Managing FHV

[Morgana’s Human]

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all doing well!

Morgana has had a weepy eye from kittenhood - after many times having drops put in, it’s finally been established that she has FHV and has likely had it from birth. I was hoping to ask from lots more experienced members about the daily management? We are in the UK is this is any use!

For Morgana, it’s always her right eye - no infection, just weepy eye. The skin around it is red and she ends up with those crusties. It generally looks like this. The vet believes that for Morgana, it’s mostly stress that causes it:

This time she’s been a bit sneezy too, but no discharge. This is already beginning to calm down - the vet thinks it’s a response to me being on vacation for a week. I may have to adjust the strategy when I go away in future - usually I board them. They settle in amazingly at boarding but I don’t want to risk other cats, and I’m wondering if a pet sitter that comes to the house would be a better option - I just worry about them both being quite needy affectionate wise and high energy it won’t be enough!

Anyway - I’ve recently started to try and manage. Traditional eye drops from the vet isn’t making much difference. We are currently trialing Morgana on Enisyl-F® Feline Herpes Oral Paste Supplement for Cats - it’s not been a week since we started so I’m aware it may take some time to come in. I was also considering adding in a l-lysine supplement to help her immune system.

I know this sounds silly - we all know I’m very paranoid when it comes to my cats - and I’m trying to think of this as a “cat cold” that will pass. I just feel so sorry for her, so was hoping you guys would have a bit more insight! I know there’s no cure and really we can only manage the symptoms as they appear, but was hoping you guys would have more suggestions - anything is on the table! Much love from me and Morgana xxx

 

[Alldara]

Most cats in north American cities already have it. Unless they are sharing food or water with Morgana, they shouldn't catch it if they don't have.

L-lysine stops the herpes virus from replicating. You'll have to ask your vet for thr recommended dosage. Some people don't find it helps.

i never used a suppliment for Lily. I had a vet who was also a livestock vet recommend using an orange pekoe teabag and wiping her eyes. So I make a bit and use a paper towel to wipe the eyes (different side for different eye) and then wipe off the excess moisture from the nose and cheek.
I know there is worry about caffeine for some people, but they aren't intaking much.

 

[stephanietx]

One of my RB kitties had FHV and it's a lifelong issue. She was diagnosed at 2 yrs old and she passed at 15 yrs old, so we dealt with it for 13 years. Some times are better than others.

Stress is the number one cause of flare ups. To combat stress, run calming pheremone diffusers or another calming agent 24/7. I always knew when ours ran out because Hannah would start sneezing like crazy. Also, keep a regular schedule and routine. Cats thrive on routine, and keeping a regular daily schedule is important. Keep visitors to a minimum, because new people in the house brings new smells, new sounds, and disrupts your home. This causes kitty to be stressed. Switch to a grain-free food, if possible. The grains can cause the herpes virus to continue replicating in the body, which can cause flare ups.

Check for underlying or secondary infections. Do a culture and sensitivity test on any discharge to make sure there's not something else going on that's causing the flare ups. We found out my girl had a pseudomonas infection. Getting that cleared up helped decrease the outbreaks.

Ask your vet about a daily antihistamine because sometimes allergens can contribute to the sneezing and weepy eyes, especially during seasonal changes. Also ask your vet about Famciclovir, if available in your country, to see if that helps. It has helped many herpes kitties to keep the virus at bay.

As long as the discharge is clear, you're good. If you notice a color change to cloudy, green, or yellow. then there's an infection brewing and she will need to get to the vet for a check up. Also watch for other things like gulping, which can indicate excess drainage, just like in humans.

You can also try adding L-Lysine and a good cat probiotic to her diet. L-Lysine used to be claimed to help, but in recent years, there's been studies disputing that. We always found it helped our kitty.

The key is to get your cat as healthy as possible because FHV causes a weakened immune system, which leaves them more susceptible to illness.

 

[Morgana’s Human]

Thank you both so much! This is reassuring. I do have another cat in the house, but honestly he would have already got it from Morgana at this point so I’m not too concerned. Morgana is already on a grain-free diet (she is on a mixture of wet and dry scrumbles!). I think I will try the L-Lysine just in case and get some calming defusers in. Is it worth having one plugged in downstairs and one upstairs in my bedroom perhaps?

It’s very reassuring! I just feel so bad for her as it looks sore, but the discharge is clear. I’ll keep a very close eye on her as well as keep on top of cleaning (I will admit I struggle sometimes!) to help her. Thank you all for guidance!

 

[stephanietx]

With my girl, I brought in 3 additional kitties over the years and none of them got it. It's gradual and slow progress with finding what works for your kitty.

 

[Morgana’s Human]

Two steps forward, one step back… honestly, I feel so bad. I know that it’s just weepy, discharge is clear, but man I just wish I could make this stop for her.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. There are anti viral eye drops that can be used. These cats can also get a painful ulcer on their eye, so if it doesn’t clear right up, get her in to the vet to have it stained.

Don’t use tea on the eye or any other product that is not a veterinary opthalmic product prescribed for this cat. Anything going in the eye should be sterile and a proper pH.

Lysine is no longer, or should no longer be recommended as they have found in some studies that at best it does nothing and can even make things worse.

Cidofor is an anti viral eye drop for cats that treats herpes flare ups.

I get occasional flare ups of Herpes virus in one of my eyes. Guess it was all that unprotected eye s*x. (Not serious) but anyway, without anti viral drops it lasts weeks and hurts allot. With the antiviral eye drops it is better in about 2 days. So I would strongly recommend you talk to your vet or a veterinary ophthalmologist about this.

Also keep in mind it could be an upper respiratory infection not related to the herpes that she caught at the boarding facility.

It is almost always less stressful for cats to remain at home as opposed to being boarded.

 

[Morgana’s Human]

Hi. There are anti viral eye drops that can be used. These cats can also get a painful ulcer on their eye, so if it doesn’t clear right up, get her in to the vet to have it stained.

Don’t use tea on the eye or any other product that is not a veterinary opthalmic product prescribed for this cat. Anything going in the eye should be sterile and a proper pH.

Lysine is no longer, or should no longer be recommended as they have found in some studies that at best it does nothing and can even make things worse.

Cidofor is an anti viral eye drop for cats that treats herpes flare ups.

I get occasional flare ups of Herpes virus in one of my eyes. Guess it was all that unprotected eye s*x. (Not serious) but anyway, without anti viral drops it lasts weeks and hurts allot. With the antiviral eye drops it is better in about 2 days. So I would strongly recommend you talk to your vet or a veterinary ophthalmologist about this.

Also keep in mind it could be an upper respiratory infection not related to the herpes that she caught at the boarding facility.

It is almost always less stressful for cats to remain at home as opposed to being boarded.

Thank you, making a vet appointment now for her - she’s been seen multiple times this year, but I think seeing how it’s flaring I’d rather check for ulcers and go from there. Looking at going forward getting a sitter in when I go away instead of boarding so they’re able to stay at home.

 

[Morgana’s Human]

And she’s had another flare! We can’t win! I’m wondering if the change of seasons and the constant changing weather here has something to do with it. She’s been to the vets and given isathol and gel again. Feel so bad for her, both eyes this time! I went to work and all was her normal, got home and that left eye had literally swelled shut… no ulcers, thankfully! she’s in the sunflower of shame as she keeps trying to rub at it. feel so bad as it looks so sore, she’s on pain relief as well!

View attachment IMG_4280.jpeg

 

[stephanietx]

Have you talked to your vet about a daily antihistamine to help? Our vet recommended plain generic Claritin. Have you tried calming agents such as Feliway or Comfort Zone diffusers to help her de-stress in case the flare up is triggered by stress?

 

[silent meowlook]

Poor kitty. I am not familiar with the medication she is on. Is it an antiviral? No ulcers, right? Yes she looks less than pleased with the sunflower of shame.
Beautiful kitty though!

 

[Morgana’s Human]

Have you talked to your vet about a daily antihistamine to help? Our vet recommended plain generic Claritin. Have you tried calming agents such as Feliway or Comfort Zone diffusers to help her de-stress in case the flare up is triggered by stress?

I can definitely bring that up to my vet! She does have feliway diffusers to help her de-stress through the house already

Poor kitty. I am not familiar with the medication she is on. Is it an antiviral? No ulcers, right? Yes she looks less than pleased with the sunflower of shame.
Beautiful kitty though!

No ulcers - they did the uhhh, stuff in her eye and then shone a light inside to check. It is anti-viral meds she’s less than pleased but i had no choice, she kept rubbing at it. thank you! i think she’s beautiful too, but im very biased.

 

[stephanietx]

Two things that really helped my FHV kitty keep from getting flare ups was to limit the number of people who came into our home and to keep to a strict schedule. Kitties are creatures of habit and routine. Keeping to a set routine and schedule gives them peace and helps them know what's coming next. So even on my days off, I woke up at the same time (or within an hour), fed at the same time, went to bed at the same time. All of that really helps keep them calmer as stress is a major trigger for FHV and many other chronic illnesses. We didn't change litter or food frequently either We did a slow transition to grain free food and that also seemed to help.

 

[Morgana’s Human]

Two things that really helped my FHV kitty keep from getting flare ups was to limit the number of people who came into our home and to keep to a strict schedule. Kitties are creatures of habit and routine. Keeping to a set routine and schedule gives them peace and helps them know what's coming next. So even on my days off, I woke up at the same time (or within an hour), fed at the same time, went to bed at the same time. All of that really helps keep them calmer as stress is a major trigger for FHV and many other chronic illnesses. We didn't change litter or food frequently either We did a slow transition to grain free food and that also seemed to help.

Thank you! I think I may try and get some automatic feeders. I live alone with my two cats - my schedule varies greatly due to my job so wondering if that’s part of the issue! Maybe using automatic feeders to keep a routine if I’m not home at their normal feeding times is a good start?

 

[stephanietx]

That might help, especially if she's anxious about food availability. I was thankful that my husband was able to be at home most of the time and kept the schedule while I was working outside the home. I would also start a journal or log of what the weather is like, how well you kept the schedule and how she responded to see if you can catch the pattern. My girl would have a flare up if we were late changing the diffusers.