I posted this in the health forum as well, but because I am a breeder I suppose I should ask here as well.
I recently purchased a new kitten in the hope of retiring my current stud whom doesn't seem to be loving the stud life.
Kitten was placed into quarantine as soon as we brought him home. About a week after he arrived his right eye became swollen and red and a little goopy. He was still eating, drinking and playing normally, but I don't mess around with eyes!
I took him an after hours vet that gave me antibiotic eye drops and checked to see if there was anything in or on his eye but nothing was there. They told me to follow up with my regular vet or bring him back if he starts having any other issues or the eye doesn't start to get better.
Well the day after we started him on the drops one of my queens decided to follow me in his room. I swear I checked around me before I opened his door and no cats/animals were there. Next thing I know I turn around and they are nose to nose and before I can grab her she is licking his face!!
So in to a second quarantine room she goes. I called my vet, they said to keep her in quarantine and if she starts to show symptoms to bring her in. And sure enough, a week later her eyes are red rimmed, third eye lid is inflamed, however her eyes weren't really all that goopy. I took her into my regular vet, they gave me more eye drops and did respiratory PCR panel swabs wet and dry for the eyes and one of the throat and I brought him in the next day to have the same done to him. I am currently waiting on the results of the swabs. Hopefully they will be in early next week..
The breeder I purchased him from swears up and down she has never had any upper respiratory infections in her cats or issues with their eyes.
At this point I am pretty much praying that it's chlamydia. I know it will be a bitch to treat, but at least it is treatable!
I have been really anal about hand washing, I have a robe for each quarantine room so as not to carry anything out on my clothes because I have a litter of 6 week old kittens right now as well.
I honestly don't know what to do.. I am pretty much losing my mind!!! My cats are miserable because I have everyone quarantined away from each other as a precaution until I get the results back. Even though it's likely whatever he has/had she now has as well, my vet advised against placing them together. I try to spend as much time with every one as possible but its hard to be every where at once!)
I just don't understand it. They literally have no other symptoms except for the eye issues, which are clearly contagious! Don't URI's usually present with other symptoms like fever, lethargy, ulcers, sneezing, runny nose or coughing?
Especially in two different cats?
I am so sick waiting for the results. Now I am worried/wondering if I haven't done enough with the quarantine measures and I could unwittingly be infecting my other cats/kittens. Once the results come back I will probably need to test the other 4 cats plus kittens in my cattery to ensure what ever it is hasn't spread.. and at $230 a pop I am not looking forward to that vet bill as I have already spent over $1000 in less than a month for vaccinations and vet bills.
I know calicivirus and herpes aren't treatable and the cat will carry the virus for the rest of their life and potentially infected other cats.
My vet said if he has herpes as long as he isn't having an outbreak that he shouldn't spread it to the female during mating. But what if he is one of those cats that constantly sheds the virus? Is there any way to determine that?
I will not sell people potentially infected kittens. And I will be absolutely devastated if I have to spay/neuter all my cats and stop breeding because it one of the few things in my life that brings me pure joy (when I am not freaking out about potential contagious disease!)
I know it's a lot of what ifs but if any one has any words of wisdom or guidance it would be greatly appreciated.
I am sorry for the rant!
I recently purchased a new kitten in the hope of retiring my current stud whom doesn't seem to be loving the stud life.
Kitten was placed into quarantine as soon as we brought him home. About a week after he arrived his right eye became swollen and red and a little goopy. He was still eating, drinking and playing normally, but I don't mess around with eyes!
I took him an after hours vet that gave me antibiotic eye drops and checked to see if there was anything in or on his eye but nothing was there. They told me to follow up with my regular vet or bring him back if he starts having any other issues or the eye doesn't start to get better.
Well the day after we started him on the drops one of my queens decided to follow me in his room. I swear I checked around me before I opened his door and no cats/animals were there. Next thing I know I turn around and they are nose to nose and before I can grab her she is licking his face!!
So in to a second quarantine room she goes. I called my vet, they said to keep her in quarantine and if she starts to show symptoms to bring her in. And sure enough, a week later her eyes are red rimmed, third eye lid is inflamed, however her eyes weren't really all that goopy. I took her into my regular vet, they gave me more eye drops and did respiratory PCR panel swabs wet and dry for the eyes and one of the throat and I brought him in the next day to have the same done to him. I am currently waiting on the results of the swabs. Hopefully they will be in early next week..
The breeder I purchased him from swears up and down she has never had any upper respiratory infections in her cats or issues with their eyes.
At this point I am pretty much praying that it's chlamydia. I know it will be a bitch to treat, but at least it is treatable!
I have been really anal about hand washing, I have a robe for each quarantine room so as not to carry anything out on my clothes because I have a litter of 6 week old kittens right now as well.
I honestly don't know what to do.. I am pretty much losing my mind!!! My cats are miserable because I have everyone quarantined away from each other as a precaution until I get the results back. Even though it's likely whatever he has/had she now has as well, my vet advised against placing them together. I try to spend as much time with every one as possible but its hard to be every where at once!)
I just don't understand it. They literally have no other symptoms except for the eye issues, which are clearly contagious! Don't URI's usually present with other symptoms like fever, lethargy, ulcers, sneezing, runny nose or coughing?
Especially in two different cats?
I am so sick waiting for the results. Now I am worried/wondering if I haven't done enough with the quarantine measures and I could unwittingly be infecting my other cats/kittens. Once the results come back I will probably need to test the other 4 cats plus kittens in my cattery to ensure what ever it is hasn't spread.. and at $230 a pop I am not looking forward to that vet bill as I have already spent over $1000 in less than a month for vaccinations and vet bills.
I know calicivirus and herpes aren't treatable and the cat will carry the virus for the rest of their life and potentially infected other cats.
My vet said if he has herpes as long as he isn't having an outbreak that he shouldn't spread it to the female during mating. But what if he is one of those cats that constantly sheds the virus? Is there any way to determine that?
I will not sell people potentially infected kittens. And I will be absolutely devastated if I have to spay/neuter all my cats and stop breeding because it one of the few things in my life that brings me pure joy (when I am not freaking out about potential contagious disease!)
I know it's a lot of what ifs but if any one has any words of wisdom or guidance it would be greatly appreciated.
I am sorry for the rant!