Pet care: Treating Bob the cat's goopy eyes
Q: Bob is our orange tabby kitten we got from a rescue home. He's 6 months old now and is a really sweet guy, but he always has pus and scabs in his eyes. Sometimes he sneezes and we don't think he feels very good. We've tried Poly B and Oxy ointment. It didn't help.
Dr. Nichol: Bob's not a happy camper. Have a helper offer him little bits of tuna while you soften and slowly wipe away the discharge with a warm, moist piece of cotton or Kleenex. If you gently pull down on a lower eyelid, you'll see a membrane underneath called the conjunctiva. A deep red color tells you it's inflamed and possibly infected. The medical term is conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants like blowing springtime dirt. But Bob's sneezing tells us that he may have a serious infection like feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), chlamydia, or mycoplasma, common in kitties from crowded, multi-cat environments. We worry about FHV-1 because it can lead to severe eye lesions and permanent blindness. Your veterinarian can submit blood tests to help with diagnosis. Some cats struggle with multiple organisms.
Bob's doctor can prescribe erythromycin ointment; it's the least irritating antibiotic and it's effective against common bacteria. Nonprescription products with polymyxin B (Poly B) should be avoided because they can cause severe allergic reactions. Bob also needs help with that miserable sneezing. Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic given daily for four weeks to manage bacterial infection and reduce inflammation. If Bob's FHV-1 test comes back positive, an antiviral eye ointment could be helpful and maybe oral antivirals as well.
Herpes viruses are part of a big family with its different members infecting lots of species. Disease can smolder in a latent phase, rearing its ugly head now and then over a lifetime. The good news is that most chronically infected cats do fine in caring homes like yours but they're never cured. This virus is highly contagious. I advise against adding another cat.
With effective treatment, that unsightly goop in Bob's eyes should diminish but bear in mind that it's a veritable rumpus room of creepy microbes. Drain the swamp often; clean those eyes every chance you get.
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Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
