hiw much is it to have a culture of drippy eye done?

Robin acts ok, but I don't care, his eye drip us causing a crust on his fur wher his right eye drips, and that ain't normal.

I want a culture--something--done, but hoe much can I expect a culture to cost?

The new litter is TERRIBLE--I did not realize how dusty til today. But it's like it's inflaming one condition already there.

What should my vet be doing? If it's heros, wound an herpes vaccination be of any help?

When I look at his eye, it doesn't appear red. It's just watery, and eating makes it worse. But the drip is a deep brownish red.

Before doing a culture, I'd change back to the old litter you were using and see if that clears it up.  It could be a dust allergy.  If the drainage is clear, then there's nothing to culture and you're probably just dealing with allergies.  You can try adding a small dose of Lysine and/or a daily antihistamine to see if that helps clear up the problem.  If the drainage is yellow-ish or green-ish, then there's an infection and he will need vet attention.

stephanietx said:

Before doing a culture, I'd change back to the old litter you were using and see if that clears it up.  It could be a dust allergy.  If the drainage is clear, then there's nothing to culture and you're probably just dealing with allergies.  You can try adding a small dose of Lysine and/or a daily antihistamine to see if that helps clear up the problem.  If the drainage is yellow-ish or green-ish, then there's an infection and he will need vet attention.

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Thank you so much, Stephanie. I feel a little lost with this. The drainage is excessively reddish in color, but that's fairly normal right? I'd love to try an antihistamine. What would be a good start? Is there an infant liquid I can drop into his mouth? Although I think he'd do ok with a small pill. He doesn't eat enough canned to sneak in that way.

Would allergies result in a snuffly kind of snore? He's always had that, but it seems worse recently.

I've been putting in baby saline nose drops and plain eye drops in the affected eye. Is this ok to continue?

Since there is color to the drainage, I'd get him back to the vet.  He could have conjunctivitis.  I would think at the least, he would need some eye drops.  We use Tobramicin or Gentamicin with my girl.  I have also used an eye lubricant with my RB kitty when her eyes were so dry from allergies.  Is he rubbing his eye?  Is it just one eye? 

If you don't feel like your vet is doing what you think should be done, then look for a new vet or find a vet for a second opinion.  If your area is large enough, you might be able to find a cat-only vet. 

My Opie started out with one eye. His turned out to be pink eye and we got eyedrops and used in both eyes. Both whites had turned a bit pink, but the drainage also was more than just clear in the left eye. I originally thought perhaps the younger cat had scratched his cornea, cause she had not been declawed at that time...but vet checked with a blacklight. It was not scratched however he did have pinkeye, which he could have gotten from Ally the vet said, She could have carried it altho she did not actually have it. But now she is declawed and he is not so afraid her batting around his face.

 They wrestle and carry on like 2 villians then everytime they meet face to face she kisses him. They are so funny....your question of costs I do not know cause my visit was $149.00 cause he got drops plus updated shots at that time also...

Update: (can an advisor weigh in, please?)

The vet refused to do a culture and almost two weeks of treatment with erythromycin eye ointment as well as lysine gel and his one eye is still weeping(she called it antiviral medicine but it's the same stuff Petsmart sells--she just charges $12 more).

I'm getting worried. My worry is the constant dampness will cause his skin to be rated away or get a fungus.

The expensive vet ignored that his nose is stuffy on the same side as his drippy eye. She insisted its herpes; I no longer believe it is.

Sometimes his discharge is clear, other times it is tinged with red. Vet said it wasn't an obstructed tear duct, saying those show yellow or green discharge. The drops showed no corneal lacerations or ulcers. She did not pull back his upper eyelid or look any further than his conjunctiva. The other eye is still good. No nose discharge, but he's back to shaking his head. I'm not a happy mama today!

Why on earth would the vet refuse to do a culture? How is it going to hurt them to do it? It's not like you're asking them to do it for no charge. If you think it should be done then I'd insist on it, or find another vet that will do it.

Donutte said:

Why on earth would the vet refuse to do a culture? How is it going to hurt them to do it? It's not like you're asking them to do it for no charge. If you think it should be done then I'd insist on it, or find another vet that will do it.

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My sister was with me, and we both asked, and the vet blew us both off. I called and left a message for this vet to please prescribe the eye and nose drops I had originally requested. If she doesn't call back then I'm going to his old vet and possibly post a Yelp with a picture of my cat's eye.
The new vet did not look at his intake notes at all --or the techs are stupid--because she told me she was told he had never been seen by a vet before, and that is NOT the history I told the girl at the desk. She just blew Robin off as a stray, a feral. Unreal! Should note, never saw another cat in the very crowded waiting room the whole time I was there. That should have told me something.

Vet bill was $230. I've never paid so much and gotten so little, ever, at any vet.

Vet was 100% sure it was herpes, 100% sure the lysine gel would fix it in a day or two and the ointment clear up the conjunctivitis part in less than a week.

She said a culture would show nothing. I'm so mad, I could bend metal with my bare hands. Robin definitely doesn't feel good, because he doesn't leave my side except to sleep in a dark room. This is a cat who usually only snuggles with me on the sofa a few times a week--now it's every day. I'm happy to be snuggled, but this isn't normal, at all.

Do they have eye drops that can actually dry the tears for a little while? Or would that be a bad idea?

This all started the day after I put catnip in a box for him to play with, and I wondered if he had gotten some in his eye. I used saline drops, but it's just continued. I want to put a compress on the eye but worry the warmth would encourage bacterial or fungal growth.

It really seems to me that you need to take Robin to another vet, and soon.  You mentioned he had another vet before this one. Why did you leave?    I don't know enough about eye disorders to really comment on treatment but  it seems to me a culture of the discharge is an extremely reasonable request under the circumstances.  I'm always a little suspicious about medical professionals who are so sure of their own skill in diagnosing that they won't consider any other possibilities.  Anyway, your vet should have done the culture to make you feel better, if for no other reason.  You know Robin better than anyone.  

If you need a referral for a feline ophthalmologist, check out the American College of Veterinarian Ophthalmologists .   http://acvo.org/new/public/locate.shtml  

Robin was only seen by this vet because of the time frame. I don't have a car and to be seen by his regular vet would mean he'd have to spend almost an hour outside in winter temps, and then have to go on 4 buses. My sister came to town and by the time she got here his regular vet was closed for the day. I also wanted an opinion by this new vet practice as supposedly its "all that". But the visit was a joke. She didn't even take his temp or look in his ears or teeth until I requested she do that. And this for a cat with a runny eye???? My old vets techs do better work!!!

Yes, he has an appointment on Saturday, different vet, but he MUST go by car because temps will be about 10° F. If I can't find someone with a car to take me, I will need to reschedule.
Thanks for the link. The nearest vet is over an hour away; I will keep it in mind though, bc I know my sister, and she would come on out of state to help Robin if it came to that (and she is allergic to him!)

I would be sure to keep the area dry.  Are you adding lysine and did you get the eye drops? 

Yes, Robin is getting at least the recommended dose of the lysine, which he loves. I'm trying so hard to keep it dry. So hard. No word yet back on the drops; I'm not certain the vet worked today.

One thing I haven't tried is the antihistamine. I bought generic Zyrtec and would like to try that. How much again? 1/2 tablet? I have a syringe and can mix it up with the lysine gel. I dont think it's allergies, though. It's been too long and it's just the one eye. I do think there's something caught in his lower lid or possibly his tear duct. But that's just my gut instinct.

Although, I've been wondering if it could be toxoplasmosis or something?

For lysine to be effective, it needs to be given twice a day.  Since he's having a flare up, that would be 500 mg twice a day.