Herpes Ignorance and worried

Came close to losing my 13 year old cat and now over $7500 in debt because I had no knowledge of herpes!

Have had cats for the last 30 years and in all that time have never had a cat with it. All my kitties have spent their lives indoors.

Horrified that my ignorance nearly cost the life of my cat- he was not expected to survive.

Started with adopting a kitty who several months later developed symptoms which were herpes and not a "common cold" as I thought!

She sneezed and had runny eyes for a week and that was the extent of it. But my big 13 year old cat became horrendously ill which ended up snowballing into

pneumonia, diabetic ketoacidosis and hepatic lipidosis. As soon as his symptoms presented he stopped eating- nothing after three days. Vet gave him some Clavamox (I was never even told a more effective treatment would be Famcyclovir) and eye drops. Two days later he was still not eating and respirations labored. He was very ill by this point and sent to ICU.

A few days later he'd moved on to ketoacidosis and then the dreaded hepatic lipidosis and hemolytic anemia. The critical care vet did not expect him to survive, but with her expert care, 7 days in ICU, transfusions and a feeding tube he's hanging in there 3 days after discharge.

So my question...now what? I have 3 kitties at home, what do I do? I'm a little surprised that my regular vet never offered Famcyclovir or even suggested L-lysine when I brought my big diabetic cat in who was sick with herpes and not eating. Should I have it on hand? Is "Viralys" a good option for a cat who will refuse food with any additive?

My diabetic kitty is as good as gone as he will not eat if he feels the least bit sick. Syringe feeding is out as he's Maine Coon and I could never get enough calories in him. I'd never put him through the hell he's been through and still going through now recovering.

My regular vet says not to worry as my cats will only get sick if they are stressed. Doesn't sound quite right, and I want to be as armed as I can battling this thing.

Help! I need to be prepared!

Very, very sorry to hear of your experience and that your 13 yr. old was so severely sick. One of my cats was also extremely sick a couple of years back and had to be hospitalized due to Herpes virus over Christmas. Perla since then has never fully recovered in her eyes. Her left eye is always weepy and tends to flare from time to time. I ended up taking her to an eye specialist and she was on multiple anti-viral eye drops. The one thing that does knock it out of the park and should not be overused is NEO-POLY-DEX (steroid) drops. The specialist doesn't really like me to use them because steroids can suppress the immune system thus opening up the cat to the virus. BUT - certainly using the drops for a couple of days and then going to something else works for us.

Currently - this is what I do. I use Now Lysine It is extremely reasonable and easy to use. The specialist says that for herpetic cats to use 500 mg. (1.4 tsp.) twice daily mixed in yummy wet food. She says that is maintenance dose. BUT others use 250 mg. (1/8 tsp.) twice daily for maintenance. Some have their own opinions on the use of Lysine. Check with your vet. Also I use Lactoferrin 1/2 capsule twice daily. I will pull up a thread with more information regarding using Lysine with added Lactoferrin for herpes virus in cats. My specialist also backs this new theory.

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

Also - for the eyes you can use this: Vetericyn optical gel : This is extremely safe and I also have the wound spray. This will help soothe the eye and help keep the area surrounding the eye free from bacterial infection during flare ups. I use this almost daily on Perla's eye to help clean the area. She is so used to me treating her eye that she has become such a good little patient now.

Also - a new TCS article that just came out on Herpetic eyes: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/ocular-eye-herpes-in-cats

Unfortunately, with the Herpes virus the cats have it for life. Most kitties will never show symptoms while others will, especially in times of stress. We just have to manage it the best we can and it certainly sounds like you have gone above and beyond in the hopes of saving your elderly kitty. All my best to you! I hope some or ALL of this information helps you and your kitties. :cross:

Herpes is manageable and it does get brought on by stress. The stress causes it to come out of remission and then causes the respiratory problems which is the most common symptom and lesions. Of course if a cat can't smell a cat won't eat so it's something to watch for because it can get out of hand. My cat Bob would always get a flar up when he'd eacape out of the house and invariably get himself in trouble either a fight or getting lost. He'd start sneezing and/or get a sore on his nose and it's the cue to go to the vet. The Lysine powder is good on wet food but if your cat won't eat it like mine I mixed it with the dry. At least your cat will get some of the nutrient but admittedly not all. Bob did ok with the little her got from the dry food. The flare ups won't happen all the time so this isn't something you need to worry about constantly but you will need to be alert to the stressors and look for signs, usually a first sneeze and watery eyes you will need a vet visit. I'm glad your kitty pulled through. I had cats for 15 years and never heard of it so you are not alone and I have been in your shoes. We are here if you need us.

Feralvr,

Wow! Thank you so much for that encyclopedia of Herpes info. What an awesome resource your post is. Have it printed out as well as all the links and putting it in my Bible of kitty care. Poor Black cat was doing well the last 24-48 hours and then last nite I noticed him sneezing again. Argghhhhhh. His nose and eyes were just beginning to dry up! I ordered some Viralys last nite, and bought some L-lysine this morning, dissolved a quarter tab and put it down his feeding tube just about 10 minutes ago. He was just starting to nibble some food and that's no more today :-(   Looks like he feels lousy today as he has for last couple weeks.

I think he is still under maximum stress from his week in ICU. Grateful the feeding tube is in and blood sugar under control anyway.

Hexies friend....I'm still baffled by everyone telling me to visit my vet at the first sign of sneezing etc? What does your vet do? Since the antibiotics he's on now and was given early in his treatment don't affect viruses, what else can my vet do? Realize the antibiotic would cover a bacterial infection if that developed, but for the actual FLV what can a vet do? And thank you for the wealth of info- just what I'm looking for.

It's the symptoms of the Herpes virus flare up that is the problem because they can snowball into an infection of some sort either in the nasal cavity with sneezing as a start and the move into the lungs, and eyes etc. and it's pretty rapid. The lysine is to prevent those flar ups from happening. Flare up will not be an every week thing. My cat Bob got it whenever he escaped maybe 6 times and I had another cat Tom who had maybe 3 flar ups the 5 years I had him. I know you are very worried but your kitty just was hit with a big doozy it's not the norm for flar ups. Usually you will see a sore on a nose or mouth with sneezing. Antibiotics and sometimes steroids are prescribed. There is no cure for the Herpes virus and as in Humans you treat the flar ups and the symptoms.

Petunia42 said:

Feralvr,
Wow! Thank you so much for that encyclopedia of Herpes info. What an awesome resource your post is. Have it printed out as well as all the links and putting it in my Bible of kitty care. Poor Black cat was doing well the last 24-48 hours and then last nite I noticed him sneezing again. Argghhhhhh. His nose and eyes were just beginning to dry up! I ordered some Viralys last nite, and bought some L-lysine this morning, dissolved a quarter tab and put it down his feeding tube just about 10 minutes ago. He was just starting to nibble some food and that's no more today :-(   Looks like he feels lousy today as he has for last couple weeks.

I think he is still under maximum stress from his week in ICU. Grateful the feeding tube is in and blood sugar under control anyway.

Hexies friend....I'm still baffled by everyone telling me to visit my vet at the first sign of sneezing etc? What does your vet do? Since the antibiotics he's on now and was given early in his treatment don't affect viruses, what else can my vet do? Realize the antibiotic would cover a bacterial infection if that developed, but for the actual FLV what can a vet do? And thank you for the wealth of info- just what I'm looking for.

Click to expand...

Your so very welcome. You have to pick your battles with taking your sneezing herpes kitties into the vet. Sometimes doing that will only exasperate their stress level and symptoms. Sneezing is fairly common during a flare. Keep up with the Lysine as it will take a few days to really help to control the symptoms. Adding in the Lactoferrin will help to strengthen the immune system. With herpes kitties, you have to expect some flares and not rush them to the vet at every little sneeze. Of course, IF they are not eating, feverish, then of course, they need fluids and the vet. Antibiotics are only for secondary bacterial infection coverage. Herpes is viral and antibiotics will not do anything to help. I am sure your kitty is still recovering from his serious hospital stay and all of the stress involved. Your poor little guy has been through so much especially with the hepatic lipidosis on top of all of this. Try a more holistic approach along with western medicine. I think there has to be a balance between the two for success in controlling flares in kitties. IMO, anyway.

Have the Hill's A/D on hand too for syringe feeding. You mention that he is a Maine Coon and large but in reality - any small amount you are able to get into him (even a couple of tsp.s) is better than nothing. Are you familiar with proper syringe feeding? I am sure you are but in case, this video will help. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/227858/syringe-feeding-lucky-video-if-your-cat-is-not-eating
I am not really fond of Hill's diets (ingredients) BUT they certainly have their place in our cats diet care with certain illnesses. I ALWAYS have Hill's A/D on hand in my house. It is packed with extra calories and extra nutrients for sick kitties PLUS it is easily syringe fed.

Our vet had me try a course of polyprenyl immunostimulant -'an oral medication. It was expensive ($150 for the course), but we haven't had an outbreak or even watery eyes in five months, despite all sorts of stress. Two months used to be a record. We use lysine and lactoferrin daily, as a preventative measure. The polyprenyl has already paid for itself in eliminating vet fees and medication costs, not to mention all the stress on kitty. I highly recommend it.

http://www.jefferspet.com/products/nich-quick-start

This liquid is terrific for getting calories in with just a small amount, 180 kcals per oz ( ml).
You mix it in with your tube meal.
It enabled me to get enough calories into my Mikey to cure her Hepatic Lipidosis. She was EATING on her own !! But the $!#/$ cancer in her neck won in the end.
Give it a try, minimizes the sheer volume that you need to maintain enough calories.
That said, UNFORTUNATELY, it is not appealing to cats to eat on their own...

Any other tube feeding questions I would be happy to answer. Mikey had her tube for 4 months.
Lisa

Hi Feralvr,

I'll have to get some Lactoferrin today.

Black is not calorie deprived lol! He started at 26# a few years ago with my poor feeding routine- dry :-(   He's down to 19# today. We'll keep the tube feedings with A/D going for a few weeks even after he starts eating. But after that tube is pulled, I'm feeling like he's been through so much trauma that if he stops eating due to a flare we have let go of him sadly. His body has too much working against him and if he can't fight it, don't want to put him through more, like syringe feeding or hospitalization. His immune system is so compromised with the diabetes, I fear he'd be saying his body can't take it anymore if he stops eating a few months from now.

His best chance is me working  like heck to stop flares.

And all the info you've given is fantastic. I'm very grateful.

Hi Lisa,

With his tube feedings Black's not calories deprived fortunately. Hopefully his weight stays stable or even drops a tiny bit in upcoming months. He's a large cat but also overweight at 19# (down from 26# two years ago!) but with his diabetes he could stand to slowly lose 2-3 more.

Thanks for the idea and should he start to lose weight too fast, I will get some of the calorie enriched stuff. Thanks again :-)

Polyprenyl can be purchased only through a vet. It worked really well for us. You will see many positive testimonials online as well. It was developed at a university and has clinical research and archival publications backing it up.

silverpersian said:

Polyprenyl can be purchased only through a vet. It worked really well for us. You will see many positive testimonials online as well. It was developed at a university and has clinical research and archival publications backing it up.

Click to expand...

Interesting and I read your other post above too. Will be asking Perla's specialist about this too plus doing some more research myself on this immunostimulant. Thanks for sharing!

Goodness - I just googled a little too. It is apparently a drug for treating Dry FIP! Wow - sounds promising. http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ccah/research/FIP and PI info page.cfm

Petunia42 and Feralvr, all the best with your kitties. They are lucky to have you!

In addition to the resources @Feralvr   mentioned, we also have this basic guide  -

Feline Herpes and Rhinotracheitis

And a list of threads we have that were tagged with "feline herpes" - 

http://www.thecatsite.com/tag/feline-herpes/threads

Has nobody in America heard of 'recovery'? I think it's made by royal canin. It's very smooth and very watery and kept my late cat going during times he wouldn't eat or drink. I hand fed him but I'm sure it would go easily down a feeding tube.
I never seem to read that anybody's heard of it. Maybe it's made for export only!

Stewball said:

Has nobody in America heard of 'recovery'? I think it's made by royal canin. It's very smooth and very watery and kept my late cat going during times he wouldn't eat or drink. I hand fed him but I'm sure it would go easily down a feeding tube.
I never seem to read that anybody's heard of it. Maybe it's made for export only!

Click to expand...

stewball I believe it's often referred to as Royal Canin RS in some countries and isn't as well-known as the Hill's a/d (Critical Care) in North America.