Chronic Feline Herpes/conjunctivitis

[lkessler]

Hello,

My cat has has chronic conjunctivitis for four months straight (from April 2018 to current), and it shows not signs of letting up.

We've tried about everything, I've even taken him to a animal ophthalmologist, he has a few small ulcers, but even they are stumped. Here is what we've tried:

• Neo/Poly/Dex eye drops (steroid drops) along with an oral antibiotic
• Tobramycin drops
• Ciprofloxacin drops
• Terramycin oinment/Sooth over the counter eye drops
• Famciclovir (2 weeks)
• Idoxuridine- anti-viral eye drops, we are currently using this, but with no marked change.

I give him lysine 2x per day, and we've just added omega 3 fish oil (from our vet).

He is on a prescription food as he is prone to urinary stones. I've tried switching his food with bad results in the past (one re-block, and bloody urine other times), so a diet change isn't something I can consider.

My local vet is stumped as well. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm just wondering if I just just let him be, but try and keep the eye clean. I feel so bad for him, and I just want to help him, but nothing is helping (I know it's a virus, and those cannot be killed, but I was hoping that he'd get some relief at some point).

 

[Mamanyt1953]

SIGH...I wish I could come up with something, but other than OTC soothing/hydrating eye drops and frequent cleaning, I'm at a loss here. Is it possible that this has an allery component? It seems to have started during prime allgery season...Outside chance, but worth considering!

Let us know how he's doing. Poor guy.

 

[lkessler]

SIGH...I wish I could come up with something, but other than OTC soothing/hydrating eye drops and frequent cleaning, I'm at a loss here. Is it possible that this has an allery component? It seems to have started during prime allgery season...Outside chance, but worth considering!

Let us know how he's doing. Poor guy.

Thank you for responding. I certainly will not rule out allergies, as mine are certainly bothering me. It's just so hard to see his poor eye like this!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

There is nothing worse than a sick or injured kitty...or dog, for that matter...they look at you so sadly, and you just can't explain to them at all!

 

[Molly1000]

We have the same issue with our cat. She's had the eye herpes and conjunctivitis issues since April. I attached a picture. The vet put her on isathal: see Isathal Eye Gel (Canada) for Animal Use - Drugs.com

She's been on them, since Friday and not sure if it is really helping. We tried lysine and it did absolutely nothing. Our vet would not give us any anti-viral eye drops. She said her immune system needs to help with the breakout and there is no cure. She gave us anti-depressants, which the cat will not even take. She started having these muscle tremors at about the same time. Her back skin would role, tail would twitch and she would run around like crazy and lick her back side and tail. We are also at a loss.

 

[silkenpaw]

If it's OK with your vet, you could give him some Zyrtec (antihistamine) and see if that helps. My allergic cat takes 2.5 mg/day but you can apparently go up to 5 mg/day.

Good luck, I know how frustrating this can be. I had this problem with another cat. She didn't have allergies but it still took months for her eye to clear up.

 

[stephanietx]

You might also consider colloidal silver. You can add drops to wet food.

 

[lkessler]

We have the same issue with our cat. She's had the eye herpes and conjunctivitis issues since April. I attached a picture. The vet put her on isathal: see Isathal Eye Gel (Canada) for Animal Use - Drugs.com

She's been on them, since Friday and not sure if it is really helping. We tried lysine and it did absolutely nothing. Our vet would not give us any anti-viral eye drops. She said her immune system needs to help with the breakout and there is no cure. She gave us anti-depressants, which the cat will not even take. She started having these muscle tremors at about the same time. Her back skin would role, tail would twitch and she would run around like crazy and lick her back side and tail. We are also at a loss.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this as well. It's so frustrating because my cat isn't getting better, and it sounds like your poor cat isn't either. I had wondered if Prozac might work, even though my cat does not appear to be stressed. My vet said he would give it to me if I wanted to try it, but I have not decided yet.

 

[lkessler]

If it's OK with your vet, you could give him some Zyrtec (antihistamine) and see if that helps. My allergic cat takes 2.5 mg/day but you can apparently go up to 5 mg/day.

Good luck, I know how frustrating this can be. I had this problem with another cat. She didn't have allergies but it still took months for her eye to clear up.

Thank you, I'll check with our vet on this. I'm also going to email the opthamology specialist and ask if they know of anything else we might try. So frustrating.

 

[lkessler]

You might also consider colloidal silver. You can add drops to wet food.

I'll look into this, thank you for replying.

 

[lkessler]

Also, lysine does not appear to be working for us either. I give it twice a day with no results so far.

 

[cheeser]

Have you tried lactoferrin?

We discussed the info in this old thread, Stubborn herpes infection? Add Lactoferrin in addition to Lysine with our vet, and gave it a try. It really helped our kitty with FIV and FHV (as well as a history of urinary tract problems). Our vet also told us we could double the dosage of both the L-lysine and lactoferrin during flare-ups.

Wish you and your kitty all the best, and hope he's feeling better soon.

 

[Molly1000]

Molly finished her antibiotic eye drops on Saturday. Her eyes were looking a bit better, but the sides of her nose were still black and crusty. Her eyes are leaking clear discharge again and look awful. Neither the antibiotics or lysine helped her eye herpes. Her eyes been like this, since April. She has been taking the kitty prozac past three days, but I do not think it will help her. She does not really seem stressed. I am going to try echinacea.

 

[momof3b1g]

How much lysine do you give and is it the powder? Are you giving it 12 hours apart?

 

[CatLover49]

Hello,

My cat has has chronic conjunctivitis for four months straight (from April 2018 to current), and it shows not signs of letting up.

We've tried about everything, I've even taken him to a animal ophthalmologist, he has a few small ulcers, but even they are stumped. Here is what we've tried:

• Neo/Poly/Dex eye drops (steroid drops) along with an oral antibiotic
• Tobramycin drops
• Ciprofloxacin drops
• Terramycin oinment/Sooth over the counter eye drops
• Famciclovir (2 weeks)
• Idoxuridine- anti-viral eye drops, we are currently using this, but with no marked change.

I give him lysine 2x per day, and we've just added omega 3 fish oil (from our vet).

He is on a prescription food as he is prone to urinary stones. I've tried switching his food with bad results in the past (one re-block, and bloody urine other times), so a diet change isn't something I can consider.

My local vet is stumped as well. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm just wondering if I just just let him be, but try and keep the eye clean. I feel so bad for him, and I just want to help him, but nothing is helping (I know it's a virus, and those cannot be killed, but I was hoping that he'd get some relief at some point).

Did ure cats eye look like this