Poor Polly kitty, with the extra toes, damaged her eye. She’s acting stoic and keeping it mostly closed. Pupil is dilated. She might lose her eye. Vet appointment made for Monday.
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Do you have any ophthalmic antibiotic ointment to keep it from becoming infected until you can see the vet? I have even used regular OTC triple antibiotic ointment in an emergency when I couldn’t get my hands on the ophthalmic ointment.
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Oh No!
JINGLING FOR POLLY! 
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An old farm remedy my mom taught me was to use penicillin in warm water, the wash out the wound. If you have some penicillin (the injectable kind) just mix it about half and half with some warm water, use a cotton ball or wash rag, and clean the eye a little. It’s not a fix for everything, but it helps control infection a little better.
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I might, actually. I asked about pain meds. They said as long as she’s eating, just wait until Monday. She’s eating and drinking just fine. I have a huge crate in the garage if she feels worse. We’re keeping her locked up in her workshop, along with Ralph. He’s snuggling with her.
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I don’t, but the vet suggested warm water on a clean cloth.
I wonder if it was a critter that got her. No stray cats around and they’ve been staying in the workshop at night. It definitely happened yesterday afternoon/evening. She was fine when I cleaned stalls midday and injured last night. It looked like an eye infection last night. Just a little goop. We got a better look late this morning and…no, that’s definitely a damaged eye.
It may not be as bad as we initially thought. There might be puncture below her eye, rather than in it. She’s still friendly and has an appetite.
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Poor Polly! Jingling for her.
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The label specifically says not to put triple antibiotic ointment in the eye. Please don’t!
The specific way those antibiotics are prepared are toxic to the cornea, and that is why the label says not to put them in the eye. It could do more damage than good.
If you need to, you can apply on the skin (or fur, if we are talking about an animal) but do not let it actually get into the eye.
Hmmm, if you’re keeping it on the skin (or fur) then you might be okay. But as the same concern with the triple antibiotic ointment above, I would be worried about the chemical makeup of the exact form of the penicillin and if any of it would be toxic to the cornea if it came into contact with it.
I know of someone who accidentally gave himself a shot of penicillin in his eye. Was giving shots to cattle and things happen quick, and he got the needle in his own eye. It basically went necrotic and he lost his eye ultimately.
Now obviously you aren’t suggesting to inject kitty’s eye, but if this person I know of had that severe of a response to the penicillin, I don’t think I would even want to wipe it around my eye!
Any idea what kitty did? Blunt force trauma can cause a temporary dilated pupil.
She looks pretty good. Let us know what the vet says.
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Don’t you think it’s more likely that the area went necrotic because a.) he punctured the cornea with a needle, and b.) he was in a barnyard, which was full of bacteria, manure material, etc.? Sure, there are those who have reactions to penicillin, but I’m not talking about injecting it anywhere, and it’s a diluted solution.
I’ve used this method myself on several animals, cats, dogs, horses. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than nothing in an emergency? IMO, yes.
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Oh no, poor Polly kitty!
Sending jingles for you both. Hurry up, Monday!
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He didn’t get an infection (which is what you would get from bacteria and other pathogens) but he did get a terrible inflammatory event that wouldn’t stop.
Puncturing the cornea with a needle obviously is not good, but it doesn’t automatically cause severe inflammation. But whatever got inside the eye can.
Nothing might actually be better. And that’s the only point I’m making.
If you scar your cornea from a chemical or toxic burn, it’s over. You can’t remove scars.
You can dilute bleach and put it in your eye and it’s still a bad idea.
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If it isn’t labeled as “ophthalmic”, it shouldn’t be used in an eye unless specifically recommended after an examinatiion.
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Poor little kitty! Many jingles!
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Thank you for being the voice of reason here!
Both my small animal vet and large animal vet say the same thing and I was shocked at the number of posters here who were recommending putting random things into this poor cat’s eye.
Never put meds in an eye unless they are specifically prescribed for that eye with whatever is going on with that eye at this time.
@moonlitoaksranch, Jingles for your pretty girl. Good luck at the vet this morning!
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I didn’t put anything on or in her eye. With horses, I always had an eye flush handy, but nothing like that for small animals in our first aid kit. Besides, cats and water….no, I didn’t want to be a blood donor.
Her appointment isn’t until 3:10. Long wait. She’s still acting okay.
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I hope you get good news at her appointment and her eye will be ok.
I always try to keep some opthalmic antibiotic eye ointment, without steroids, on hand but it is frustrating when I don’t have any.
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Oh no! Sending jingles for sweet Polly.
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Back from the vet!
Polly’s eye is intact. No damage. The puncture was just below her eye. She was sneezy and sniffy this morning. Her temp was 104 at the vet. She got a good shot of antibiotics and I have an ointment for her eyes 3-4 times per day. She was a very good patient, btw. We let her curl up in her crate in between exams and treatments. No biting or scratching. She was just scared and wanted to snuggle against people. She was just as loving and sweet when I brought her home. She’s come a long way from feral to tame.
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