Uveitis in kitten after receiving leukemia vaccine

My ragdoll kitten developed uveitis after receiving the leukemia vaccine.   

She is 5 months old, healthly, very energetic, eats a ton, drinks a ton, plays constantly and tested negative for leukemia and FIV.  She received the vaccine Friday evening and was lethargic for two days although she did eat and drink. I called the vet, they said it was normal she would feel poor. 

On Sunday night she perked up and ran around playing like usual.  I noticed her third eyelid was out and that her eye color had darkened from its normal pale baby blue. I took her to an ophthalmologist on Monday morning and they gave me steroid drops + ointment for 10 days. Its day 4 now and the color is back to normal and the swelling/pinkness has mostly subsided.   

Her eyes are not dilating in completely so that worries me. 

What I would like to know is if this a sign of something else and will ever go away?

I should probably include I found her abandoned in a box at three weeks of age.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this, poor baby!

From what I'm reading, uveitis is an inflammatory response that may take lifetime management. I take it you haven't called the ophthalmologist to ask about this? Perhaps it will resolve over the 10-day course of treatment? :cross:

It also seems it's possible the vaccine stressed her immune system, and this reaction might be related to a different underlying condition. One of the most common viral infections in cats is the feline herpes virus (FHV) and something like 95% of cats are at least carriers of the virus, though not all cats have symptoms - other than during times of stress. While not common, uveitis can be related to FHV.

Here are two articles - one discussing underlying causes, and one providing more of an overview/outlook:

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=640123&sk=&date=&pageID=4

http://www.eyecareforanimals.com/animal-eye-conditions/feline/347-felineuveitis.html


On a different note, I have a question. Is your cat an indoor/outdoor cat? I'm wondering why the vet recommended the FeLV vaccine? Many vets are "vaccine heavy," though the thinking on vaccines is becoming more and more risk-based. An FeLV vaccine really shouldn't be common protocol unless the cat is at risk for contracting it. Here's some food for thought, that you might want to discuss with your regular vet. I know it's too late for your ragdoll kitten, but for any future furry family members... :heart2:

From a holistic vet perspective: http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...mes-to-vaccinating-your-pet-less-is-more.aspx

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/01/10/cat-vaccination.aspx

And in 2013, the American Association of Feline Practitioners released new feline vaccination guidelines: http://www.catster.com/the-scoop/aafp-new-cat-vaccine-advisory-report-guidelines

Hi thanks for your response.  She has been to the opthamologist already, she went a week ago and received a 10 day regimen of steroidal eye drops and ointment. I give her drops at night and in the morning.  Her eye looks great in the morning but still not 100% (more like 90%) and the lids are still a little pink.  I am not sure if the steroids are bothering her more at this point or if there is now an underlying infection.  They are very obviously stinging to her and I was told they would be uncomfortable.  This then leads to her rubbing it and squinting.  At this point, I cant tell if the drops are helping or hurting.  We go back to the doctor on Wednesday for a check up. 

She was tested for leukemia and FIV before and tested negative but may be a herpes condition.  Otherwise she is 100% healthy, eating, drinking and playing normally and cuddling as always.

I gave her the vaccine out of ignorance.  She is my 7th rescued cat, but my first kitten of this size.  All my other cats have received and still receive their leukemia vaccine even though they are indoor cats.  She handled all her other vaccines well and this was her final.   It makes sense that her immune system was weak because she was removed from mom and siblings too early but she has handled everything like a champion.   I will not be vaccinating her again except for rabies as its necessary for me to bring her back to the USA on holidays. 

Hey guys, she is doing MUCH better.  We had already been to the vet, 9 days ago, and received a regimen of steroid drops and ointment.  Her color came back immediately and the cloudiness disappeared.  Her eyes are dilating normally too.  She eats, drinks, and plays like a crazy all the time. 

It became clear to me yesterday that the drops were irritating the heck out of her eye and turning it red and angry.  In the 12 hour period between dosages, her eye returns to normal and there is no angry redness.  So i was hesitant to continue giving the full dosage as is seems to be causing irritation at this point and her eye looks perfect otherwise. 

We JUST walked in the door from the 10 day check up with the ophthalmologist and the vet said her internal eye is 100% normal.  No more swelling, no more of whatever reaction was happening because of the vaccine, but that her top eyelid is still a little inflamed (she said its 90% normal).  I should continue with the ointment for TWO MORE WEEKS and then bring her back.   

Again I feel that 14 days is a LONG time to give the ointment when she screams in pain and it makes it worse looking BUT i will follow the doctors advice for at least the first week and then lower the dosage depending on how it looks the second week. 

Can anyone weigh in on the length of the dosage?  (ointment twice a day in her left eye only for two weeks)   Is this normal or does is sound heavy? 

***I ask for second opinions because we live in Mexico and I dont have 100% confidence in all the vets here (although this ophthalmologist is incredible).  I do find that doctors and vets are more traditional here, recommending a lot of meds for everything and for the kitten, every vaccine possible(even though she doesnt leave the house). 

Any opinions on this?

That dosage sounds about right for uveitis. 

thanks for your feedback.  I will keep following doctors orders for the time being.  It seems counter intuitive that the drops are making it more irritated but i know steroids burn in the eye.  Any recommendations for helping with the sting of the ointment?     

(I started warming it in hot water and in my undergarments to turn it more liquidy so it goes in faster and melts in faster but it still stings her)