Blind Cat Keeps Getting Eye Infection

silversurfer

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Hello there,

We have a young man called Felix who is around 1 year old now. We rescued him and when he came to us he had very bad eye infections in both eyes and was already nearly blind from them, likely from birth. Anyway, we went to our vet and she gave us some eye gel and drops (I am not sure if one or both were anti-biotic) and he healed and even retained a little vision in one eye.

However, every few months the infection will return, at first it didn't bother me and we would return to the vet, get some more drops and he would heal. Now the infection has come back for the third time. When he has it he doesn't see at all which makes him very nervous. We have a kitten also who is full of energy and just wants to play and this is really distressing Felix because the kitten is running around everywhere and scaring him. He is obviously completely blind when he has this infection and loses that tiny bit of sight he depends on. He isn't himself, doesn't want to play and just tries to stay out of everyone's way all day.

I have registered on this forum because I am not sure the vet knows what she is doing, maybe there is something else we should be doing also ? Can we give him some vitamins , supplements etc to prevent it coming back the next time? We also live in an old flat which can get quite dusty although I am not sure if that can be the cause.

We are giving him the medicine again this time but I am losing faith a bit in the vet's ability to prevent it from coming back and would like to seek other advice. I would be grateful for any help.

Thanks 
 

stephenq

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Hello there,

Thanks 
Hi,

chronic and/or returning URI infections including in the eyes are often a virus called feline herpes.  Stress or other factors can cause recurrences.  If the eye discharge is watery instead of gooey, there is a bigger chance its viral.  There is a good anti-viral eye medicine called Idoxuridine and while more expensive than other drops it may help.  Discuss with your vet.

You can also have him swabbed and the material sent out for a PCR test, which is a definitive DNA test that will tell you if he has herpes or something else.  It's probably about $75.  If it turns out to be bacterial, you can then run a culture and sensitivity test to determine exactly which antibiotic drop will work the best.

Other than the above its a bit like darts at a dart board.  Its not uncommon in medicine to treat the most likely thing, it most likely will work, but not always.  With PCR testing a running a culture on the infection you can figure out what it really is and what its sensitive to.
 
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silversurfer

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Hi there StephenQ
Thanks so much for your reply. Felix definitely has gooey rather than watery discharge, although when he is healthy he does have the same eye watering from time to time. I kinda didn't pay it any attention because I presumed he was sleeping and it was natural eye watering.

I can describe the current discharge as gooey, often yellowy and sometimes filled with some red slime too.

Our vet seems professional but i definitely want a second opinion to get to the bottom of it.
 

stephenq

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Ok then I'd probably ask about running a culture and sensitivity test and I would still consider a PCR test. The watery eyes maybe symptoms of herpes that flares into a bacterial infection.
 
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silversurfer

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Thanks StephenQ, we will take him again this week and ask for this course of action. Shall post back when we know something ;)
 
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silversurfer

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Hi StephenQ, we took Felix back to the vet. We were more insistent this time that she run the PCR test. After, what you wrote I am thinking it is highly likely that he does have Herpes because even when he doesn't have any infection, his eye waters way more than any other cat I have owned.
Anyway, we are waiting for the results and in the meantime he is on new antibiotics and getting better fast. We will let you know the results.
 

stephenq

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Hi StephenQ, we took Felix back to the vet. We were more insistent this time that she run the PCR test. After, what you wrote I am thinking it is highly likely that he does have Herpes because even when he doesn't have any infection, his eye waters way more than any other cat I have owned.
Anyway, we are waiting for the results and in the meantime he is on new antibiotics and getting better fast. We will let you know the results.
Good news and keep us updated! :)
 

mingsmongols

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It is also possible that he has a pocket of infection or a stye or cyst behind his eyes. You'll see that sometimes in cats who's eyes were destroyed by herpes at a young age especially if they have eye ulcers. Also keep in mind that if you had trouble seeing out of your eyes or anything related to your eyes you'd go to an opthalmologist not your primary internal medicine doctor. Your vet may mean well but she's probably got no specialized training in dealing with eye issues. A veterinary opthalmologist would be able to help you get to the bottom of this. If this is a recurring problem and he has no real vision in his eyes they might suggest removing them.
 
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junifern

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Hello there,

We have a young man called Felix who is around 1 year old now. We rescued him and when he came to us he had very bad eye infections in both eyes and was already nearly blind from them, likely from birth. Anyway, we went to our vet and she gave us some eye gel and drops (I am not sure if one or both were anti-biotic) and he healed and even retained a little vision in one eye.

However, every few months the infection will return, at first it didn't bother me and we would return to the vet, get some more drops and he would heal. Now the infection has come back for the third time. When he has it he doesn't see at all which makes him very nervous. We have a kitten also who is full of energy and just wants to play and this is really distressing Felix because the kitten is running around everywhere and scaring him. He is obviously completely blind when he has this infection and loses that tiny bit of sight he depends on. He isn't himself, doesn't want to play and just tries to stay out of everyone's way all day.

I have registered on this forum because I am not sure the vet knows what she is doing, maybe there is something else we should be doing also ? Can we give him some vitamins , supplements etc to prevent it coming back the next time? We also live in an old flat which can get quite dusty although I am not sure if that can be the cause.

We are giving him the medicine again this time but I am losing faith a bit in the vet's ability to prevent it from coming back and would like to seek other advice. I would be grateful for any help.

Thanks 
 
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silversurfer

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Hi there MingsMingols, I'm not sure that he is in fact blind.The vet assured us that he can see as though he were looking through a dirty window. In one eye he is definitely blind but that one is never getting infected. The eye at fault is the one with some vision. Ever since he has this infection he is much more nervous, i think the only time he is totally blind is when the infection returns. I am hoping as StephenQ suggests that is viral and can be treated but we will also ask her to check for a syst. Thanks
 

mingsmongols

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That does sound more viral then a cyst or stye. The PCR will do wonders in identication. Still, consider a veterinary ophthalmologist who may be able to help you more in coming up with a treatment plan.
 
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silversurfer

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Hi StephenQ, MingsMongols

The test came back today and Felix is negative for Herpes. I am living abroad right now so not sure how easy it is to find a veterinary ophthalmologist. I guess I can start to look. Does anyone have any other suggesttions about what it could be?

He is healthy again at the moment. It could be another 3 or 4 months before another infection flares up. I wonder if there is something in our home which could be aggravating it.
 
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