From: collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: blocked tear ducts
Date: 28 Jul 92 19:56:56 GMT
Reply-To: collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce)
Organization: UniSQL, Inc., Austin, Texas, USA

In article <1992Jul27.193131.16893@ast.saic.com> hyler@jaana.ast.saic.com writes:
>In article 1225@europa.asd.contel.com, draper@gnd1.wtp.contel.com (PAM DRAPER) writes:
>>Does anyone know of a home treatment for blocked tear ducts.  My mother's

If the blocked tear ducts appear to be normal for the cat and are
not causing a problem,  you may not want to do anything, except treat
the inflamation.

My Tamora (red persian) also has blocked tear ducts, but they really
do not cause a problem.  When I first noticed it, her eyes were a 
little red and she was tearing more than usual.  So, I took her to the
vet who put some flourescent drops in her eyes.  The drops never did 
come out her nose.  So he said that her tear ducts were blocked,
probably a congenital condition (as it is with many persians).  He also
said that it is not a great problem, but that I would just have to watch
her and when/if her eyes get inflamed again, then I should put some 
anti-biotic ointment (which he gave me) in them, twice a day for not 
less than 5 days.   I keep the ointment in my fridge at all times.  I 
use it whenever I need it, which may be about every 4 to 6 months or so.
My vet never suggested any type of surgery to correct the ducts.  He 
seemed to feel this is normal for persians and that the situation is 
not too difficult for my kitty and her mommy to cope with.  :-)

Tamora's tear ducts were never infected and the vet says that won't 
happen if I will take care of her eyes properly.  She just occassionally
developes some inflamation around one or both eyes and tears more than 
usual and then we start the anti-biotic therapy (she hates it).  The
vet says (and I can confirm this) that the inflamation is due to the
litter box.  Because her eyes don't drain properly, her eyes are always
more moist than normal.  So, when she digs in the litter box, dust flies
up and sticks around her eyes.  The dust is very unsanitary and after 
awhile, it causes inflamation.

Per the vet's instructions, I also "wash" Tamora's face daily, with a
wet wash cloth (I'm not kidding).  Tamora doesn't really appreciate the 
"washing", but she is used to it by now and it greatly reduces the 
frequency of inflamation.  I always tell her how nice she looks afterwards
but she just doesn't seem to be impressed.  Poor kitty, she thinks I'm 
crazy because I'm always after her, either with the wash cloth, or the 
q-tips (for the ears)!  ;-)

BTW - I also have some anti-biotic eye _drops_ for Tamora.  However, they
don't seem to work as well as the ointment.  This is unfortunate, as
they are _much_ easier to put into the eyes of a squirming cat. ;-)

Also BTW - it is important to determine whether or not your cats eyes
have "lesions" (sp?)  in order to get the right brand of anti-biotic.  
Some of the drops contain steroids, which can damage the eye, if lesions
are present (enlarges them).  

-- 

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* A. Collene Pearce (512-343-7372, x114) * Organization: UniSQL, Inc.  *
*                                        * Austin, TX                  *
* unisql!collene@cs.utexas.edu           * 512-343-7297 or 7383(fax)   *
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