Feline Mycoplasma in Corneal Ulcers

Eye care is important to overall pet health. Their ability to see directly impacts their ability to avoid predators and other dangers. The most common vision complication in cats is corneal ulcers, often related to feline mycoplasma.

  1. Symptoms

    • The presenting symptoms of corneal ulcers are squinting and watering. Tears may appear discolored, ranging from yellow to red in color. The more severe the squinting, the more severe the existing damage to the cornea.

    Causes

    • There are several feline diseases which can result in corneal ulcers. These include feline herpesvirus-1, feline chlamydia and feline mycoplasma.

    Mycoplasma

    • Feline mycoplasma is a caused by the presence of parasites in the body, often resulting in anemia, and other secondary infections. The mycoplasma bacterium enters the host feline through the bite of an infected flea.

    Treatment

    • In most cases corneal ulcers caused by mycoplasma bacterium can be effectively treated with topical antibiotics. If the underlying condition is not also treated, however, recurrence is likely.

    Recovery

    • There are two grades of corneal ulcer, used to refer to the depth and severity of the ulceration. A superficial corneal ulcer only affects the outer layer of the cornea, and will heal within a few days of treatment. A deep corneal ulcer affects at least half the cornea's thickness, and may require extensive healing time because blood vessels have been damaged.