Feline Herpesvirus
Feline Herpesvirus
Please help!! My 3 month old kitten has had horrible eye problems since we adopted him from a shelter 2 months ago. He has tested positive to ferline leukemia, but we're not giving up on him. Since we've had him his eyes have been very watery and had a lot of mucous discharge. For a week or so the third eyelids were covering his eyes. They finally went down, and his eyes just seemed to have a grey tint to them. The vet gave us an antibiotic, claiming this was common in cats with leukemia. After a day of being on the antibiotic, one of his eyes swelled up horribly, but it was only his cornea that was swollen. We immediately took him to the vet er, as it was a weekend, and he was able to see a veterinary opthamologist. This man told us he had a reaction to the antibiotic and gave us a new antibiotic, cirprofloxin and diagnosed him with feline herpesvirus. We had him on the antibiotic for about 2 days, and saw no change. We then missed a dose and noticed his eye actually started to decrease in swelling. We then gave him another dose and within a few hours the swelling returned. We have since stopped the antibiots, and upped his lysine dosage. The eye isn't as swollen anymore, but its turned a whittish/yellow color. There is dried mucous over the cornea so that he can't close his eye. We try to keep it as moist as possible with water drops, but I just don't know what is and isn't working anymore. I've read online that antiviral medications should be used for herpesvirus, not antibiotics. My kittens spirits are still great. He loves to play and seems unphased by his grotesque eye, but I can't help but think he must be in pain. Has anyone had any similar experiences? Please help! I don't know how to help my kitty or how to save his eye, if it isn't already too late!
Re: Feline Herpesvirus
How many tests have been done on the FELV? If only a snap test was used, it should be repeated 4-6 weeks from the first test, but ideally, an ELISA-FELV should be sent to an outside lab to determine accuracy. Don't automatically assume FELV unless it has been confirmed and repeated through an ELISA.
Do you know the one vet was in fact a feline opthamologist? Was he board-certified? If not, then seek a feline-only vet immediately, and get a new referral to a board-certified feline opthamologist ASAP.
Either of the vets could have tested specifically for feline herpesvirus, with a swab sample (from conjunctiva, exudate, etc) and sent to an outside lab for confirmation. You need to know for certain exactly what you're treating. You could be dealing with calicivirus, for example, which would require different treatment altogether.
The antibiotics, were these oral antibiotics, or opthalmic antibiotic ointment??? Actually, oral antibiotics may be prescribed when there is a secondary bacterial infection suspected or confirmed, since any viral disease or other primary disease can incite a secondary bacterial infection...it's imperative to treat as such to prevent the primary disease from worsening, since the patient is already immunocompromized. This is also true of feline herpesvirus, a flare-up can always be susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection.
Anti-viral opthalmic ointments may or may not be prescribed and may or may not work on all cats, you need specific testing done (as described above) to determine what medications are appropriate. Anti-viral drops need to be prescribed cautiously and for short-term use, and the choice chosen carefully.
Do not take it upon yourself to increase the l-lysine, this should only be done on advice of the vet and pending testing and dependent on clinical symptoms.
See a feline-only vet, and pending that opinion, get a referral to a board-certified feline opthamologist for a full optical exam. If the cornea is damaged beyond treatment, you may need to be prepared for removal of the eye. These infections can indeed be painful and debilitating to the cat, and if appropriate treatment does not resolve the condition, removal may be necessary. This is not always necessarily a bad thing, since it would prevent worsening of the condition, and prevent spread of bacteria systemically. But, you need the professional opinion of a board-certified feline opthamologist. Do not delay, get the appointment IMMEDIATELY. There is a chance that if properly diagnosed and properly treated, the eye may be saved, but you need proper testing and proper treatment first on advice of a qualified opthamologist!
Do you know the one vet was in fact a feline opthamologist? Was he board-certified? If not, then seek a feline-only vet immediately, and get a new referral to a board-certified feline opthamologist ASAP.
Either of the vets could have tested specifically for feline herpesvirus, with a swab sample (from conjunctiva, exudate, etc) and sent to an outside lab for confirmation. You need to know for certain exactly what you're treating. You could be dealing with calicivirus, for example, which would require different treatment altogether.
The antibiotics, were these oral antibiotics, or opthalmic antibiotic ointment??? Actually, oral antibiotics may be prescribed when there is a secondary bacterial infection suspected or confirmed, since any viral disease or other primary disease can incite a secondary bacterial infection...it's imperative to treat as such to prevent the primary disease from worsening, since the patient is already immunocompromized. This is also true of feline herpesvirus, a flare-up can always be susceptible to a secondary bacterial infection.
Anti-viral opthalmic ointments may or may not be prescribed and may or may not work on all cats, you need specific testing done (as described above) to determine what medications are appropriate. Anti-viral drops need to be prescribed cautiously and for short-term use, and the choice chosen carefully.
Do not take it upon yourself to increase the l-lysine, this should only be done on advice of the vet and pending testing and dependent on clinical symptoms.
See a feline-only vet, and pending that opinion, get a referral to a board-certified feline opthamologist for a full optical exam. If the cornea is damaged beyond treatment, you may need to be prepared for removal of the eye. These infections can indeed be painful and debilitating to the cat, and if appropriate treatment does not resolve the condition, removal may be necessary. This is not always necessarily a bad thing, since it would prevent worsening of the condition, and prevent spread of bacteria systemically. But, you need the professional opinion of a board-certified feline opthamologist. Do not delay, get the appointment IMMEDIATELY. There is a chance that if properly diagnosed and properly treated, the eye may be saved, but you need proper testing and proper treatment first on advice of a qualified opthamologist!
..........Traci