swelling and irritation of the cornea, the protective layer of the eyeball. The condition can dry out the cornea, and for this reason it is also known as “dry eye.”

The causes of keratitis have not been precisely determined, but several factors may be suspected in its formation:

• feline herpes virus;
• a foreign object that injures the cornea;
• eye injuries;
• eye infection

The disease may be more common in certain breeds of cats, so many experts believe that genetic factors are a greater contributor to its occurrence.

Most often, in almost 100% of cases, this disease is acquired in a cat.

Keratitis is a condition that is manifested by the presence of several symptoms, such as:

• excessive redness;
• discharge – clear or purulent, having the consistency of mucus;
• frequent squinting;
• sensitivity to light, the cat will look for darker places in the house;
• facial irritation;
• rubbing the eyes;
• elevated temperature;
• sneezing;
• clouding of the corneal tissue;
• nasal discharge;
• lethargy.

Keratitis can affect one or both eyes of a cat.

Types of keratitis and diagnosis

There are several types of the disease:

1. Ulcerative keratitis. It will most likely be caused by eye injury. An ulcer forms on the corneal tissue, which in its advanced form turns into purulent keratitis. It proceeds slowly. Since the cornea is insensitive in this form, it does not cause discomfort to the cat.
2. Chronic degenerative keratitis is more common in certain breeds such as Siamese, Persian, Himalayan and Burmese (breeds with short faces and large eyes), so it is thought to be caused by genetic factors, or may be caused by frequent eye infections;
3. Eosinophilic keratitis is a condition that begins as keratitis but progresses until the cornea turns pinkish and the affected eye becomes covered with a white film, most often caused by a herpes virus infection.

A cat that is suspected of having an eye disease should be examined by a veterinarian. Symptoms can be clearly visible to the eye infection and the host.

The veterinarian will examine the corneal tissue under a microscope to see if it is damaged or if there are any viruses causing irritation. A culture test will be performed. The condition of both eyes is analyzed for the degree of damage to the corneal tissue. The veterinarian will also determine how the treatment is progressing, whether the condition is improving or whether therapy still needs to be continued.

Therapy

Treatment of keratitis in cats can be successful if it is detected at an early stage. A typical course of treatment includes the use of eye drops and antibiotic eye gels. The cat is also given some supplements to boost the immune system.

Sometimes they resort to the surgical method, but only in particularly severe cases. Then the individual is placed in a hospital for treatment, and the damaged tissue is cut off from the surface of the eye. Special lenses may be prescribed to be worn after surgery for two weeks.

If the keratitis is caused by a herpes virus in a cat, therapy may not help. Herpes virus can be prevented by vaccinating your kitten at an early age. If left untreated, herpes and concurrent keratitis will lead to irreversible tissue damage and complete blindness.

Typically, the veterinarian prescribes the following remedies for keratitis:

• injections with Hydrocortisone for acute forms of the disease;
• Novocaine for pain relief;
• Acyclovir is used for viral keratitis.

At home, they resort to washing the eyes with furatsilin solution.

Preventive measures

In order for the cat to be healthy and not subject to such an ailment as keratitis, you can resort to the following measures:

• in the room where the cat is located, constantly carry out wet cleaning, wash surfaces and floors, and cat accessories;
• after a walk outside, inspect your pet’s eyes for the presence of foreign objects;
• if the individual has long hair, comb it well or trim it near the eyes so that it does not get into the eye cavity and injure it;
• ensure that the animal is not exposed to the cold for long;
• if the animal's eye is watery, carefully monitor it, rinse it with boric acid and ask a veterinarian for advice;
• carefully monitor your diet. It is important that the diet is complete, with sufficient vitamins and minerals;
• carry out routine deworming;
• active animals should be inspected more often for mechanical damage;
• Get vaccinated against infections starting at a young age;
• do not self-medicate, since therapy if the diagnosis is incorrect can threaten the individual with complete blindness. If the disease continues to develop after prevention, you need to show the animal to a doctor.

The inflammatory process of the cornea is one of the most common and severe ophthalmic pathologies in domestic animals. An ulcer on an organ is accompanied by an inflammatory and necrotic process of epithelial tissue and stroma. Keratitis is dangerous due to the development of complete blindness and even loss of the eyeball. In addition to drug treatment, in many cases the pet will need surgical intervention.

Read in this article

Causes of eye disease

Veterinary ophthalmologists, based on many years of practice, divide the causes of the development of ulcerative lesions of the cornea in domestic cats into non-infectious and infectious. Non-infectious factors that provoke the disease include:

The peculiar structure of the skull and the convexity of the eye sockets in such animals predispose them to mechanical damage compared to other breeds.

Brachycephalics are also characterized by insufficient production of tear fluid (zophthalmos and lagophthalmos), xerosis of the central zone of corneal tissues, and structural features of the stroma. Together, these anatomical and physiological features lead to the frequent development of ophthalmological problems in animals.

• Foreign body. A sliver, twig, hard blade of grass, or metal shavings that get into the eye are a common cause of the development of ulcerative keratitis in a domestic cat.
• Corneal ulcers are often caused by entropion - turning of the eyelids. Ophthalmological pathology develops as a result of weakening of the ligamentous apparatus of the eyelid, as a result of which it tucks inside the eye. Wool and eyelashes, in contact with the delicate cornea, cause mechanical irritation and inflammation. Improper eyelash growth can also lead to a similar phenomenon.

• Corneal burn eyes with chemical products (acids, alkalis, etc.).
• Dry eye syndrome. Decreased tear production for any reason often leads to the development of ulcerative keratitis in domestic cats. Exophthalmos and lagophthalmos are the main causes of xerotic corneal ulcers in cats.
• Various kinds conjunctivitis can develop into keratoconjunctivitis, and then into ulcerative keratitis.
• Trigeminal nerve injury is the cause of the development of neurogenic pathology.
• Disturbances in the innervation or blood supply to the tissues of the eye.

In addition to non-infectious causes, numerous factors of the disease are infectious agents. Viruses, bacteria, pathogenic fungi, rickettsia, chlamydia and other microorganisms, when they come into contact directly with the cornea or with the flow of lymph and blood from internal organs, lead to the development of an infectious process. The most common viruses that cause eye pathology are herpes virus and rhinotracheitis.

In the infection of corneal tissues by bacterial microflora, the leading place is occupied by staphylococci and streptococci. Chlamydia leads to an inflammatory process in the cornea, usually with generalized inflammation. Fungi most often provoke ulcerative keratitis when the animal’s immune system is suppressed.

Symptoms of a corneal ulcer

Veterinary ophthalmologists distinguish the following types of disease: superficial and deep, descemetocele and penetrating lesions of the cornea. Depending on the depth and degree of pathology of the corneal tissues, the causes of the development of the disease, symptoms of a corneal ulcer can vary significantly. However, the pathological process is characterized by general signs that the owner needs to pay attention to:

• Corneal syndrome. This symptomatic complex includes several signs: blepharospasm, increased lacrimation, photophobia. The animal experiences a narrowing of the palpebral fissure, swelling and hyperemia of the conjunctiva in the first 2 to 3 days. The cat squints even in low light conditions. In bright light, pain and complete or partial closure of the eyes are observed.
• Pain syndrome leads to the fact that the cat constantly scratches its eye with its paw, shakes its head, and rubs it against the floor, walls, and objects.
• Discharge, most often purulent in nature, is observed from the affected eye.
• Redness of the conjunctiva. Hyperemia is pronounced in the first few days of the development of the pathology.
• The animal is depressed, hiding in dark places.
• No appetite.

In the case when the inflammatory process penetrates into deeper layers, pain decreases due to low innervation of tissues, and the phenomena of hyperemia fade. When examining the animal, you can detect tuberosity on the surface of the cornea, the presence of defects, and the appearance of scars.

Constriction of the pupil is often observed. A careful examination can reveal neovascularization - the growth of blood vessels into the cornea. At this stage, clouding of the eye shell is clearly noticeable.

An ophthalmic disease develops very quickly, literally in a few days. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that almost any damage to the cornea in cats leads to the development of corneal sequestration - a necrotic lesion of the cornea. In complicated cases, pathology can provoke rupture (perforation) of corneal tissues, panophthalmitis. The disease is dangerous due to the onset of blindness of the animal and the complete loss of the eyeball.

According to indications, an ultrasound examination of the eyeball is prescribed. The method allows you to assess the depth of the necrotic process, the condition of the stroma and intraocular structures (in particular, the lens). The study is carried out after preliminary sedation of the animal.

In order to detect the infectious cause of the development of the disease, the veterinarian prescribes a bacteriological examination of eye swabs. The analysis makes it possible to identify not only the type of infectious agent, but also to prescribe an effective antibacterial agent.

Animal treatment

Due to the rapid development of the pathological process and serious complications including blindness, therapeutic measures should be prescribed as early as possible. The therapeutic strategy is determined by the underlying cause of the disease. Conservative treatment methods are used in veterinary practice in the presence of minor defects and shallow damage to the corneal tissues and stroma.

Surgical intervention and its features

Surgical treatment of the disease is indicated in the presence of deep (descemetocele) and extensive ulcers. Complication of the inflammatory process by keratomalacia (melting of the cornea), the presence of aggressive microflora with the detection of accumulation of pus in the anterior chamber of the eye, as well as narrowing of the pupil, surgical intervention is the only chance to preserve the visual function of the organ and the eyeball itself.

Indications for surgery are also foreign bodies in the eye and abnormal eyelash growth.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon cleans the bottom and edges of the ulcer from necrotic tissue. The formed defect is closed with a surgical patch. It can be the conjunctiva of the eye, donor cornea, or synthetic materials. The patch not only serves to thicken the cornea, but also speeds up healing.

Often during ophthalmological operations, the edges of the eyelids are sutured. In modern veterinary medicine, artificial cornea transplantation is also used.

Postoperative care consists of providing the animal with a protective collar that protects it from scratching and mechanical damage. The pet is required to be prescribed a course of antibacterial drugs. Balanced and high-quality feeding helps recovery.

Sutures after surgical treatment are usually removed after 2 weeks. By this time, a fibrous scar has formed at the site of the defect.

Help without surgery

Conservative treatments for corneal ulcers in domestic cats include the following:

• Local application in the form of eye drops and ointments of anti-inflammatory drugs. Drops are used, as a rule, throughout the day 5-6 times in doses prescribed by the attending physician. Among the antibacterial eye products, Tsiprolet drops (active ingredient ciprofloxacin), Levomycetin, Iris drops based on gentamicin, etc. are used topically.

For viral infections, antiviral drops Tobrex, Trifluridine, Idoxuridine are effective. Ointments are used, as a rule, at night, for the purpose of prolonged action of anti-inflammatory components. In the treatment of the disease, ointments based on Tetracycline and Streptomycin are widely used. It is important to correctly place creamy medicinal preparations into the subconjunctival sac.

• General use of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Systemic antibiotics are prescribed both as intramuscular injections and as tablets. The duration and dose are determined by a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis.
• Increasing the body's defenses with the help of immunomodulators. For this purpose, veterinary practice uses Roncoleukin, Gamavit, Fosprenil, Anandin and other drugs that increase the immune functions of a sick animal.

If the dynamics are positive, treatment is continued until the defect is completely healed and a scar is formed on the cornea. If conservative treatment methods are ineffective, the issue of surgical removal of necrotic tissue is considered.

What to do with chronic form

Sluggish necrotic processes in the cornea are characterized by a superficial course with the proliferation of border epithelial cells. For such ulcers
characterized by swelling and slight neovascularization of the cornea.

In the absence of a positive effect from the use of conservative treatment, the ophthalmologist in the chronic course of the ulcerative process resorts to surgical treatment of the defect.

Corneal ulcers in domestic cats are not only a serious phenomenon, but also dangerous. If even minor corneal syndrome is detected, it is important for the owner to urgently take the pet to a specialized facility. For shallow lesions of the cornea, conservative treatment is used in veterinary practice using drops, ointments, general use of antibiotics and a course of immunomodulators.

In case of deep defects, complicated ulcers, or foreign bodies, surgical intervention is necessary. The operation is also advisable for chronic processes that are not amenable to conservative treatment.

The presence of keratitis in cats is indicated by the condition of the cornea

In this article we will look at one of the animal eye diseases - keratitis in cats, its types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, both in outpatient and at home conditions. We will also find out what needs to be done to protect your pet from this common disease.

Causes

The cause of this disease can be:

• Herpes virus, adenovirus and others - in this case we are talking about eosinophilic keratitis in cats;
• Ingrowth of blood vessels into the superficial layers of the cornea is vascular keratitis;
• External influences on the cornea (burns, injuries) - ulcerative keratitis occurs;
• Allergy – allergic keratitis;
• Bacteria (coccal flora, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and others) – bacterial keratitis.

Symptoms

In cats, all these types of keratitis are characterized by the following symptoms:

• Cloudiness, dullness of the cornea;
• Inflammation of the epithelium;
• Purulent discharge from the eye;
• Tearing;
• Incomplete opening of the eye;
• Light “curdled” deposits on the surface of the cornea.

This is what eye keratitis looks like in cats

Not only the appearance of the animal, but also its behavior, namely photophobia, constant attempts to scratch the eye, will help to identify the disease in a timely manner.

Diagnostics

If, based on all of the above, you suspect your pet has eye problems, do not put off visiting a doctor, because only in a clinic can you confirm or refute the diagnosis through complex manipulations. These include:

• Biomicroscopy - examination of the structure of the eye using a slit lamp;
• Lab tests;
• Taking material for cytological examination;
• Instillation of a 1% fluorescein solution into the eye, which turns all corneal lesions green.

After confirming the diagnosis and finding out the cause of its occurrence, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Before prescribing treatment, it is necessary to establish a correct diagnosis

Treatment

Let's look at how and how to treat keratitis in cats.

Important! Treatment of animals, although it can be carried out at home, should be prescribed exclusively by a veterinary ophthalmologist based on the cause and severity of the disease.

If the nature of the illness is, drugs containing interferon and acyclovir are prescribed.

For keratitis, antibiotics are prescribed.

If the cause of the disease is, it is eliminated with antihistamines. The necessary medications are used in the form of gels, ointments, tablets, and injections.

Until complete recovery, the animal should be kept in a darkened room.

The absence of bright light promotes corneal recovery

In most cases, this disease is easily treated with conservative treatment. But if the disease is neglected, there is a threat of corneal breakthrough, cataracts, cataracts, glaucoma and, as a result, complete loss of vision. With this outcome, it is recommended to resort to microsurgical intervention.

Important! Some cat breeds, such as Sphynxes, also cannot do without surgery. Because their upper eyelid rubs the eye and interferes with treatment, it has to be lifted and tucked surgically.

Pay special attention to the treatment of Sphynx cats

Prevention

Despite the favorable prognosis, any disease is easier to prevent than to treat.

• Get all necessary vaccinations;
• Do not allow the animal to become hypothermic;
• Provide your pet with adequate nutrition;
• Maintain cleanliness in the room where the cat lives;
• Regularly check the condition of your pet's eyes, and consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of a disease.

In this article, we got acquainted with a fairly common lesion of the cornea of ​​the eye, which, without timely diagnosis and proper treatment, can lead to blindness. If signs of illness occur, consult a doctor immediately and your pets will be healthy.

List of abbreviations:

• IRT - infectious rhinotracheitis
• FHV-1 (Feline Herpes Virus type -1), Feline herpes virus type 1.
• PCR - polymerase chain reaction.

At the beginning of this article, I will allow myself to remind you of some anatomical and physiological aspects of the structure of the anterior segment of the eye and its auxiliary apparatus.

The conjunctiva or connective membrane of the eye is a mucous membrane that consists of a connective tissue base and is covered with epithelium on top. The conjunctiva lines the posterior surface of the eyelids and the anterior surface of the eyeball, reaches the limbus, and then the epithelium continues to the cornea. Anatomically, the conjunctiva is divided into the conjunctiva of the eyelids and the conjunctiva of the eyeball.

When the palpebral fissure is closed, the conjunctiva forms a cavity, the so-called conjunctival sac. In the inner corner of the eye, the conjunctiva participates in the formation of the third eyelid or nictitating membrane. I would like to remind you that in the thickness of the nictitating membrane there is an additional lacrimal gland.

The cornea is the anterior part of the outer fibrous membrane of the eye. Normally, the cornea is avascular, highly sensitive, optically transparent, homogeneous, the surface of the cornea is moist, smooth and shiny, and has a spherical shape. The transition zone between the cornea and the sclera is called the limbus. Functions of the cornea in the body: protective, supporting, refractive (the cornea is one of the main refractive media of the eye, along with aqueous humor, the lens and the vitreous body). The cornea consists of 5 layers: epithelium (a continuation of the conjunctival epithelium), anterior limiting plate or Bowman's membrane (according to some data, Bowman's membrane is absent in dogs and cats), corneal stroma, Descemet's membrane. The cornea is nourished by osmosis with the precorneal tear film and aqueous humor. Any inflammation in the cornea occurs with a violation of its transparency to one degree or another, which in turn leads to a deterioration in its refractive properties and to deterioration of vision, respectively. Therefore, inflammatory diseases of the cornea should be treated with special attention. According to domestic scientists, all inflammations of the cornea result in the formation of residual opacities, due to which visual functions can be significantly reduced.

Perhaps the most common eye problem in all domestic animals is conjunctivitis and keratitis of various etiologies. The frequent development of keratitis, conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis in animals is due to the fact that the conjunctiva and cornea of ​​the eye are in constant contact with the external environment; various microorganisms are constantly present in the conjunctival sac and on the surface of the cornea. Due to this, with a decrease in the immune properties of the cornea and conjunctiva, inflammation of these anatomical structures develops.

Some foreign and domestic colleagues combine several diseases that occur with hyperemia (redness) of the conjunctiva and sclera and cornea into the so-called RED EYE SYNDROME. This term refers to a set of diseases or clinical signs, which include conjunctivitis, episcleritis, uveitis, glaucoma, keratitis, scleritis, erosions, ulcers and hyphema. In this article we will only touch on conjunctivitis, keratitis and keratoconjunctivitis. I would like to recall the definition of these pathological conditions.

1. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eye.
2. Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye.
3. Keratoconjunctivitis is a simultaneous inflammation of both the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye.

Fig. 1 Structure of the eye and auxiliary organs.

As can be seen from the figure, the conjunctiva and cornea have a common epithelial lining, that is, the corneal epithelium is a continuation of the conjunctival epithelium. Thus, due to this anatomical feature, inflammation from the conjunctiva of the eye easily passes to the cornea and vice versa. As a rule, in our practice we most often encounter keratoconjunctivitis.

I would like to pay special attention to keratoconjunctivitis of cats of viral origin. As a rule, young animals and kittens get sick, and in the latter, the clinical signs are most pronounced.

Rice. 2 Keratoconjunctivitis in a kitten caused by a herpes virus.

A very important component of the diagnostic plan is to determine the cause of keratoconjunctivitis. In most cases, FHV-1, chlamydia and mycoplasma are detected in the pathological material. The success of the treatment largely depends on the timely identification of the pathogen.

Fig.3. Appearance of the FHV-1 virus.

Laboratory methods for isolating pathogens that are used in practice include the following:

1. Determination of intracellular viral inclusion particles in swabs from the conjunctival sac and oropharynx of sick animals. This method allows you to make a diagnosis very quickly. The disadvantage of this method is that it is informative in the early stages of the disease (no later than 7 days from the onset of clinical signs).
2. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At the moment, this is the most specifically sensitive, convenient and widespread diagnostic method. The method consists in determining the DNA or RNA of the pathogen in the pathological material taken from sick animals. In this case, swabs from the conjunctival sac, the cornea of ​​the eye, as well as from the nasal and oral cavities are used as material.
3. Virus isolation. This method is quite complicated and consists in obtaining a virus from pathological material from sick animals and then typing it. Due to its complexity and labor-intensive nature, this method is practically not used at the moment.
4. Immunofluorescence analysis or immunofluorescence reaction (RIF). The essence of the method is to visualize the antigen with specific antibodies with fluorescent markers. This method is poorly sensitive, therefore it is not always used in the diagnosis of viral keratoconjunctivitis in cats. This method has become more widely used in oncology.
5. Serology. The method is highly sensitive and reacts even to the presence of post-vaccination antibodies. It follows from this that if antibodies are present in the blood serum of sick animals and those vaccinated against the herpes virus, the tests will be positive. Consequently, serology has less diagnostic value.

I would like to pay special attention to keratoconjunctivitis caused by FHV-1 (IRT). Infectious feline rhinotracheitis (IRT) is caused by a DNA virus that belongs to the herpesviridae family, abbreviated FHV-1.

Very often, FHV-1 is found in kittens picked up from the street, or in dysfunctional nurseries. The disease, as a rule, is acute and characterized by a protracted course, and also often becomes chronic. Clinical signs of viral rhinotracheitis (FHV):

1. Nonspecific eye symptoms: lacrimation, irritation, photophobia
2. Signs of damage to the upper respiratory tract: sneezing, coughing, silent meowing.
3. Presence of discharge. As a rule, with viral conjunctivitis, the discharge is watery. But in our practice, we usually encounter keratoconjunctivitis complicated by secondary bacterial flora, so the nature of the discharge can be different, from watery to mucopurulent.
4. Pronounced conjunctival vascular injection. Often vessels from the conjunctiva of the eye grow into the cornea, and such a complication as symblepharon is also often observed.
5. Edema or chemosis of the conjunctiva.
6. The presence of scars on the conjunctiva of the eyelids.
7. Subconjunctival hemorrhages.
8. Follicular reaction.
9. 9. Erosions and ulcers on the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva (are an unfavorable diagnostic sign).
   10. Proliferative keratitis often occurs in sick animals with the formation of extensive granulomas on the surface of the cornea.

Rice. 4. Proliferative keratitis in a kitten with infectious rhinotracheitis. An extensive granuloma protrudes above the surface of the cornea.

The onset of the disease is usually acute, with profuse mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the eyes and nose. Sick animals have clinical signs of damage to the upper respiratory tract (sneezing, coughing, meowing silently). There is an increase in body temperature by 0.5-1 °C and refusal to feed.

Characteristic are eye lesions that are expressed in pinpoint or striped hemorrhages on the conjunctiva of the eyelids or eyeball, profuse discharge, the appearance of fiblin films on the surface of the conjunctiva, the appearance of adhesions on the conjunctiva, swelling of the eyelids and chemosis of the conjunctiva, while ulcerative lesions on the cornea are often visualized, which confirmed by fluorescein test.

The acute phase of the disease usually ends after 2-3 weeks, after which sick and recovered cats continue to release the virus into the external environment for 9-19 months. According to our own data and according to foreign colleagues, herpesvirus is the most common cause of chronic conjunctivitis in cats.

The most common complication of IRT are perforated corneal ulcers, ankyloblepharon, symblepharon, as well as epiphora associated with obstruction of the lacrimal openings due to scars on the conjunctiva.

Fig 5. Complications of viral rhinotracheitis in cats. OD - symblepharon, corneal conjunctivization. OS - panophthalmitis due to a perforated corneal ulcer.

Treatment of viral keratoconjunctivitis is complex and aimed primarily at combating the virus. Systemic antiviral drugs, antibiotics, serums or immunoglobulins, vitamins, and immunomodulators are used. As for the treatment of ocular manifestations of infection, it includes the use of local interferon inducers, antibiotics, steroids and NSAIDs (with caution), all drugs are used in the form of eye drops and ointments, as well as in the form of subconjunctival injections.

If fibrin crusts form on the conjunctiva, their removal is recommended. If complications such as ulcerative keratitis occur, the use of keratoprotectors and cytoprotectors is recommended. Typically, very frequent use of eye medications is required (up to 6-8 times a day), with an initial course of treatment of at least 3 weeks. During this time, the animal must be under constant supervision. It is very important to promptly notice all changes (especially negative ones) that occur in the eyes of sick animals.

Complications of viral rhinotracheitis include: symblepharon, ankyloblepharon, punctal obstruction, perforated corneal ulcer, panophthalmitis, proliferative keratoconjunctivitis, epitheliopathy, vascular keratitis.
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