3 month old kitten has eye infection for weeks

[pyrin1701]

This is my first time posting so please forgive me if I make any mistakes. I recently got three kittens from the shelter, Castaway, Precious, and Banshee. Banshee is named because he is always screaming for attention, he will follow you around and beg to be picked up until you pick him up and hold him for a while. Banshee has had an eye infection since I got him. He is currently taking clavamox and famcicloir for his infections for the last five days, he has about 5 days of medication left. I've also tried applying colloidal silver and opthalmic gel to his eye. Nothing I do seems to help improve his eye, and I dont want my baby to lose his eye. I love my cats like they are my own children, and I'm willing to try just about anything to kill this infection before my baby loses his eye. His eye is actually in really good condition right now, it looks good, when his eye lids open enough to show it. Half the time his eye lids are too swollen for him to open his left eye. I keep washing his eye off with a hot, damp wash cloth, and that seems to be helping a little bit, but I really need the community to get together and give me any tips or tricks you have for getting rid of a kittens eye infection. I've asked the vet, and other then putting him on the same medications for another 2 weeks, they said the only option is to remove the eye.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello, welcome!
Would talking to a different vet be an option?

 

[FeebysOwner]

I agree, a second opinion might not be a bad idea - but he is only halfway through his treatment, and you did say it appears he is improving, so you might need to wait until the treatments are finished. Did the vet take a swab of any drainage to test for various bacterial/viral issues? Keeping his eye wiped clear of any 'junk' is always a good idea.

How long have you had him? How many times and treatments has he had to have since then? Any records from the shelter that might shed some light on how long it was going on before you got him?

Has he been tested for all the various viruses, most of which can cause eye issues/infections? Normally, but not always, those would impact both eyes, and I wasn't sure based on what you said if it is only one eye, or just one eye that is worse. There are anti-viral meds and supplements to help curb future flare ups if this is related to a virus.

 

[Furballsmom]

they said the only option is to remove the eye.

If things aren't completely improved in two weeks, don't let your current vet do this without getting another opinion. I agree, I don't have any other, additional ideas other than the soft damp cloth - although maybe warm rather than actually hot.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. For any possible chance of saving the eye, since you said the regular vets suggest removal, would be a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist. A veterinarian that specializes in animal eyes.
There may be a wait to get in, but explain the severity and age of the kitten when making the appointment. Also sometimes if an animal enters the emergency department of a specialty hospital they can get to see the specialist the next day.You would have to look into that though.
In the mean time, unless directed by your vet, don’t put anything in the eye other than the prescribed medications.
In the event of having to have an enucleation, most cats do just fine with one eye.

 

[pyrin1701]

I agree, a second opinion might not be a bad idea - but he is only halfway through his treatment, and you did say it appears he is improving, so you might need to wait until the treatments are finished. Did the vet take a swab of any drainage to test for various bacterial/viral issues? Keeping his eye wiped clear of any 'junk' is always a good idea.

How long have you had him? How many times and treatments has he had to have since then? Any records from the shelter that might shed some light on how long it was going on before you got him?

Has he been tested for all the various viruses, most of which can cause eye issues/infections? Normally, but not always, those would impact both eyes, and I wasn't sure based on what you said if it is only one eye, or just one eye that is worse. There are anti-viral meds and supplements to help curb future flare ups if this is related to a virus.

The vet took an ear swab and said he does not have ear mites, but other then that she only looked him over and did not run any other tests. I've only had him for a few weeks now, he came from the shelter with the eye infection. He has all his shots and has been tested for various things, he has herpes but he's on antiviral's right now to supress it so that his immune system can fight back the infection. He's on antibiotics for the infection too. It's also just his left eye, his right eye is in perfect health and wide open, his left eye as of today is about half open, slightly swollen around the edges. It doenst look like it's improved since yesterday, but it does not look like it has gotten worse either. Not knowing what is best, I just keep cleaning his eye off with a warm, damp clean cloth.

 

[pyrin1701]

Hi. For any possible chance of saving the eye, since you said the regular vets suggest removal, would be a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist. A veterinarian that specializes in animal eyes.
There may be a wait to get in, but explain the severity and age of the kitten when making the appointment. Also sometimes if an animal enters the emergency department of a specialty hospital they can get to see the specialist the next day.You would have to look into that though.
In the mean time, unless directed by your vet, don’t put anything in the eye other than the prescribed medications.
In the event of having to have an enucleation, most cats do just fine with one eye.

Unfortunately I live in the backwoods of Wisconsin, and while I have not looked up such a specialist yet, I suspect that one would be quite a long drive from here. Let me be clear, his eye is not at risk right now, as far as I can tell when his eye swell goes down enough to open, his eye is in perfect health, it looks perfectly normal. I"m no longer afraid of losing the little guy completely, I'm thinking worst case scenario, the infection comes back after the meds are over and he loses the eye eventually, but it's not at risk right now. He is active, gaining weight rapidly, which I take as a sign of good internal health, and he is playing with his brother and sister in addition to sleeping plenty. At the moment, I think the best course of action is to continue his regular meds, and possibly get two more weeks of it if I have too. I'm also short on money right now, so a specialist would be difficult and probably very expensive, which is why I turned to this community looking for possible home remedies. I appreciate all you help folks, thank you. I love my kitties like they are my children, and I would do anything to keep them healthy and happy for the long term. I will eventually go to a specialist if the infection continues to return after an extended dose of medication though, will just have to put it on the credit cards I JUST paid off with a personal loan three weeks ago. @_@

 

[Furballsmom]

 

[white shadow]

Hi P pyrin1701 and a very warm welcome to the forum!

We also have informed and experienced kitten 'experts' on the forum and, from their 'cases' with eye infection, there's a particular antibiotic ophthalmic ointment that's universally recommended (along with oral antiviral/bacterial meds). And, it's readily available. Not all vets have practical experience with kittens.

Perhaps Sarthur2 could join the conversation..........

 

[silent meowlook]

I think you are talking about Terramycin

 

[pyrin1701]

Hi P pyrin1701 and a very warm welcome to the forum!

We also have informed and experienced kitten 'experts' on the forum and, from their 'cases' with eye infection, there's a particular antibiotic ophthalmic ointment that's universally recommended (along with oral antiviral/bacterial meds). And, it's readily available. Not all vets have practical experience with kittens.

Perhaps Sarthur2 could join the conversation..........

I've been using vetericyn Plus, antibiotic opthalmic gel, but it just seems to make his eye swell up even more

 

[Sarthur2]

Specifically, which antibiotic is Banshee taking?

I would stop using the vetericyn gel as it contains no antibiotics at all.

I do recommend that you purchase a tube of Terramycin triple antibiotic ophthalmic eye ointment from Chewy.com and use it liberally 3 times a day. I’ve never known it NOT to work.
P pyrin1701

 

[pyrin1701]

Specifically, which antibiotic is Banshee taking?

Also, what is the precise name of the ophthalmic gel you are using?

P pyrin1701

Clavamox is the antibiotic, Vetericyn Antibiotic Opthalmic Gel is the gel I stopped using

 

[Sarthur2]

Hey, I looked up the gel you were using and after doing so, edited my Post #12. Please re-read for my recommendation.

 

[pyrin1701]

Specifically, which antibiotic is Banshee taking?

I would stop using the vetericyn gel as it contains no antibiotics at all.

I do recommend that you purchase a tube of Terramycin triple antibiotic ophthalmic eye ointment from Chewy.com and use it liberally 3 times a day. I’ve never known it NOT to work.
P pyrin1701

I will look into that thank you

 

[Sarthur2]

Clavamox is an excellent gram positive and gram negative antibiotic, but I do strongly believe that Banshee also needs an antibiotic like Terramycin eye ointment that can be placed directly into his eye pocket.

 

[pyrin1701]

Clavamox is an excellent gram positive and gram negative antibiotic, but I do strongly believe that Banshee also needs an antibiotic like Terramycin eye ointment that can be placed directly into his eye pocket.

I don't disagree but it will have to wait for at least 2 or 3 days until I get paid

 

[Sarthur2]

Do let us know how he’s doing after you get it and use it. Chewy ships fast and no RX required for this except for California residents. I do hope it solves his eye problem!

 

[pyrin1701]

Do let us know how he’s doing after you get it and use it. Chewy ships fast and no RX required for this except for California residents. I do hope it solves his eye problem!

I hope so, I can say his eye is looking better today, I'm hoping I wont have to get more medicine as it is slowly improving as of last night, I will update again in a day or two

 

[pyrin1701]

Well, it's been about two days, and Banshee's eye is looking much better. EXCEPT, for a small cut his sister gave him while wrestling the other day. The infection seems to be completely gone, I'm going to credit the clavamox and famcicloir with that, but his sister did cut his upper eyelid open yesterday. I VERY CAREFULLY applied some neosporin to the wound without getting it in his eye, and his would is healing rapidly. So good news all around. Infection, gone. Eye, injured but healing. I am no longer kept awake at night by worries about my baby losing his eye. He is going to be just fine. Thank you for everyones help, I hope I can depend on you folks in the future if I have any health problems pop up. Vet's are expensive. My local vet just raised her exam cost to 45 dollars per animal per visit. That's alot of money!