Possible Feline Herpes?

playerdark

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I've been having problems with my cat on and off, mostly itching around the eyes combines with scratching which often wounded her eyes and I had to treat with antibiotics. My regular vet said probably allergies so we treated accordingly but it always came back up.

The latest attack was New Year and I gave antibiotic eyedrops again but she had an adverse reaction so I stopped after half a week, but the eyes looked clear, still she kept rubbing the eye. I went back to the vet, he gave her a cortisone injection, but this time it did not show any reaction, the rubbing continues. He says he is out of options.

So that sucks. I then had the spontaneous idea to look for an ophthalmologist. Luckily here in LA there's a big clinic with specialists of all sorts, so today I went and the doc said after examining her eyes very thoroughly that it is probably a Feline Herpes infection, it would fit the description of flareup every few months. Plus steroids are bad in that case since they weaken the immune system.

So he prescribed antiviral eyedrops and a lubricant because he said the virus can cause damage to the tear production leaving the tears less capable of lubricating the eye which would cause irritation. He also told me to add lysine to the food 500mg twice daily to suppress the virus long term.  It may take 2-4 weeks to get better though according to him.

I want to ask what is other people's experience with Feline Herpes? The doc said it is very common in cats but even if they have the virus it doesn't show in all cats. some have it real bad, some have milder symptoms.

Does anybody have experience with this sort of problem?
 
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stephanietx

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Yup, got a herpes kitty.  She was diagnosed when she was 2 and now she's 9.  One of the biggest things you can do is put her on a grain-free diet.  That really helps.  Also, keep stress in your home to a minimum and keep her on the Lysine. 
 

catmomjulia

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Jonah had an URI when I adopted him, which I believe counts as Feline Herpes Virus, he had a very bad URI but thankfully had a quick recovery and only had it once, since then (about a year and a half ago) he hasn't had any problems at all. He was on antibiotics for about a week I believe (I can't remember exactly but I think it was about 5-7 days)
 
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playerdark

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Do the symptoms sound familiar? I always thought herpes causes respiratory infection and sneezing (which is what she had for a week after the vaccination in December), I never knew it could cause eye problems.
 

ldg

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My cat needs both lysine and lactoferrin. And yes, it absolutely can affect the eye. If the combination of lysine and lactoferrin doesn't result in remission, then please have an upper respiratory panel run so they can identify exactly what it is. Mycoplasma is another culprit and requires a different course of treatment.

This thread explains the addition of lactoferrin to lysine. Of course, you can see if the lysine alone takes care of it, it does for many kitties.

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

mservant

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I came to TCS after being told by my vet that Mouse probably had Feline Herpes.  That was after about 18 months of oral problems, and then 3 periods with a runny eye which was treated as a bacterial infection initially.  When the ophthalmic specialist saw him though he said probable herpes and he had tiny ulcers on his eye.  First treatment at that stage was to try Famciclovir but after discussions here, when the runny eye returned a few weeks later I asked the vet what they thought about L Lysine for Mouse and we went down that route instead.  I usually see the runny eye clear up after 10 to 14 days and it was no different with the Famciclovir so I prefer him on the L Lysine when he has a flare up to the heavier and more costly medications.   

Mouse has an occasional cough or sneeze but upper respiratory problems have not been an issue in his life so far.  The vets now think he had the more unusual presentation of oral herpes ulcers and that was what his earlier  illnesses had stemmed from.  He ended up very ill from secondary bacterial infections including tonsillitis and infected ulcers around his gums and on his tongue.   Stress seems to be the main trigger for Mouse, and he is most prone to outbreaks when I am stressed about something.  So far I think we have been lucky in that he hasn't shown signs of any food intolerance or allergies.   I only give him the L Lysine from the start of any symptoms showing to avoid any undue stress on his liver with digesting proteins in his diet, esp as he is on a prescription dry diet for his mouth.
 
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playerdark

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Thanks all, I have done a bit of research too and I found the following sites which seem to confirm the symptoms I found in my cat. I never thought much of it but now I remember that Findus got the nasal vaccine early December and had a week of sneezing afterwards. Also my wife left for a two week vacation during that time which might have caused stress. I didn't know this could be related.

I will keep up the treatment with the eye drops and Lysine and hope this will make things better

https://www.care.com/a/interview-with-an-expert-herpes-eye-infections-in-cats-04021051

http://www.2ndchance.info/cateye.htm

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1327
 
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playerdark

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Hello all,

my cat had some sort of black spots all around the eye-ear section, some time ago. the Vet then said "blackhats" which I could not really imagine, then they went all way but now a little bit of them is coming back around the eyes. I took some pictures this time and attach them here, maybe somebody has an idea.

I had her with an eye specialist and she is being treated for herpes now, but since the itching has not gone away after 2 weeks, I send these pics to the ophthalmologist and he said he didn't know what they were, and recommended seeing a dermatologist.

I probably end up going there regardless the cost but its really becoming a bit much for me and I would like to ask if anybody here has an idea what these might be first.

Thanks



 
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