Vet Blog
10/01/09
 Dear Dr Barchas,
At what age does a kitten’s eye color change from its babyhood deep blue? I’ve never been sure of my cat’s age exact age, and suspect she was weaned too early, like, at four weeks. To this day four years later she is still attached to one particular sweater of mine, she kneads and suckles, her pupils dilated til she looks all soft eyed.
Ana
Denver, CO
Kittens’ eyes generally change color between two and three months of age. However, in this matter like all aspects of maturing there are individual variations. Some kittens mature earlier than others. And some kittens keep their blue eyes into adulthood (think Siamese).
Experts in animal behavior generally believe that kneading and suckling are adult manifestations of juvenile behaviors. The theory is that kneading and suckling are like a feline version of thumb sucking. The behaviors generally are harmless. I have no explanation for why your cat prefers one sweater over other objects. I have yet to see any compelling evidence that links adult suckling behavior to early weaning.
Experts in animal behavior also generally believe that living among humans is an adult manifestation of juvenile behavior in cats. If this is true (and I recognize that some people may not accept it), then kneading and suckling simply are points further along the same scale of behavior that allows cats to be our companions.
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08/20/09
 I am curious, do cats “Cry” tears? My Patches, who went to the Rainbow Bridge, this past Sunday, had gotten extremely thin, and her eyes were somewhat “sunken”-in, and she would constantly be having tears in her eyes.
I don’t know if this is because she was feeling pain, and “crying” or it was a result fo the tear ducts overloading, because her eyes had gotten so small, as a result of the weight she had lost. Just curious.
Carol
Morongo Valley, CA
I am very sorry for your loss.
There is no doubt that cats and dogs experience a wide range of emotions. They can suffer from fear, anxiety, and pain. Many situations that would make a human cry undoubtedly stir similar emotions in pets.
However, I have yet to see a pet respond to these sorts of situations by producing excessive tears. Pets may act agitated, vocalize, pant, or hide when they are distressed or in pain. But they do not appear to weep.
I therefore doubt that Patches’ excessive tear production towards the end of her life was caused by pain.
I have noticed during my career that elderly, ill animals (especially cats) are prone to excessive eye discharge. I don’t know what causes it, but I suspect it may be due to decreased grooming activity combined with chronic dehydration (which causes the tears to thicken and not drain normally).
I suspect that Patches’ medical problems, rather than pain, caused the irregularities you describe.
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02/10/09
 What can I do for my dog that has gone blind?
Bob
Walk-about, OK
A number of conditions can cause blindness in pets. Fortunately, people whose pets have suffered vision loss can take solace from the fact that blindness almost never compromises pets’ quality of life.
For both cats and dogs, smell is the most important sense. Vision is number two. This is different from humans. For us, vision generally is considered the most important sense. Yet people who have suffered vision loss are still able to lead normal lives.
A few minor accommodations make things easier for pets who have lost their vision. People with blind pets should try to avoid rearranging the furniture in their houses. Blind pets usually memorize the locations of objects in their environment. Changing those locations can make it hard for them to navigate.
Cats who have suffered vision loss should be kept indoors. Blind dogs should be walked on leash and should not be forced to go too fast. Many animals with impaired vision may require gentle coaxing before they will go down stairs or step off curbs, since they can’t tell whether they are about to step down six inches or six thousand feet.
And that’s all the advice I have. Your dog’s blindness should not interfere too dramatically with his lifestyle, or with yours.
Photo: Zoe’s blindness doesn’t get in her way!
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01/11/09
 I have recently noticed that one of my cat’s eyes has
been accumulating a lot of “gunk” near the tear
duct. Should I be concerned or is this normal? What should
I do to try to minimize the gunk?
Thanks :-)
Michele
San Mateo, CA
In normal circumstances the eyes of cats, dogs, and people continuously produce tears. Tears keep the eye moist and nourish the cornea (the front portion of the eye). The tears drain through a duct into the nose.
Tears are made up of water, mucus, and fat. Over time, some of the water evaporates. This leads to dried conglomerations of mucus and fat adjacent to the eye. These so-called eye boogers develop in all cats, dogs, and people periodically. People simply rub them away from their eyes. Since dogs and cats don’t have hands, their dried mucus and fat builds up.
If your cat’s eyes are not red, uncomfortable, itchy or swollen, I don’t think you should worry. Asymmetrical accumulation of debris usually is related to irregular drainage of tears through the duct on one side. This generally isn’t a cause for concern. You can remove the debris gently with a moistened cotton ball.
Remember, however, that eyes are very sensitive and fragile. If you have noticed itching, swelling, squinting, redness, discomfort, or any other irregularities, the safest option is to have a vet look at your cat.
Photo: Captain Jack’s right eye looks healthy.
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12/03/08
 My two-year-old Cocker Spaniel has a cataract. It
came out of no where . . . I am wondering if it
is better to have it removed as soon as possible?
I know I read somewhere if not treated there is a
possibility the lens could explode and the eye
would have to be removed. Can you please educate
me on cataracts?
Thank You!!!
Sandra
La Mesa, CA
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. There are many causes of cataracts. Hereditary anomalies, certain types of trauma to the eye, and diabetes are common causes of cataracts in dogs.
A cataract impairs vision in the affected eye. This can be corrected with surgery to remove the cloudy lens. The surgery must be performed by a specialist in veterinary ophthalmology.
Some cataracts are stable and do not cause problems other than reversible vision impairment. Other cataracts may cause the lens to swell and ultimately burst. Lenses that burst can cause severe inflammation (irritation) in the eye. The inflammation can lead to pain or permanent vision loss. In some cases the eye must be removed to preserve the dog’s quality of life.
Immediate assessment by a veterinary ophthalmologist is the best option for any pet with a cataract. The specialist may decide that surgery is not necessary. However, in many cases early intervention makes a critical difference in medical outcomes.
Also, cataracts sometimes are a symptom of a serious medical condition. I recommend that you have your dog checked out as soon as possible.
About the photo: Sadie does not appear to have cataracts.
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Dear Dr Barchas,
You have questions. 