Any cat parent would be worried about seeing their cat looking unusual with a sunken eye and reddened eyelids. Cats with Horner’s syndrome look like they have a deformed face and eyes. How this came about, its symptoms and treatment will be discussed in this article.
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Content:
- What Is Horner's Syndrome in Cats
- Horner's Syndrome in Cats Symptoms
- Horner's Syndrome in Cats Treatment
- Conclusion
What Is Horner's Syndrome in Cats
Horner’s syndrome is a neurological condition in cats caused by a dysfunction in the sympathetic nerves. This dysfunction leads to changes on one side of the face or both sides, making the cat’s look deformed.
Sympathetic nerves control eyelid elevation and its functions. When impaired the eyelids tend to fall and the parasympathetic nerves become over-stimulated.
Overstimulation of the parasympathetic nerves leads to constriction of the pupil Since the parasympathetic nerves controls pupil constriction.
Eye functions such as eye movement, opening and closing of the eyelid will change when this condition sets in. The eyeball may also lose its grip and may appear smaller or sunken.
Trauma has been reported in some research as one of the most common causes of Horner’s syndrome in cats. Aside from this, there are other factors that could lead to damage to the sympathetic nerves. They include:
- Trauma: Trauma to the head or neck could damage the eardrums and sympathetic nerves. This, leading to disruption of eye function.
- Infections: Eye or middle ear conditions like otitis could lead to Horner's syndrome if not resolved.
- Tumor: Different types of tumor could lead to Horner’s syndrome, especially tumor of the brain or spinal cord.
- Diseases: Neurological conditions like stroke could also attribute to sympathetic nerve damage, leading to Horner’s syndrome.
- Idiopathic factors: There are several unknown factors which could lead to Horner’s syndrome. These factors could be a latent disease or diseases without obvious clinical symptoms.
“Nerve damage and otitis are usually the most common causes of Horner’s syndrome in cats”, - Reddit User
Horner's syndrome in cats is an unusual condition with 42% of reported cases having no link to any cause according to a report.
These idiopathic factors would most likely be known if you have the Petcube Camera setup in the house. It will provide video footage of your cat's activities before this condition becomes visible.
There have been cases of Horner’s syndrome with idiopathic causes I have witnessed. The patients only showed symptoms of eye dysfunction. Upon examination and diagnosis, there was no evidence of an infection or disease that could have led to this.
Horner's Syndrome in Cats Symptoms
Symptoms of Horner’s syndrome in cats are usually unique and easy to identify. Cats with this condition may have symptoms on one side of the face or on both sides, depending on the severity of the condition.
The following are some of the common symptoms of Horner’s syndrome in cats:
- Sunken eye
- Reddened third eyelid
- Constriction of the pupil
- Eyes discoloration
- Retracted eyeball
- Elevated third eyelid
- Dropping of the upper eyelid
Symptoms of Horner’s syndrome in cats do not interfere with the cat's normal daily routine and do not impede its agility or vision. Usually, cats with Horner’s syndrome do not experience any pain.
“Cats with Horner’s syndrome do not have impaired vision or experience pain”, Dr. Wendy Brooks
Horner's Syndrome in Cats Treatment
Since Horner’s syndrome is not painful, veterinarians would recommend symptomatic treatment which focuses on alleviating the symptoms. Treatments that will also resolve the inciting factors would be paramount.
Diagnosis of the actual cause of this condition, such as ear damage, eye disease or tumor, needs to be carried out to resolve the condition. The veterinarian may need to address these factors to resolve Horner’s syndrome.
To diagnose the actual cause of Horner’s syndrome, different tests and examinations may be carried out which will incur a lot of vet fees. These fees may not be much of a burden if you opt into the Petcube Emergency Fund and enjoy up to $3000 coverage in vet fees plus a 27% discount if you register using the exclusive link.
During a Horner’s syndrome condition, corneal dryness, also called exposure keratitis may occur. Therefore, topical medication like lubricants may be recommended alongside phenylephrine to help with pupil dilation due to constriction.
Conclusion
Horner’s syndrome may not be painful, but its underlying inciting factors may be detrimental. Therefore, the prognosis of cats with Horner’s syndrome could range from poor to good depending on the underlying causative factor. To get a better prognosis, It is best to report symptoms of these conditions to the vet promptly to avoid progressing to Horner’s syndrome.
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