Dear Dr. John,

I have a dog and two cats. One of my cats has recently developed a red, sore eye with some discharge. I used the ointment my vet had given me before, but it did not do much. The cat is a Persian cross and I’m worried about his eyesight and possible damage to it. Should I be concerned because of his breed? Other than simple conjunctivitis, what else might be going on? I have called and set up an appointment to have him seen but it’s not for almost two weeks from now. By waiting, how much worse could things get, or should I take my cat in somewhere else sooner? He seems to otherwise be fine, but he has been rubbing at the side of the face with the affected eye. M.K.

Dear M.K.,

Short-faced cats such as Persians, Persian crosses, and others are known as brachycephalic breeds and are prone to a host of issues. These cats usually appear to have bulging eyes, excessive tearing with poor drainage from the eyes and brown staining of the fur below the inside corner of the eyes. It is perfectly reasonable for you to be concerned and I would not wait for the scheduled appointment. I would ask if your veterinarian can see him earlier or go to an urgent care facility if one is conveniently located for you. Things could deteriorate rather quickly if left unattended depending on what is actually going on.

I also would never suggest that an owner use what is on hand since the wrong medication can actually cause more damage in some cases. The redness and discharge in the affected eye suggests conjunctivitis, but your cat could also have a corneal ulcer or scratch from fighting with your other cat, rubbing his own eyes, or, due to the bulging eyes, some other trauma. Increased ocular pressure due to glaucoma is another possibility. Choice of medication depends on if there might be a viral or bacterial component and eye drops or ointments may or may not have a corticosteroid in them due to what is needed.

For now, use warm compresses and gently wipe away discharge being careful not to rub the eye. In all likelihood, everything will be fine.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.