Is it safe to clean my kitten's eye discharge with water? How often?

I agree that Sprinkles' right eye appears to have a good bit of discharge and squinting. While it's possible that this issue could be caused by an infection, I would expect both eyes to be affected. When only one eye squints, I worry more about corneal ulcers or abrasions. The only way to know for sure is to take Sprinkles to a vet for a physical exam, including eye evaluation. Since Sprinkles is feral, this process is likely to be more challenging, so you may want to ask your vet if they can prescribe a mild oral sedative like gabapentin to be given before the appointment. Depending on what is found, Sprinkles will likely need to receive eye medication at least twice per day, so he may need to be kept inside or in a safe, confined area until this issue has resolved. Eye issues can change and progress rapidly, so it's best to have him evaluated as soon as possible. Until then, keep him confined and try to put an e-collar (cone) on him if at all possible to prevent any rubbing or scratching of this eye. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Clarise’s eye discharge may be due to a viral infection, a problem with the drainage of the lacrimal duct or allergies. Infections are the most common cause and I would recommend to have her seen by her veterinarian as medication may be indicated. The doctor may use a special dye to stain the corneas and look for any ulcers as some viruses will cause this. If the doctor is not suspicious of an infection, she will recommend other tests or treatments. I recommend to get an appoint quickly as things can get worse. In the mean time, you can give her 250mg of Lysine twice daily. This supplement will help viral infections. You can often find this in pet stores. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like Squeak could have an eye infection. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. You need to take her into a vet immediately to have her eye examined and diagnosed so it can be treated as needed. I hope this helps!

I wouldn't recommend it. If she has eye discharge, I'd recommend using a moistened clean cloth or paper towel (using lukewarm tap water) to wipe it away and then another clean dry one to dry off the area. I'd also recommend talking to her vet to see if there's anything that can be done to help with the discharge. Some Persian's just have discharge, but she could also have dry eye that making the discharge worse. Good luck!

Any eye problem is considered serious because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. It's possible that Shy does have a scratch on his eye, that can often only be visualized with a fluorescein stain. It could also be that he has an eye infection. I recommend taking him into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing the discharge from his eye, and can prescribe a treatment for it. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

It looks like Kuon has an eye infection. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do for him at home other than keeping the eye clean and wiping away any discharge. You will need to get antibiotic ointment from a veterinarian to help your kitten get better. There is no other way to get an antibiotic.

I wouldn't worry too much. If she is tolerating you wiping it, just clean it as needed with with a warm wet cotton ball. If she is pawing at her eyes or rubbing her face on the ground, or seems to have any other issue going on, call your vet and get her in for an exam. This product may help, though I doubt its entirely necessary. Thanks for asking PetCoach!