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Eye Infection - Herpes


I took my 11 yr. old female, spayed cat into the vet as she seemed to be having pain in her mouth..they extracted a bad tooth, gave her all her shots including rabies and because I work 12 hours a day kept her there for a week to give her pain medication and anti-biotics and when I picked her up her right eye was completely closed with goup running out of it and they told me she had herpes virus...and they said there was nothing they could do.....I said she never had a break out before and gave me no clue on what to do for it. It has been 8 days now and the poor little thing is in pain and her eye is all swolen and I try and clean it but she paws at my hand and I feel so helpless... What should I do??? Help, please.  Signed - Shar


For Shar,

Eye inflammation, or conjunctivitis, can be caused by allergies, environmental irritants, corneal ulcers, glaucoma, or bacterial/viral infections, such as feline herpes. If a cat’s eyes are watering, squinting and producing a discharge, feline herpes may be the cause. The inside lining of the eyelids become inflamed, and shallow, painful ulcers develop. Herpes generally occurs when cats are exposed to the virus previously and have a stressed or imbalanced immune system. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential when you see signs of eye irritation as waiting too long can mean the difference between saving the animal's sight and losing it.

Eyebright is a very common herb used for eye irritations. Eyebright eye washes are often helpful to control symptoms and minor infections and can assist in cleansing and soothing the eye: Halo Herbal Eye Wash is a two part rinse that includes eyebright as well as goldenseal. Certain Chinese herbal formulas like Nature's Herbs Clear Vision, may also be helpful for boosting the immune system and clearing minor eye infections.

If allergies are suspected as the cause of conjunctivitis, it is best to change to a hypoallergenic dietSupplements, like Inflamzyme by Integrative Therapeutics, can also be quite helpful in battling airborne allergies. It acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory agent.

With feline herpes infections, diet and immune support need attention. To help control the virus the amino acid L-lysine may be helpful. L-lysine can be found at any natural food store. The dosage for cats is 500 mg twice a day. Genesis Resources Feline Immune Support contains L-lysine along with other vitamins and herbs to help support the immune system during infection and on a long-term basis. Seven Forests "Forsythia 18" is a Chinese herbal blend formulated to fight viral and bacterial infections and boost the immune system.


S.M. Sanderlin DVM


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