Infected eye from a scratch

[IceyBlueSibes]

So, Joe-Joe ended up getting swatted at by Tags, one of our cats. We never knew where he had gotten scratched, but it has now become apparent.

He has been keeping his eye closed, and/or squinting it a lot. It is now starting to seep a greenish-tinted gook. So that was the first indication. We have eye ointment from previous eye infections (I also get some from work), so I am putting that in his eye. Secondly, I know that wiping the eye with weak tea helps too.

My question is -- do you guys have any other suggestions for ways to help keep him comfortable until his vet appt? Is there a certain type of tea that works better than others?

Any advice appreciated. He IS going to the vet for it, we just want to keep him comfortable until then.

Thanks guys

[calgal]

I don't think there is much you can do at home for an eye infection, except maybe keep it flushed out with distilled water and maybe put a little sea salt in it. I sure hope the eye is ok and that the cornia isn't damaged. Poor boy. I hope he stays away from the cat now.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I took a look in his eye, and it's actually right underneath on the bottom eye lid. It's swollen and I can see the scratch. I don't think it's his actual eye (then again I don't think I'd really be able to see), but I see where his eye lid is bother him.

Thanks - was just curious if there was something else. I'll just keep the eye ointment going till then and wiping his eye.

He certainly stays away from her. She's a huge brat though, and will chase him off the couch every so often.

[Leon]

Just don't put anything that contains corticosteroids in his eye. It'll make things worse.

[IceyBlueSibes]

What is that for? Is it for cherry eye? It sounds familiar --

The ointment I'm putting in it has

Bacitracin - Neomycin - Polymyxin - and Hydrocortisone Acetate 1 %

[AVA]

I had a boston terrier that got an ulcer on her cornea and we had to get her surgery. I thought she was going to loose her sight, but they did eye surgery, scraping the cornea and they put a type of contact lense in it that was filled with medicine, plus I had to do drops and ointment for nighttime. Also pills and dog aspirin. The lense they put in was a self desolving type of contact and of course she wore the Ecollar for awhile. She was my old girl, a stray we took in, found out later that she belonged to the old farmer down the road that had died and she got out when paramedics opened the door. Her eye healed up fine and she didn't loose her sight, she lived to be 16 years old. She was glued to my hip all the years I had her.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by IceyBlueSibes

What is that for? Is it for cherry eye? It sounds familiar --

The ointment I'm putting in it has

Bacitracin - Neomycin - Polymyxin - and Hydrocortisone Acetate 1 %

I think the first three substances are antibiotics and the fourth one a corticosteroid. Anyway, the vet must have checked out Joe - Joe's eye by now. I hope everything is well!

[Sophie45]

Arnica-This is a natural pain killer. It does not interact with any prescription medication or have any nasty side effects. It is good for humans, too.

Physical Recovery-This is a combination of a few essential oils which are supposed to increase recovery time. www.petessences.com

Calendula also helps with pain, discomfort, promote healing, and help treat and prevent infections. It is also very safe.

It might be anecdotal, but when Sophie was attacked, I put five or six drops of the pain relief (arnica solution) and physical recovery on a biscuit and gave it to her 3-4 times a day, and she really healed incredibly well. I also did this when she got spayed. Both times, her vet commented on how well and how quickly she healed, and never seemed to be in ANY of pain (I started her on the Arnica when her fentanyl patch was removed a week after the attack, and even weaned her off the Metacam several days early with absolutely no signs of discomfort or pain whatsoever) I guess it's hard to say how much these remedies contributed, but I feel that they did.

Anyone else use either arnica or physical recovery?

[IceyBlueSibes]

Wow, thanks Sophie! I'll have to jot those down and pick some up.

He has not been squinting as much. I talked to my boss, Regina, at work about it (she is a vet tech as well) and gave me some antibiotic pills to give him, and told me to keep up with the eye ointment. So far, so good. He doesn't really squint as much, but he can keep it open almost all day.