Treating a cat cold/allergies?

[beth0612]

Background: I have noticed a watery eye on one of my almost-year-old kittens for several days now. It's not constant, but it's the same eye each time, and the discharge is clear (like tears), not brown, yellow, or mucousy. Last night, I saw her sneeze and a longish, thin stream of mucous came out of one nostril, but that's the only time I've noticed something like that happen. I just looked at her a few minutes ago and the watery eye is back. 

I started her on L-Lyseine this morning, since that's how I have treated sneezing in the past. I am considering taking her to the vet, but it seems the vet solution to *everything* is amoxocyllin. Both this kitten and her brother had terrible IBD as small kittens and I was finally able to stop their months-long diarrhea with good probiotics, so I don't want to casually give her antibiotics and wreck her gut flora if it's not really necessary.

She's acting normal and doesn't have crusty eyes or nose so I'm hoping the L-Lyseine will take care of it, but I thought I would ask the community in case there was another course of action I should be taking. I'm trying to find the balance between being watchful/cautious and unnecessarily overmedicating. 

 

[catwoman707]

 
Background: I have noticed a watery eye on one of my almost-year-old kittens for several days now. It's not constant, but it's the same eye each time, and the discharge is clear (like tears), not brown, yellow, or mucousy. Last night, I saw her sneeze and a longish, thin stream of mucous came out of one nostril, but that's the only time I've noticed something like that happen. I just looked at her a few minutes ago and the watery eye is back. 

I started her on L-Lyseine this morning, since that's how I have treated sneezing in the past. I am considering taking her to the vet, but it seems the vet solution to *everything* is amoxocyllin. Both this kitten and her brother had terrible IBD as small kittens and I was finally able to stop their months-long diarrhea with good probiotics, so I don't want to casually give her antibiotics and wreck her gut flora if it's not really necessary.

She's acting normal and doesn't have crusty eyes or nose so I'm hoping the L-Lyseine will take care of it, but I thought I would ask the community in case there was another course of action I should be taking. I'm trying to find the balance between being watchful/cautious and unnecessarily overmedicating. 

Actually has the vet ever mentioned or explained to you about URI's or that this is very likely the herpesvirus and does reoccur randomly?

It's nicknamed herpesvirus because the virus is there for life.

However once they are fully matured adults with mature immune systems, they can keep it in check and you won't see symptoms, except during stressful times, a move, a new pet, away from home more, etc.

Kitten is still young so it's not fully developed it's immune system quite yet.

Antibiotics are only needed when the clear turns to not clear, green or yellow nasal mucous, and the kitty may have bacteria invading him due to his immune system being occupied with fighting off the virus symptoms.

Vet should keep you supplied with terramycin eye ointment too. That helps keep bacteria from the eyes.

Herpesvirus is the #1 most common URI in cats, approx 80% are herpesvirus, technically called rhinotracheitis.