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Why is my senior dog's eye tearing, inflamed, and gumming up?
Updated on September 23, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 lbs
Sascha is more than 10 yrs. old, adopted, last year my vet diagnosed vestibular syndrome, she now, gets up and down fine, though still tilts her head. Recently her right eye has been tearing all the time, now the rims of that eye are slightly inflamed, and gumming up. She works to clean her eye, and is eating, drinking, and eliminating her bodily waste. No sneezing. She has lost some weight, but her Right eye is the issue.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH
Veterinarian
Published on October 24, 2017
Sounds like Sascha may have an eye infection. Trauma or a viral or bacterial infection may be the cause. Sometimes ocular infections in cats are caused by the feline herpes virus which when transmitted stays in the cat's system forever. On occasion. the virus starts to replicate and this causes secondary bacterial infections of the eye. Sascha will need to be seen and treated with your vet and may be placed on antibiotics.
I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Sascha!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 20, 2019
It sounds like Sascha has an eye infection. You will need to take her into the vet first thing in the morning. Any eye problem needs to be checked out by a vet promptly as leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful