Feline Herpes

[OlafsMom]

So about 3 years ago my beautiful little cat Olaf showed up on my doorstep as kitten. He was the last remaining cat from one of the litters our feral cat had. We decided to take the little guy in and raise him.

Two years later, all his problems started with a upper respiratory infection. Before long his eyes started looking gooey and awful. Our vet told us he has feline herpes.

We've been dealing with this for over a year now. He's seeing an eye specialist who costs a fortune but is helping a little bit. He's been on up to 8 eye drops at a time which we give him 3 times a day. His eyes were finally starting to clear up but they keep going back and forth. One day they look good and the next it's like 4 steps backwards. We give him lysine treats on top of all of this.

Anyone have any advice on what else I can do for the poor guy? I know the drops make him feel better because he's playing more but he also hate getting them.

We also have another cat in the house who I worry about. We've had him for about a year and he still seems alright. Is there any chance that he could keep from catching the herpes? Or does he probably already have it and it's dormant? I've never dealt with this before so I have so many questions.

 

[Brian K]

I haven't dealt with this before but wanted to take to the time to say that you are amazing for taking in that cat and supporting him through all of his problems. I wish all the best for your kitty. And god bless for giving him the most important thing. Love.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Has your second cat been vaccinated against the herpes virus? If so, then it's possible him doesn't have it/won't get it. But you may need to keep up his booster shots, either that or get him titer tested to make sure he still has the antibodies in his system to protect him.

Here are a couple of articles about herpes that you might find interesting:

Ocular (eye) Herpes In Cats
Stubborn herpes infection? Add Lactoferrin in addition to Lysine

 

[maggiedemi]

Lysine treats work for my cat, I give two a day, Pet Naturals of Vermont brand, one with breakfast, one with dinner. He must have it really bad if the lysine doesn't work. Poor Kitty!

 

[sandtiger]

He s a beautiful boy and its so good you are trying to help him. Everything I have recently learned indicates thats 500mg is needed to have an effect and also running alongside it argnine at 500mg per day. All this time it must have cost a fortune with the specialist perhaps you could try an holistic vet, a homeopathic one. Bathing his eyes with saline solution you can make yourself or buy one thats for baby snuffles(**with nothing but saline**)

 

[maggiedemi]

Has your vet ever had you try just the lysine for a few days, without the eye drops?

 

[_spadekitty]

Have you tried adding lactoferrin to his regimen as well? I've seen users on the site that have had good results with a lactoferrin/lysine combo for the really bad FHV kitties.

 

[OlafsMom]

Thanks for all the advice. We just got back from yet another trip to the eye specialist. His eyes are beginning to calcify which could lead to blindness. We're starting a new drop to try and counteract it.

I've never tried or heard of lactoferrin. I'm going to look into adding that to his regime. At this point, I'll try anything that can help my poor boy.

 

[c-attila]

***I am not a Veterinarian and this information is not intended as medical advice,please discuss this information with your veterinarian***

For treating the symptoms of Herpes you can ask your veterinarian to try Polyprenyl, an immunomodulator medication. VetImmune.com.
Also you can ask your veterinarian about Famciclovir, an anti-viral medication Famciclovir - FHV Herpes Treatment For Cats
For the eyes discuss Cidofovir eye drops with your veterinarian, it works with just applying it twice a day. http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learn...rse-owners/cidofovir-ophthalmic-for-cats.html
As far as I know, the efficacy of Lysine is still anecdotal but a lot of people use it and have good results, some add Lactoferrin to it, there are several threads about it on this forum. Hope this helps.

 

[oyster]

He is gorgeous. Sorry I don't have anything to add other than the lysine. Our vet gave us an ointment that was easier to apply.

 

[maggiedemi]

Have you ever tried the lysine twice a day without the eye drops? Of course ask your vet if this is okay. But when I tried drops/ointments on my cats eyes, they would get all red like that. I guess he was reacting badly to it. Now I just use the lysine. I have to use it twice a day. I tried to cut back to once a day but his eyes got runny again.

 

[OlafsMom]

He's been on Cidofovir for about 6 months now. Our vet has switched him over to Trifluridine Ophthalmic. He doesn't seem to like the new drops. I think they burn when we put them in. Poor boy can't catch a break. He's on the new drop and Gentamicin now.

Of course, we give him lysine twice a day. We have the powder to sprinkle over his food and the treats.

 

[maggiedemi]

Yeah, I forget the name of the drops I put in my cats eyes, but it burned and turned red and he cried all day, so I just went back to the lysine.

 

[valentine319]

I use the large Now lysine powder to add to food(it is only lysine no additives). I used to use enisyl-f lysine treats (my cats allergic to chicken now) and spry treats (pulled when kitty was having allergies). If you go with treats put them in the fridge. If they sit out some cats will rip them open and eat them all. Mine only has some runny eyes and sneezing at times.

I agree with the others on lactoferrin, lysine 500 mg per day and Arganine 500 mg per day (since the lysine lowers it). It's worth seeing if it helps kitty's immune system.

If course check with your vet and confirm.

 

[meuzettesmom]

Most folks poo poo what I do. But when my Peanut has a flair up, I put in a new Vicks pad in my no water vaporizer....sprinkle like salting his water with the General cure for fish. This works for us in till the next time.
I have eight cats and a collie....the antibiotics works to keep them from getting it and collies have stomach ailment ...so it helps him too.

 

[Sunyday]

Hi, my cat was an abandoned cat. He followed us while we were walking our dog, when we got home its seems that he did not have eyes all the white stuff was covering almost the full eye, tears all over, was sneezing, coughing and having this attacks like he was chocking and could not breathe. I can see the eyes of your cat all teary and red, and it does really remember me when Felipin came home.

I found out was feline herpes, maybe the reason because he was kicked out. The vet injected him antibiotics. The symptoms were gone for about 3 weeks, and then again. The vet told me he had to have one shot every one or two months and I ask what if the virus gets resistant to the antibiotic, he said then we'll start with steroids.

That was a complete no no for me. That is not a good life condemned to live with chemicals. After a research and asking God, I started to give him 500 mgs of Lysine every day and the Vetri science immune support (just one container) till finish.

It has been year and a half by now, and my cat is free of any symptom, no teary eyes, no chocking no coughing, nothing. Just once in a great while a sneeze or a little teary eye, but is nothing. And he is a normal cat, pretty cat, nothing that he was before, he eats good, playful as no other, lovely and tender. Maybe he will be taking Lysine all his life, to boost his immune system to fight with the virus, but is fine is just a vitamin.

Praise God for what He did for this little boy, saving him from all the antibiotics and my pocket too.

 

[meuzettesmom]

Hi, my cat was an abandoned cat. He followed us while we were walking our dog, when we got home its seems that he did not have eyes all the white stuff was covering almost the full eye, tears all over, was sneezing, coughing and having this attacks like he was chocking and could not breathe. I can see the eyes of your cat all teary and red, and it does really remember me when Felipin came home.

I found out was feline herpes, maybe the reason because he was kicked out. The vet injected him antibiotics. The symptoms were gone for about 3 weeks, and then again. The vet told me he had to have one shot every one or two months and I ask what if the virus gets resistant to the antibiotic, he said then we'll start with steroids.

That was a complete no no for me. That is not a good life condemned to live with chemicals. After a research and asking God, I started to give him 500 mgs of Lysine every day and the Vetri science immune support (just one container) till finish.

It has been year and a half by now, and my cat is free of any symptom, no teary eyes, no chocking no coughing, nothing. Just once in a great while a sneeze or a little teary eye, but is nothing. And he is a normal cat, pretty cat, nothing that he was before, he eats good, playful as no other, lovely and tender. Maybe he will be taking Lysine all his life, to boost his immune system to fight with the virus, but is fine is just a vitamin.

Praise God for what He did for this little boy, saving him from all the antibiotics and my pocket too.

This helped my friend with his ferel...he believed you more than me.

 

[Chanteyl]

I haven't dealt with this before but wanted to take to the time to say that you are amazing for taking in that cat and supporting him through all of his problems. I wish all the best for your kitty. And god bless for giving him the most important thing. Love.

Did the vet recommend the cat wear an Elizabethan collar while treating his eyes? Cats & Dogs hate them, but it is the only way to prevent the cat from immediately cleaning the medication out of his eyes, thus irritating his poor eyes more. It feels like you are torturing your pet, but you are protecting your pet from injuring itself more. They should be removed for feeding, drinking water, lap time (where you can supervise they do not clean their eyes).

 

[Chanteyl]

Hi, my cat was an abandoned cat. He followed us while we were walking our dog, when we got home its seems that he did not have eyes all the white stuff was covering almost the full eye, tears all over, was sneezing, coughing and having this attacks like he was chocking and could not breathe. I can see the eyes of your cat all teary and red, and it does really remember me when Felipin came home.

I found out was feline herpes, maybe the reason because he was kicked out. The vet injected him antibiotics. The symptoms were gone for about 3 weeks, and then again. The vet told me he had to have one shot every one or two months and I ask what if the virus gets resistant to the antibiotic, he said then we'll start with steroids.

That was a complete no no for me. That is not a good life condemned to live with chemicals. After a research and asking God, I started to give him 500 mgs of Lysine every day and the Vetri science immune support (just one container) till finish.

It has been year and a half by now, and my cat is free of any symptom, no teary eyes, no chocking no coughing, nothing. Just once in a great while a sneeze or a little teary eye, but is nothing. And he is a normal cat, pretty cat, nothing that he was before, he eats good, playful as no other, lovely and tender. Maybe he will be taking Lysine all his life, to boost his immune system to fight with the virus, but is fine is just a vitamin.

Praise God for what He did for this little boy, saving him from all the antibiotics and my pocket too.

Antibiotics do not affect viruses, only bacteria. Hence the name "anti-biotic". They are often given to treat secondary or underlying conditions, but they are totally useless to eliminate a virus. You need anti-viral meds for viruses, and they are very target specific.