Which antibiotic can cause acute retinal degeneration in cats?

Which antibiotic can cause acute retinal degeneration in cats?

• A. Enrofloxacin
• B. Amoxicillin
• C. Doxycycline
• D. Clindamycin

Answer: (A)

Enrofloxacin stands out because cats have a known sensitivity to retinal toxicity from fluoroquinolones. When given systemically, enrofloxacin can accumulate in the retina and trigger acute, bilateral degeneration of the photoreceptors, sometimes leading to sudden and irreversible blindness. The exact mechanism isn’t fully clear, but it’s thought to involve retinal cell stress or toxicity from high drug concentrations in feline retinal tissue. This risk is a key reason clinicians avoid systemic fluoroquino lone use in cats or use them cautiously. The other antibiotics listed—amoxicillin, doxycycline, and clindamycin—do not have a documented association with acute retinal degeneration in cats. They can have other side effects, but retinal toxicity isn’t a characteristic risk for them in feline patients. So the antibiotic that can cause acute retinal degeneration in cats is enrofloxacin.

Enrofloxacin stands out because cats have a known sensitivity to retinal toxicity from fluoroquinolones. When given systemically, enrofloxacin can accumulate in the retina and trigger acute, bilateral degeneration of the photoreceptors, sometimes leading to sudden and irreversible blindness. The exact mechanism isn’t fully clear, but it’s thought to involve retinal cell stress or toxicity from high drug concentrations in feline retinal tissue. This risk is a key reason clinicians avoid systemic fluoroquino lone use in cats or use them cautiously.

The other antibiotics listed—amoxicillin, doxycycline, and clindamycin—do not have a documented association with acute retinal degeneration in cats. They can have other side effects, but retinal toxicity isn’t a characteristic risk for them in feline patients.

So the antibiotic that can cause acute retinal degeneration in cats is enrofloxacin.