Conference misery::feline_v1

    I know nothing about Kitty Herpes but if she is crying like she
    is in pain then maybe she is.  The vet could be wrong.  Call another
    vet and ask his/her advice on Meilikki condition.  I would just
    die if the next note you wrote was saying Meilikki was blind in
    one eye.
    
    Linda & Asia
    

        It's certainly possible that she does have a herpes infection.
        The herpes virus is particularly tenacious; it goes into a
        state of remission, then flares up again later.
        
        The ointment is probably an antibiotic to combat secondary
        infections.  If there is a secondary infection, it would make
        the eye tender.  It's also possible that your cat has acquired
        a sensitivity to the antibiotic.
        
        In any case, perhaps it's time for a visit to your vet (not
        necessarily to a different one) to get the current problem
        looked at.  You could ask about the recurrence problem, and
        also ask for a referral for a second opinion if you think it
        is needed.
        
        Tom

    I took Mielikki to my new vet, the one that cured Ishtar's ear mites.
    He was rather surprised that my old vet had diagnosed the problem
    as kitty herpes.  He said that herpes is a virus and the antibiotic 
    wouldn't cure it.  He said the problem was just an eye infection.
    He gave me a different antibiotic (had different ingredients) which
    I should put on for a week.  Mielikki isn't crying when I put this
    antibiotic on and the eye is already showing some improvement.
    
    Who knows whether she has herpes or not...
    
    

    
    Hi Sharon! Remember me?  How's it going?
    
    My kitty Claude has been diagnosed with Herpes, too.  My vet said it is
    the Herpes virus more related to the coldsore virus (Herpes simplex?
    -not the *gasp* venereal disease) and also emphasized not contagious to
    humans. I had a similar problem getting it properly diagnosed. She
    never had as severe symptoms as Mielikki, but her eye became reddened
    and cloudy, and she kept it half-closed.  She also became less
    energetic and quiet because of difficulty seeing.  The first time I
    brought her in the vet (the one I don't like as much) said it was an
    injury (scratch) and prescribed an antibiotic and another medication
    that would keep the eye dialated, which she said was very important.  I
    had to bring her back in a week to monitor progress.  Well, the
    dialating medication (both were ointments and very messy) had the
    unpleasant side effect of running from her tear ducts into her nasal
    tract, causing her nose to run, and when it ran into her mouth, she
    began frothing at the mouth for a few minutes after I applied it.  The
    vet said there was no harm in this side-effect, and laughed at poor
    Claude as she gagged and spit and frothed!  You can see why I don't
    like this Vet!!! 
    
    Well, a year later the symptoms recurred, and I brought her to the
    other Vet (same hospital) that we like much better, and he then
    diagnosed it as Herpes givig me the explanation I gave above.  He told
    me she probably will never completely recover, but that it will be
    nothing more than a irritation that may or may not recur every six
    months to a few years, and if I treat it properly upon recurrence, she
    will have no long-term problems.  Just like a cold sore. 
                       
    I don't know, it's possible that Mielikki does have Herpes, and
    that the eye infection is something different, or could have been
    aggravated if her eye has been sensitized by the remittent Herpes.
    Anyway, keep an "eye" (har) on her eye after she recovers because if it
    is Herpes, it may return.  I keep a tube of ointment to alleviate
    the irritation that works quite well.  When she does have a relapse
    it is usually hardly noticable, and I treat it for about a week
    or until it disappears.  
    
    Of course, it's also possible that the Herpes was mis-diagnosed,
    and it truly was only (only! right!) an eye infection.  I find it
    interesting that we both had problems having an eye problem diagnosed.
    I wonder if eye diseases are difficult to diagnose in cats, or if
    we both coincidentally had problems with vets of questionable
    competence?  If that's the case, who to believe????????
    
    Amy.
                                

    I understand from a breeder I talked to recently there is a vet
    in the Burlington area who specializes in eye problems, for cats and
    dogs.  I don't have the name now, but if anyone is interested, I
    can find out and post it here -- let me know.
    
    diane

    Could you?  I'll be in that area this weekend.  Though her eye looks
    better, if she suffers a relapse I can take her in.  Thanks...
    
    

    The place is Veterianary Ophthamology of New England (VONE), located
    in Lincoln, MA, near the Concord line.  My little Chauncey is best
    friends with Dr. Bachrach there.  Dr. B. teaches opthamology at
    Tufts.  Their number is 617 259-0080.  I wouldn't take my baby's
    eyes anywhere else!
    
    Tell them Chauncey says HI!
    
    Mary

    A while ago when I wrote this note and thought Mielikki was getting
    better, she got worse.  The herpes spread to her other eye and I
    had to apply the medication 3 times a day.  After 2 weeks of this,
    it finally went away, and I sighed a heavy sigh of relief.
    
    Well just in time for Christmas, it seems Ishtar is now having the
    same problems, so maybe it did originate from the mother.  So it's
    back to the vet's...back to the holding down of an already medication
    leary cat (because of all the ear mite medication)...<sigh>
    
    Sharon
    
    

    
    Sharon, did you try the cat-opthalmologist mentioned in .7? 
    perhaps you should.  If you do, please post the results.  Your cats
    seem to have severe enough recurrences of the problem to warrant
    a specialist.  Claude has not had a recurrence in a LONG
    time.
    
    Good luck!  Hope your kitties get better soon.
    
    Amy.

    So sorry your kitties are not all well from this eye problem.  I
    strongly recommend you see an eye specialist, as a breeder I know
    seems to be having problems with a contagious eye virus...
    
    The vet I have heard good things about is:
    
    	Dr. Richard Donovan, at the Animal Eye Clinic
    	3 Colonial Park Village
    	Burlington, MA 01803
    	617-272-7080
    
    and let us know how your kids are doing--
    
    diane
    

    Since I've moved to a new area and have taken on a new vet and Mielikki
    has had yet another recurrance of the evil eye disease, I figured
    I'd try this guy's opinion.
    
    I visited Dr Damitz at the Nashoba Valley Vet Hospital and explained
    the long story.  He pulled out his book on feline illnesses and
    we found some pictures of eyes that looked just like Mielikki's.
    (Kinda sad, the cats had some device in their eye's to keep them
    open for the camera, like that guy in Clockwork Orange...)  Even
    the book could not diagnose it for certain, but rather listed off
    that things that it could be: herpes, clymidia (sp?), conjunctivitis,
    and a few others I don't remember.  Dr Damitz said he would read
    over the description on the weekend.
    
    When I called back he concluded that it's a virus type problem,
    and as a few replies here stated, will flare up and have to be treated
    with ointment.  So I guess we're stuck for life.
    
    I asked whether I should see an opthomologist research center about
    it.  He recommended Dr Donovan in Burlington and Dr Bachrach in
    Lincoln as some replies here did.  He said though that if I went
    to a research center I would probably be there 7 days a week as
    they ran a multitude of tests and the cat might end up being
    traumatized by the visits.  He advised me to not go unless the problem
    suddenly gets worse.
    
    Sharon
    
    

    I would highly recommend Dr. Bachrach in Lincoln.  He was wonderful
    with Misha and so were his assistants!  Misha is a little shy, and
    he really warmed up to them all with no problem - I was very surprised.
    They are excellent diagnosticians for eye problems.  Don't hesitate
    to go there just for an opinion.  At least you will know exactly
    what you are dealing with.  I'm very glad I went - they told me
    that there was nothing they could do - and wouldn't do anything.
    I like doctors that don't take your money just to try things
    that "might" work.  I know other folks that have used Dr. B.
    with the same results.
    
    E.T.