Jimmy Has An Eye Issue but No Infection Detected

Earlier in April, Jimmy was at the vet because his left eye was acting up. He was favoring it by closing it. It was also watery, goopy, but no blood or other eyelid closing over it was present. Unlike a few months ago, he had no cornea scratch this time. But given that there was swelling under the eye, and how it was leaking, they gave him antibiotic drops for a possible infection. Since he was exposed to the herpes virus as a kitten, he has been prone to getting related complications-gastro upsets, eye infections, lethargy. So, I have been giving him extra lysine daily. We use lysine gel by Vetoquinol. 

It is wise to always take a cat into the vet when you see any of these symptoms: goopy eye, blood in the eye, a closing of an inner eyelid over the eye, or when the cat favors the eye by closing the regular lid, or paws at it. The eye could be damaged, scratched, infected, etc. The doctor will put drops in the eye and shine a UV light into the eye to check for scratches and internal issues. Medications and lysine might be recommended. Sometimes steroid drops are needed. These should be used cautiously with HCM cats as steroids are typically avoided for HCM cats. It's rare that steroid drops are needed unless there is a serious infection, such as conjunctivitis or injury to the eye. 

Jimmy Stewart Develops Conjunctivitis in Eyes-May Be Part of Herpes Virus

June 15, 2016

The cats are prone to the herpes virus flare-ups because they were exposed to the virus as kittens. We give them daily lysine but it still flared up and caused Jimmy Stewart to have conjunctivitis in both eyes. We had a visitor stay with us over the weekend and Jimmy was the only one to hide out in the basement all weekend. If the virus was already acting up but not noticeable, it's possible the stress from the visitor caused a flareup. 

Jimmy Stewart had a lot of grey goop in his eyes, had vomited, had diarrhea, wouldn't eat, and was run down. They are prone to the herpes virus, he most of all (he was the first to get it as a kitten and was the sickest.)  I will give them all extra lysine in case it is the herpes virus coming back.


Jimmy Stewart update: herpes virus causing conjunctivitis. Slight fever, slight dehydration. Now on daily antibiotics, eye drops, was given a cerenia shot to calm stomach from vomiting. And we have Mirtazapine and Cerenia pills to use as needed. He unfortunately was not well behaved at the vet and threw a fit during blood draw-just when I thought he was weak from the illness. He came home, rested. Seems worn out today (6/1616) but the eyes are less goopy. Eating fine. Blood work was normal.

Katharine's Eye Infection Hits Again-Vet Visit and Eye Drops

Before I left, Katharine seemed to becoming quiet and then while I was gone, she developed goop in her eyes. I took her to the vet Tuesday (offices were closed Monday due to Labor Day) and she has an eye infection but one that is probably brought on by the herpes virus. Since Saturday, we've given extra lysine (which fights off the herpes virus) and when she seemed feverish Sunday, I began giving her Buprenex .2ml twice a day. By Tuesday, she had a normal temp. The vet gave antibiotic eye drops. By Wednesday she had no eye goop. She will take the eye drops for two weeks. Meanwhile, I'm giving everyone extra lysine.

Herpes Virus Hits Jimmy Stewart-Baby Thyroid Level Decent but Goes for Ultrasound-Myrna Update

Facebook post August 13, 2015

Baby had a blood recheck last Friday and results came back and the vet called me Tuesday to say she's fine. Thyroid is 2.6 which is down from 2.8 in June which is good. She is scheduled to go for an ultrasound for the GI tract next week. She's swollen and I was afraid she was retaining fluid and was suffering liver or kidney damage. No, (thank goodness) she's just fat and gained a pound since June. This, despite not eating. So, what does she eat if she's not eating? 

Jimmy vomited last night and now has goopy runny eyes. Chances are that the herpes virus they are prone to has hit him. And this, after he spent the last two nights upstairs with us and Baby and Myrna. I hope they do not get sick. I don't think either of them are a carrier because he was the first to contract it as a kitten and it spread to all the siblings but at the time, not the older two cats (Baby and Cooper.) They are all on daily lysine doses but the virus raises its ugly head from time to time. Signs are running eyes, red eyes, vomiting, fever, etc. Solution: extra lysine doses for all of them and antibiotics when needed. He's on twice a day Clavamox.

Myrna isn't eating well again and I have given her 1/2 Mirtazapine.  She's eating some treats but not enough on her own the last two days.  Since Jimmy's sick, I don't want her to stop eating if she's also sick. 

Facebook post August 10, 2015

Myrna's been well this past week, still eating, still breathing fine. She had a vomiting episode Friday night so we waited for half of an hour then redosed Torsemide, Valium, and Pepcid. Then I redosed the rest of the 6 p.m. meds a couple hours later after making sure she wasn't going to vomit again. It may have been caused by anything but I don't think it was too serious as she had been eating before and did eat after the episode. While she hasn't been active since I last noted her activity August 4, she isn't worn out.

Facebook post August 4, 2015

Myrna's been eating very well the last two days and today for the first time in maybe two weeks, has played more than once with her catnip toys. She even tossed around her catnip potato toy and chased after it. Thank the Lord for another day, and for the moments of energy.