My cat has eye discharge. What medication can I give him to treat it?

Hello. It is very common for an upper respiratory tract infection to also cause eye symptoms. This may include a clear watery discharge and inflammation of the eyelids and conjunctiva. If the discharge becomes thick and yellow/ green or your cat squints or is holding the eye closed, she should be rechecked and started in eye medication as well. If the symptoms are mild as they are now, it may resolve on its own when the virus runs its course and goes away. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

I would not listen to online sites saying to buy eye drops from the drug store. A lot of these sites are written by people who have no veterinary education at all, and some of their advice is frankly dangerous and potentially fatal. It is never advised to buy OTC eye drops for a cat because a cat's eye reacts differently to human eye medications than a human's eye does. In addition, some of these drops contain ingredients that are unsafe for use in cats. It sounds like Cleo may have an eye infection, and she will need to see a vet to get a topical antibiotic ointment to treat the infection. I would take her into the vet first thing Monday. Until then, it's fine to use a warm wash cloth to wipe away any gunk that comes from her eye. I hope this helps!

Oreo seems to have an infection. We cannot rule out a corneal ulcer just by looking at the picture. Cats often have upper respiratory tract infection, and develop conjunctivitis and I discharge because of it. Take Oreo to your veterinarian for a detailed exam that possibly will include staining the cornea to rule out ulcers. I forsee you will have to give eye meds at least twice a day or more depending on the physical findings. You can use a clean washcloth wet with lukewarm water and gently wash away the eye discharge for now. Good luck and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Ghost! You can use a soft wash cloth soaked in water or sterile saline, and wipe away any discharge, but unfortunately there are no OTC medications you can give her. She really does need to see a vet as soon as possible, as any eye problem is considered an emergency. This is because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. Have her seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Hi and thank you for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach this morning! Sounds like Leon may have an eye infection caused by an infectious virus such as feline herpes virus or calicivirus which are common causes of upper respiratory illnesses in cats, especially in shelter situations. Leon may need to be treated with your vet and placed on antibiotics. Unfortunately, there are no over the counter medications that can help with this issue. Leon will need to see a veterinarian. I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Leon!

If there is pus, then there is probably an infection/conjunctivitis. You can try Terramycin eye ointment. It is the only one that does not require a prescription. We are not allowed to write prescriptions over the internet for animals we have never examined - it's against the law. So, try this twice a day for 5-7 days and if it doesn't help she will need to see a vet. https://www.jefferspet.com/products/terramycin-eye-ointment

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can keep Colin's face clean with a damp, warm washcloth. If the discharge is continuous, or he is squinting or eyes are matted closed he should see a veterinarian to determine the cause of the ocular discharge. Do not use any sort of eye drops without a veterinary prescription. Treatment will vary depending on the cause of the infection or inflammation.