Is saline solution or human eye wash safe to use on cats?

I'm asking because Vlad's eyes have been tearing again, and getting little crusty things on the inner corner. I'd like to use something I can just wipe his eyes with on a daily basis.

I've got a vet appointment to take Oksana in tomorrow for her wellness exam, and I was going to ask them to give me an eye wash, but I know it will probably be more than what I'd pay for something at the pharmacy.

If it's the same thing as human usage saline solution I may as well buy that.

Does anybody know?

I would think so as it's not medicated... but ask the vet to make sure.

( oh and :offtopic: but... did you know the saline nasal spray they sell for 5 or 6 dollars for a small bottle is the exact same stuff that is in the eye solution that they sell in a huge bottle for about 2-3$?! So what I do now is buy the big saline solution eye bottles and use them to refill the nasal ones.)

or that the alcohol foot sprays (think holistic) are exactly the same stuff (and usually better smelling) than the alcohol deodorant sprays(again think holistic) but a FRACTION of the price??

you could as your vet what the eye wash pH is, then call Visine or whoever and ask THEM what their eye wash pH is.

-ash

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-needed-for-a-homemade-eyewash.htm

-ash

You can get eye wipes at pet stores too. Probably pricier than the wash though.

Thanks guys.

I was looking at the wash the vet had given me and it just said under ingredients "Purified water"

I'll ask her anyway. Just to make sure. I just want to make sure he doesn't have any kind of irritation in his eyes.

I've even been thinking about getting someone to clean the air ducts and the air conditioner. I think it will at least help get the allergens out of the system and from blowing them all over the place. That will be good for all of us.

:sorry: IM SO SORRY!! i dont know why i didnt think of that earlier!!! with all of your allergies..... oh man, so when we moved into this house, *everyone* got sick all the way down to the cats. Chris and i (within 6 weeks) were on antibiotics for a sinus infection, Cailyn was having bloody noses at night.... the cats had sneezing fits and weepy eyes... we got the HVAC replaced, the duct work all replaced or cleaned (the little we couldnt rip out) and like magic, we all got better. the kind of stuff that came out of our 30 year old home.... it was amazing.

i was so stunned.... i would HIGHLY recommend getting several different air quality specialist out to your apartment. it should be free.... but you live in such a moist climate like we do. get it done! you should even be able to get your doctor to approve a note saying thats a majority of your sickness (baring the cats and such) and have your land lord clean or replace them.

-ashley

I only just thought about this. And now especially since I had that night with no ac, I imagine it's made whatever is there worse.

I'm definitely going to talk to my landlord and let him know I need that done. It's probably never been done!

i think they say to leave your system running all the time but on low if you can. so the air doesnt stagnate. do you know if you are on a concrete slab or not?? do you know if the filter gets changed or not??

-ash

Mine runs on auto, and I keep the apartment at 70 at all times. I think having that day and night with no A/C might have moved some ickies into the air. Since then, I've been feeling like I have a cold. And I've noticed a couple of the F4 have been sneezing. So I think I need to have it just cleaned.

what i mean is when its on auto(i think), the handler only kicks on when you need hot or cold air, it turns off when its finished pumping your conditioned air. we left ours set on a continuous air exchange, it was always running. its bad on the power bill but it helped a little to stop our duct work from getting moist in the crawl space. if you are on a slab, it shouldnt matter because your handler is in the attic of the place but if you arent on a slab (chances are you ARE) then its likely to run the duct work through the floor through the crawl space.

anyways, talk to your doctor, your landlord and see what they can tell you about your air quality and whether that could be bothering you. do you have much carpeting?? that could also be it. maybe shampooing it once every other month or so?? its helped us also. the first time WE washed it, it was horrible... but since then, shampooing every other month only brings up SORTA sludgy crap. i make sure i go over it several times too. dont be afraid to really run some water over it. just make sure you run the shampooer over it a few times without using water so it sucks up as much moisture as possible.

-ash

I talked to my landlord and he told me to go ahead and call someone and he'd take care of getting it cleaned. But I think I'm going to call the condo office. The people replacing the roofs are also A/C contractors. I might ask if someone could come in and have a look at my unit and give me a price on what they'd charge to clean it.

I don't have an carpeting, but I've got two large rungs in the living room and just two runners in the bedroom. I vacuum those regularly.

I really think my problem now is because of that no A/C day. I was fine before then, now I'm sneezing constantly and always having to blow my nose.

Polysporin ear and eye drops are safe for cats. I use that on Puddles when her eyes get a little runny. Fixes her right up.

Oh great. Thank you. I can go across the street tomorrow and get some. His eyes have been a little runny. And of course, I forgot to ask the vet about the saline.