14 week kitten with red rimmed eye

I have a 14wk old kitten that had an eye issue the next day after his adoption. The eye was really red around the rim area , swollen and a little runny. Of course I went directly and he said it could be conjunctivitis , herpes, and a few others. Anyway he sent us home with gentimyacin drops for 3 times daily for 10 days. I took him back for a followup and the swelling and discharge was better but not by much. The vet then says just keep an eye(no pun intended) on it for a while and that kittens almost always have been exposed to conjuntivitis ,also known as upper respiratory illness. Well he is breathing ok and the rims are still red , and I wonder if maybe his being a red tabby that his eye rims are actually supposed to be reddish? Vet did not really have an answer for thi question. Ok so I am concerned he is still affected and wonder how long will this take to dissipate ? Anyone know anything about this ?
Love some advise!

Well, in order to treat it properly you need to know exactly what is causing it. I'm surprised your vet didn't suggest doing a URI PCR test... but since he didn't, that's my recommendation. The test is a little pricey as it needs to be sent to the lab and everything, but getting it done and finding out exactly what you need to be treating for is a lot better than guessing and doing treatments that aren't going to have any real effect (and will eventually add up to the same cost or more of doing the test itself in the first place). Lots of the virus' that cause these symptoms will lay dormant for awhile but flare up during times of stress, so that could explain why the symptoms started the day after adoption, it's a very common time for the virus to become active.The PCR test will determine exactly what kind of URI infection(s) you are dealing with. Swollen red runny eyes are a symptom of almost all of them, and a few need specialized antibiotics, so getting that test done is definitely your best option so you can get your kitten on the road to feeling better. I adopted my kitten Bitsy last month, the shelter people said she "might" have a little cold but was fine and would be over it soon... but she sure didn't seem healthy at all to me, I got her to the vet, found out she had a whole slew of things through the PCR test (calicivirus, chlamydia, and mycoplasma !!!) that had gone untreated for a long time at the shelter. She was in pretty bad shape/very skinny but since getting her the proper medicine she has made a great recovery, so the sooner the better when it comes to a proper diagnosis, whatever it is you don't want it progressing anymore than it has already.

Thank you for the info peachesxo, appreciate it. I will talk to my vet about the test you recommended, wish he had suggested it weeks ago. Good luck with your new kitten, I volunteer for th humane society in the Oceanside , Ca shelter and I can tell you it is very difficult to get each kitty all the care they need so badly but they certainly try, there are just so many in need. I will let you know what happens with Stevies eyes.

No problem. It's definitely difficult for them to keep up with them all... mostly when some of the signs are so small and easy to miss in a shelter environment. And yes your vet should have definitely suggested that if it's been going on for awhile , my kittens symptoms were very advanced and after just one day on the proper medicine she was already feeling better and finally playing a bit for the first time. She is still being treated now but doesn't seem sick anymore at all. A few more weeks for good measure and she will finallllly be able to meet my other cat.

Goodluck with Stevie! In the meantime you can use cooled cammomile tea and a q-tip to clean any gunk out of his eyes, that was another one of my vets suggestions for me.

Well just got back from the vet about his poor eyes.the vet said that the PCR test is not very precise and he gave me some erythromycin ointment for a 2week therapy and suggested that in two weeks If there is no improvement he will order a med for wide spectrum viral infections, but he said really with a virus it is just about impossible to treat with antibiotics and this viral med would be aggressive but not necessarily a cure. I feel if he does not improve the next couple of weeks I will get a 2nd opinion. He also recommended Lysine supplement. Because "Stevie" is otherwise doing well, ie, no fever, lots of energy, eating & pooping well the vet said it will just take time. I just feel bad for him as he squints slots and tries to clean his eyes and I am sure it itches and is uncomfortable . We will just keep trying to get him over this problem.

Weird response from your vet there, the test is the most precise one you can get really, it tests for pathogens in DNA and has to be done at a lab, CSI style... there is virtually no risk of inaccurate results, unless it be by human error or whatever, but the test is solid. Lysine will only help with managing the herpes virus, not the others that it could be, and ointment will help relieve the symptoms and stuff but it's not going to kill or cure the virus itself. If his eye isn't getting better from whatever he just prescribed you in a few days I'd go and see another vet, symptoms shouldn't take weeks to clear with proper treatment, besides the random eye booger from it clearing out of her system, all my kitten's symptoms were gone after only a day or two on her meds.

If you want to read more about the test here is a link http://www.idexx.ca/pubwebresources...agnostic-updates/realpcr-feline-urd-panel.pdf

Thanks peachexo I wasn't happy with the vet and I am going to check out another vet for sure. I'll keep you posted, appreciate the link too

Three cat night said:

Well just got back from the vet about his poor eyes.the vet said that the PCR test is not very precise and he gave me some erythromycin ointment for a 2week therapy and suggested that in two weeks If there is no improvement he will order a med for wide spectrum viral infections, but he said really with a virus it is just about impossible to treat with antibiotics and this viral med would be aggressive but not necessarily a cure. I feel if he does not improve the next couple of weeks I will get a 2nd opinion. He also recommended Lysine supplement. Because "Stevie" is otherwise doing well, ie, no fever, lots of energy, eating & pooping well the vet said it will just take time. I just feel bad for him as he squints slots and tries to clean his eyes and I am sure it itches and is uncomfortable . We will just keep trying to get him over this problem.

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I find that very odd coming from your vet.  The PCR test is usually very precise.  I see another poster has given you information on it.  I would at least get a second opinion if it's possible.

Three cat night said:

the vet said that the PCR test is not very precise and he gave me some erythromycin ointment for a 2week therapy and suggested that in two weeks If there is no improvement he will order a med for wide spectrum viral infection

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My vet thought the same thing, some of the older tests were not very accurate.  However PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing is almost 100% accurate because it uses DNA as mentioned by other posters.

My vet talked to Idexx the manufacturer and got more information on the test after I suggested it.  I found out about it on TCS!

I will say he was very pleasantly surprised when my Rufus, who the vet was comfortable with an assumed herpes virus diagnosis, did not have herpes at all but three other bacterial/viral infections that were highly treatable with the right medications.  I think he will be using this test more in the future. 

Good luck and keep us posted! 

I am happy to say that my little "Stevie" kitten has finally started showing improvement and his eyes are getting much clearer , next to no mucus and the redness is dissipating . I did in fact go back to the animal hospital but consulted with a different vet, and he did the tests but still said the exact virus was inconclusive . But he gave me new drops and erythromycin ointment ( we already had tried 2 other antibiotics and drops) and it just started clearing up immediately . The vet tech mentioned that the vet was pretty sold on it being herpes virus. Why they can't just come out and say precisely what it is I just don't get, think it must be a CYA situation. Thanks so much for your advise, appreciate it!!
I can finally see what he looks like with out all the swelling ,red, squinty infection and he is quite handsome for a 4 month old skinny rescue kitten.
Aka Stevie the wonder cat!!!!

Hi Three Cat Night!  My orange rescue kitty has long-term herpes eye infection which flares during stress.   When it does the first sign is the rims of his eyes get a darker pink.   I buy Solaray brand Lysine because it comes in capsules and is easy to mix into the food.   500mg a day until things get under control (250 mixed in wet food 2x a day), 250mg a day after that for maintenance.   Often I skip it for a while until it is needed again.    I'm glad to hear your kitty is doing better now.