One of my cats gets minor eye infections from time to time. In the UK the vet said we should treat these with Optrex, an eye wash for humans, which just contains water and witch hazel (hammamelis).
We don't seem to have brought any with us, and I've realised that Optrex is a UK specific brand. I asked in the pharmacy for some very mild eye wash and have something containing fennel and saffron, amongst other things. I don't want to use something on him that will make the problem worse though.
I'm tempted to just treat his eye with boiled, cooled water for now, but wondered if any fellow cat owners had any Swiss recommendations for a similar-to-Optrex cat-friendly product?
(I will take him to the vets if it gets any worse, but this is so stressful for him that home-treating first is better, and usually sorts out the problem).
For human use, we buy sterile saline solution (Naaprep, marketed for nasal use) and sterile gauze pads that can be bought in the pharmacy. Should work for cats as well.
My vet suggested using black tea on a washcloth - our cat has lots of eye crusties from tears and we were told to use that as it's supposed to be good for their eyes.
Our vet in Poland recomended the infusion of Euphrasiaand it seemed to help in minor eye infections. But I have not tried to buy it in Switzerland yet.
Hi,Im actualy in the U.K at min and back in Basel next week,if you would like me to pick you some Optrex up, if you would be happier using this for your Cat, then i would be more than happy to do it.
Thanks both, and many thanks Merseygirl for your very kind offer! Coincidentally I have a friend in the UK at the minute who is going to bring some back for me, otherwise I'd have jumped at the offer
An update as this has been bumped up again: I went to the vet, it turns out he has a cold and we've got eyedrops and antibiotics for him.
Thanks again for everyone's help and advice.
It's so nice of you to help your vet when he's under the weather.
hahahahaha....who said theres no sense of humour in Switz