Mattie and Herpes

She has had a chronic herpes condition every since she came here and we adopted her. Her left eye runs most of the time. She gets lysine, 500 mg. two times a day. Recently this worsened and the vet put her on ten days of an antibiotic, Orbax and an eye salve. For the first time ever she has what looks like cold sores or fever blisters on the end of her nose. and in her right nostril. She has finished the course of the medicines for ten days. The eye is much better, but there is no change in the nose. My vet mentioned a biopsy of her nose, but I don't want to do that. I am wondering if these cold sore or fever blister looking things are also caused by the herpes. I have read about and antiviral drug called famciclovir used for herpes and nose sores in cats. Does anyone here have any knowledge of this.

The nose sores sound eerily similar to when my cat Tyson had Calicivirus.

This is what he looked like.

He progressed from the above pic to the bottom in a matter of 24 hrs.


I have used Famciclovir for both herpes and Calicivirus. I also use doxycycline (liquid only) in conjunction with Famciclovir to treat. I also use an anti-viral eye drop called Idoxuridine to treat herpes (it coats the nasal cavity, so isn't just for treating the eyes) as well as another eye drop called Cidofovir (also an anti-viral.)

Your vet could do a nasal smear and run an Upper Respiratory panel (this tests for Herpes, Calici, Mycoplasma, amount others.)

Oddly enough, Tyson (who we treated for Herpes as a baby kitten) tested negative for Herpes, but positive for Calicivirus and Mycoplasma.

My Pheobe has herpes and gets the nasal sores. Just recently she had one biopsied that was in her right nostril and the pathology report said it was most likely viral in origin since she recently tested positive for herpes. I can't remember exactly what the report said but I think it was a lymphoplasmicytic lesion. I was given ointment to put on it but it never fully went away but it doesn't bleed anymore. She's gotten them her whole life along with corneal ulcers. I also use famciclovir when she has a flare up with her eyes and it works well for her. I tried idoxuridine for her eyes but it seemed to really burn so I d/c it per my vet.

catpack and jdollprincess Thank you both for the answers. My vet said Monday we would just watch the sores. But I can tell they are bothering her because she won't let me wash the end of her nose where it gets dirty looking anymore. I think the one in her nostril is worse. My vet mentioned the biopsy. How bad of a recovery is that for the cat if they biopsy the lesion. Is a nasal smear the same thing as a biopsy. She has never really been tested for Herpes. He has just always treated her as if it is herpes. Is the test for it a blood test.

A biopsy would be done under general anesthesia, the vet would use a biopsy punch to remove a piece of the lesion and send it to a pathologist for review. This is the best test they can do to determine what the lesion is made of. A smear is usually done in the office with no anesthesia, the vet will take a slide and press it against the sore to get some cells to look at under the microscope to see what kind of cells it's made of. My Pheobe didn't even realize anything happened afterwards though I did give her pain meds for a few days just in case. The test for herpes is done through an outside lab and its called a URD Real PCR panel. Instead of blood the dr will take swabs of the throat and eyes and send it in. The test also checks for calici, bordetella, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and H1N1. I requested the test because I was curious with the sores if Pheobe had calici as well as herpes. I think most vets just assume it's herpes due to the symptoms and don't test. I would certainly do whatever the vet recommends but due to cost difference I think I would start with the smear unless it's getting larger. Good luck, and keep us updated.

The vet wants to just watch it. She seems to have a little bit noisy breathing. But one of the sores is in the edge of the nostril so that could be why. What are the symptoms of upper respiratory problems.

@blueyedgirl5946, have you seen @LDG's thread about using lactoferrin for herpes?

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/267703/stubborn-herpes-infection-add-lactoferrin-in-addition-to-lysine

goholistic Thank you for this link. I will read it through. I am really wishing to find something to clear up these nasal sores.

You're welcome. Poor Mattie. I would imagine her little nose is sore. 

I don't know know much about her history. Does she have any underlying condition that would put her at a disadvantage for fighting off infections and viruses?

goholistic To our knowledge, she has nothing except this runny eye, which she has always had and now these nose sores.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

@GoHolistic To our knowledge, she has nothing except this runny eye, which she has always had and now these nose sores.

Click to expand...

Something else you could look into and discuss with your vet is N-Dimethylglycine (DMG). VetriScience makes a product called Vetri DMG that could potentially help with herpes flares.

Based on my research, both lactoferrin and DMG act almost as immune-stimulants, so I do think they should be used with caution in kitties with auto-immune diseases and/or overactive immune responses. Mattie may not fall in this category, but I wanted to mention it for anyone reading this thread.

I hope you find some relief for her soon! 

NO relief for Mattie yet. Her eye has flared up again and the nose problem is worse. Her nostril is almost closed and the sores look like fever blisters. Yesterday she had a vet visit. He says because of the way it has grown in 5 or 6 weeks he is really thinking it is a squamous cell cancer. He does not want to biopsy it as it is so large and if it is that, there is nothing to do short of surgery. He said several options, try steroid, which would make everything look better. The down side to that is she has herpes and her immune system is already suppressed. I have read stay away from that as long as possible in a cat with a suppressed immune system.

The other thing he is thinking that it is not impossible that the sores are related to the herpes. He says the next option is a shot in the dark, but it wouldn't hurt to try it. Famcyclovir two times a day would be given at 125 mg each dose. The down side to that is a three week supply at my pharmacy is $107. He says it has more than doubled what he used to pay. Then we would treat the eye with terramycin ointment rather than the one we used in October. I did ask about a nasal smear, but he the nostril is too closed.

So I am really in a dilemma with our last cat. We lost Muffin to cancer last Nov. 15th and I am not ready to face that possibility again. I am open to all thoughts and suggestions here if anyone can suggest anything different that what my vet has already said. I am supposed to call him Monday and get the medicine if we decide to definitely do that.

Has anyone here had a cat with herpes who also had nose sores. If so, what was the treatment for your cat.

If you'll look back at the pics I posted on Tyson, he initially started out with blister like sores on his nose and upper lip. The sores worsened rapidly and causes the front portion of his nose/upper lip to sluf off.

I can't say whether or not Mattie's problems are herpes or cancer. But, the fact that her eyes appear to be affected by herpes, she certainly appears to have the virus. Even if you chose to use steroids, I would still suggest the use of Famciclovir to keep the herpes at bay.

Call around to different pharmacies. I was originally using a chain pharmacy to get my Famciclovir ($160+ for 30 pills...125 mg) I found an independent pharmacy that carries it and I now pay $33 for 30 pills...250 mg. I just cut the pills to proper dosing...either 1/2 or 1/4 tab.

Goodness, I am sorry to hear what a hard time Mattie and you are having, it must be sore for her.  I know how Mouse hunkers down and sleeps a lot when his eye is bad and he's sneezing a bit.  He's been lucky so far not to have any bad respiriratory tract involvement and his worst phase was probably in his mouth before the vets realized he probably had herpes.  As soon as they concluded herpes was behind his runny eye they started him on a course of Famcyclovir - his eye did clear up and stay clear for quite a while after that but if I catch it fast enough with L Lysine at the dosage you use with Mattie his eye clears in about the same length of time.  Because of the expense with Famcyclovir (£120 for a 10 day course) I have since tended to go with with the L Lysine.  Having said that, as Mattie's nose sounds so painful and with the concerns about diagnosis I think it is worth giving to her.  

Try to remember the importance of stress in the herpes getting the better of Mattie's system too, if she is as calm as possible her body will be stronger and more able to deal with the virus - and indeed with any other potential cause of the nasal sores.  The more worried you are the more anxious she is likely to be.  I have no idea how to stop worrying at times like this but I hear purr therapy is good for almost anything and I know I always feel better when I can hear Mouse purring:  that and the feel of his fur.   

I have tried to read so much this weekend about herpes and also nasal cancers in cats. One thing I came across last night is a picture of a cat whose nose looks similar to Mattie's, That cat is diagnosed with ringworm. I think I might print the picture and take it by the vet office Monday just to give him a different thought process and see what he says.

I had good luck with famciclovir when I used it for Pheobes corneal ulcers. You can get it compounded into tiny tabs from wedgewood pet pharmacy. I think it was around $45 for 100 62.5mg tabs but they come in different strengths. She still has a lesion in her nose that never fully went away but it's pretty small now and doesn't bleed anymore. After her biopsy the vet gave me an ointment called dermalone that I applied with a qtip I stuck up her nose. I think that's what really made it smaller. I've also had to to use Prednisolone on and off when she's had swelling in her nose and it's only ever helped. I would def try the famciclovir and if u think she's uncomfortable try the steroids.

jdollprincess Was your cat diagnosed with herpes.

Yes. She's 11 yrs old and has had eye and respiratory issues since she was a kitten. I always just assumed she had herpes but last year I had the test done to confirm and also I wanted to see if she also had calici virus because of the lesions she was getting on her nose. She only tested positive for herpes though. For years she had a stuffy nose and per my vet I took her to an internal medicine specialist to have a rhinoscopy done and all that was found was swelling and ulcers. The specialist recommended trying a steriod since nothing else seemed to work. After her 2nd dose she could breath normally again. This was about 6 years ago and I always do a couple months of prednisolone whenever she gets stuffy but luckily I haven't had to use it in awhile. Her most recent sore in her right nostril responded to famciclovir and dermalone so I didn't have to use the pred but I would have if the other treatments didn't work. Just make sure if you go the steriod route to get the oral meds and not the injection. Good luck with her and please keep us updated. I know your very worried about your girl but try to stay positive. I was totally convinced Pheobe had cancer due to the way the lesion was growing inside her nose and I was so happy but surprised to find out it was herpes related.

I was able to get the Famciclovir from Wal Mart Pharmacy 21 pills for $79. They are 250 mg. and will have to be cut in half. She got the first one tonight. He also wanted to put her on Terramycin ointment for the eye and I have to do that before bed. I crushed the half pill and put it in a dab of wet food. It took forever for her to eat it so I could give her some more food. I first tried the pill pockets that worked so good when my other cat was sick. Mattie would not touch it. Any words of wisdom for a good way to get this pill in her. If all else fails, I might have to cut them into fourths and use the piller.

I sent my vet an email with the link to the pictures of the cat with ringworm on its nose. I hope it will give him a different thought process than cancer. Also I sent him some links to information about using bovine lactoferrin. He will read all this when he gets chance and we will see what he thinks of these two things. I am just so hoping these meds will work for her.

I crush tablets to powder and use a bite proof tea spoon to put to back of tongue followed by throat stroke and then sticky toothpaste and a drink of water ((ass taking from a syringe is a treat I can usually do that).   I used to have a cat that would store pills and spit out or regurgetate  as soon as she thought I wasn't looking and so I pill Mouse the same way - if he doesn't like something he foams at the mouth like he'd dying!