Clinical signs, treatment, and outcomes for ophthalmic thermal injury in 108 cats exposed to northern California wildfires between 2015 and 2020.

Objective: Report ophthalmic clinical findings along with treatment modalities in cats exposed to northern California wildfires.

Methods: Medical records of cats (n = 109) exposed to 1 of 5 separate wildfire events in northern California between September 2015 and October 2020 were evaluated. Records were analyzed for patient signalment, ophthalmic examination findings, length of hospitalization, and ophthalmic medications utilized. Patients without ophthalmic examinations were excluded. Descriptive values were documented and reported as median (range) when applicable.

Results: 108 cats were included in the study, with 64 cats (59.3%) showing at least 1 ophthalmic abnormality. Ocular surface changes were most common (56 of 108 cats [51.9%]), followed by periocular abnormalities (36 of 108 cats [33.3%]). Of the 73 cats that had fluorescein staining performed, 14 had corneal ulcerations (9 cats with bilateral corneal ulcers). Patients were started on either an ophthalmic lubricant (48 cats [44.4%]) every 4 to 6 hours and/or topical antibiotics, which included erythromycin (19 cats [17.6%]), oxytetracycline polymyxin B (4 cats [3.7%]), neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin (1 cat [0.9%]), and ofloxacin (1 cat [0.9%]), every 4 to 8 hours.

Conclusions: Apart from systemic evaluation, careful examination for ophthalmic injury when managing feline patients exposed to thermal insult is imperative, given that nearly 60% of cases had some form of ophthalmic abnormality.

Clinical relevance: Topical lubricants should be considered in cats exposed to facial thermal insult, as a large proportion of affected patients have ophthalmic injuries that affect the health of the ocular surface. Topical antibiotics should be used when there is evidence of ocular surface ulceration.