Horner syndrome is a generally momentary condition characterized by a set of neurological and ophthalmic signs affecting the eyeball and its insertions. If your cat’s eye looks strange and different from normal and you notice that the pupils are a different size, that eye is drooping or that the third eyelid is visible and protruding, then we probably face a case of Horner syndrome.If you want to learn more about Horner syndrome in cats, be sure to read this Animal Expert article.
Horner syndrome refers to all neuroophthalmic signs related to momentary or permanent loss of sympathetic enervation of the eyeball and its insertions.
- Many causes can lead to Horner syndrome.
- Since it comes from the nervous system.
- Any region that includes the corresponding nerves can be affected.
- From the middle/inner ear.
- From the neck.
- From the chest to the parts of the cervical spine.
- Being necessary to check each of these regions in order to exclude or include suspicions.
Horner syndrome in cats may therefore be due to
Injuries can be three orders depending on your location:
The following possible signs of Horner syndrome in cats may appear alone or simultaneously, such as:
Anisocoria is defined as pupil diameter asymmetry, and in Horner syndrome, myosis occurs in cats of the affected eye, i.e. the affected eye is more contracted than the contralateral eye.This condition is best evaluated in low-light environments because in bright environments the two eyes are very tight and cannot distinguish what is affected and what is not.
If you are wondering if anisocoria in cats is curable and other problems related to anisocoria, Animal Expert has an article about anisocoria in cats.
The third eyelid is usually located in the medial corner of the eye, but in this situation it can move, externalize and become visible, and can even cover the eye of the cat, a clinical sign that is also common in Haw syndrome, which we will talk about in a moment.
Due to the loss of eyelid inervation, there may be a decrease in the slit of the eyelid, that is, the eyelid is drooping.
It is characterized by the retraction of the eyeball into the orbit, that is, the sinking of the eye, a condition that presents in a secondary way and is due to the decrease in the tone of the peribital musculature that holds the eye, in this case that of the animal vision is not affected, although it is possible that the affected eye cannot see due to the fall of the eyelid.
Tell your veterinarian if your pet has recently been involved in a fight or accident.In order for the diagnosis to be discovered, the veterinarian must:
In addition, there is a direct pharmacological test, called direct phenylephrine test, in which one to two drops of phenylephrine eye drops are applied in each eye and, in healthy eyes, pupils do not dilate, if on the contrary it expands 20 minutes of having placed the drops, this indicates an injury, it is usually not possible to know what causes the syndrome and , therefore, it is said to be idiopathic.
Also find out how Horner syndrome is diagnosed in dogs in this Animal Expert article.
In cases where an adjacent cause is identified, treatment is directed to the same cause, as Horner syndrome in cats has no direct treatment, but symptomatic treatment can occur with drops of phenylephrine placed in the affected eye every 12 to 24 hours.
Treatment of the underlying cause may include, but is not limited to
Process reversibility is closely related to the underlying cause and severity of the injury; if the cause is identified and appropriate treatment is applied, Horner syndrome resolves spontaneously, i.e. most cases go away spontaneously and symptoms eventually go away, this usually lasts between 2 and 8 weeks, but can last a few months.
Haw syndrome in cats is a rare disease that causes acute bilateral protrusion of the third eyelid or, also called the nictitating membrane, and that can be observed in cats, due to changes in sympathetic inervation of the third eyelid, which favor its elimination., changes similar to Horner syndrome.
Since Horner syndrome in cats and other similar diseases also protruding from the third eyelid, a differential diagnosis is necessary to identify it, a condition that also resolves spontaneously, and for Haw syndrome in cats treatment is recommended only if vision is decreased.or lost.
Learn more about vestibular syndrome in cats in this Animal Expert article.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read similar articles about Horner syndrome in cats, we recommend that you visit our Neurological Diseases section.