Antibiotics to use for herpes

Our cats are so sick with herpes that our vets have been giving them antibiotic shots to protect against secondary infections.

There are three antibiotics that people have used for this:

1) Baytril

2) Convenia

3) Clavamox

Would Clavamox be the best (safer) one to choose?

Thanks much!

My friend her cat has herpes and she has clavamox for hers.

Clavamox is a standard antibiotic for eye infections. But what else are they getting for the herpes itself? Have you started them on l-lysine? That can work wonders to treat and prevent herpes flare-ups.

And lactoferrin (I'm just about to start!)

: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/267703/...tion-add-lactoferrin-in-addition-to-lysine/60

Yes, I definitely have them on lysine.  Nearly cleared up the problem in two of our cats.   But our third cat has herpes really bad...and I'm using lysine to keep him going until our order of famciclovir comes in.  500mg twice a day temporarily.

Thanks much!

MCoon -

(I gave you the lowdown on dosages last nite)

Did you read the post directly above this one (#4) that suggested you consider using lactoferrin ?

The full thread on that actually starts here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/267703/stubborn-herpes-infection-add-lactoferrin-in-addition-to-lysine

Thanks White Shadow!

Yes, I saw the post regarding lactoferrin.  This is new to me, but I ordered some right away and will get it in tomorrow.  This may be a great supplement for all (four) of our Maine Coons, and much safer than drugs and even lysine.

MCoon said:

 
Our cats are so sick with herpes that our vets have been giving them antibiotic shots to protect against secondary infections.

There are three antibiotics that people have used for this:

1) Baytril

2) Convenia

3) Clavamox

Would Clavamox be the best (safer) one to choose?

Thanks much!

Click to expand...

Definitely my drug of choice to prevent secondary infections in cats/kittens with a uri is clavamox. 

Terramycin eye ointment works great for goopy eyes and Idoxuridine is liquid gold when the eye is extremely bad/swollen. I have saved many eyes with the Idox.

Where can you get Idoxuridine? One of my boys has a inflammed inner eye and the ointment I have isn't working so well.

pandawolf said:

Where can you get Idoxuridine? One of my boys has a inflammed inner eye and the ointment I have isn't working so well.

Click to expand...

Some vets carry it, some will order it and get it within 2 days or so.

It does require a prescription or doctor to call it in.

It's a small bottle for $35.00 and WELL worth the cost. Saved many awful eyes with this.

Be sure to continue use for at least 3 days after eye is all better to ensure it doesn't return. 

Clavamox alone will not fix their eyes, terramycin is great for mild but it def. takes Idox to really take care of it.

If one vet doesn't have it or won't order it for you, call another. Some use it, some do not.

Stay away from Convenia or any steroid shots for now.  If there is any drainage, ask the vet to do a culture and sensitivity test to see what's going on and what exactly you're dealing with (bacterial or viral).  The sensitivity test will tell the vet which medication will most effectively treat it.  You may be dealing with a secondary infection that's not being touched with the other antibiotic.  Clavamox is kind of an all-purpose antibiotic and used to treat upper respiratory infections.  I would start with that, then get the C&S test, and go from there.  As a last resort, you can ask for azithromycin.  Also, you should be giving her some kind of eye drops.  We've used tobramycin and gentimicin drops with success in my herpes kitty. 

There's some other things you can do to help deter the herpes outbreaks, but get her healthy first, then work on the other stuff.