If your cat has a scratch near, on or around their eye that either doesn’t warrant a visit to a vet. Can’t be seen by a vet for some reason. Or, you’ve been advised to treat yourself, you may want to use either Chloramex or Erythromycin.
Before using medications you should always seek professional medical advice. I can’t stress this enough.
However, if you’re just looking for information on these two medicines and which I think is best for cats, I can share my opinion and experience.
With that said, here’s everything you should need to know about using Chloramex Ophthalmic Ointment for Cats, or Erythromycin ointments.
What is Chloramex Ophthalmic Ointment?
Chloramex Ophthalmic Ointments are used to treat superficial infections, scratches, and grazes of the eye and eyelid.
It’s an antibiotic, so it helps speed up the recovery of an injury. It reduces inflammation, some of the irritation, and works wonders on small injuries.
What Is Erythromycin Ointment?
Erythromycin Ointment is a medication commonly used to treat eye infections such as conjunctivitis.
It works by stopping bacteria from growing and spreading, helping infections heal quicker and is commonly given to newborns with eye infections.
Which Is Best for Eye Infections in Cats?
In my experience, Erythromycin is the drug prescribed by vets to deal with a range of eye issues in cats and kittens.
Kittens, in particular, are very susceptible to eye infections. While their immune systems are still developing they will often pick up bacterial infections that require a little invention to clear up.
Conjunctivitis is common in cats too. Something as simple as a bit of dirt can cause an infection.
If you see their outer or inner eyelid is inflamed, there is reddening, pus-like discharge or anything else other than a clean and clear eye, a trip to the vet is required.
Your vet may prescribe Erythromycin in either a pill form or more likely an ophthalmic ointment to apply directly to the infection.
What Does Conjunctivitis Look like in Cats?
Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye isn’t just a problem for us, cat’s get conjunctivitis too.
When a cat has conjunctivitis the membrane that covers their inner eyelid will become visibly inflamed.
There are different types of conjunctivitis, but the good news is that it’s usually not a serious long-term issue and it’s a condition a vet is usually happy to leave up to owners to care for once they have the right medicine.
If your cat has repeat issues with their eyes and is secreting some kind of discharge as well as being inflamed, this is more serious than a typical pink eye that will require further medical attention.
This video does a great job of explaining the different types of conjunctivitis in cats and how they are treated:
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