Eye problem

[Corporal Smokey]

Thanks Gill. They've seen the state of him and know his background so I'm sure they'll prescribe me some! Bless him I feel bad being mean, it's not his fault he's a stinky mess and I wouldn't have him any other way 

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Hi Amy, yes I used to get it as a repeat in London and have not tried here. I rweckon I could probably het some for Franta as  I sopke with the vet about it .

It really is up to the vet and how money grabbing there are but if they have seen Smokey and know the problem they should give you a repeat, especially if you say its for the medicine cabinet  so you have some just incase.

[Maddiesmum]

I used to use Optrex on all my cats but I always diluted it with boiled water

[Millys Mum]

Optrex have a whole range out now (medicated and non) so i would check with your vet which one is safe to use.

[Corporal Smokey]

Irolnically, Josh's eye has become inflamed over the last 24 hours. I think he got some sawdust in it after being too nosey when we were DIYing but I've got some of that saline stuff from PAH and it seems to be helping.

[JackSpratt]

I think this is a pretty common problem. My youngest cat has a runny eye sporadically as she had a mild dose of cat flu as a kitten. I just wipe off the excess moisture (when she'll let me, she's quite skittish) and just make sure it doesn't get worse really.

My oldest tom has the same problem from time to time too, although it is less frequent. (Same reason.)

[swampmaxmum]

My Swampy's had this too all his life (result of snuffles twice as a kitten). You can use Fucithalmic on a regular basis I think and it does work quite well but just holds things in check. For years I used Interferon (one drop a day) but in the UK you only get Virbagen, which is expensive and imho doesn't work that well on all cats. However may be worth one bottle to try and see if it clears it up? I wouldn't go for the interferon injections because don't think they are effective or good for cats.
Otherwise can you buy those little sterile plastic thingies of saline solution in chemists in the UK? (sorry haven't had them since France) as they clean everything up and make for happier eyes. You can use them yourself too for tired eyes and they work well.

[gibraltarcat]

Thanks

Think I will just wipe them or use Optrex for a while and see how things go. As it always comes back after treatment anyway, and the Vet said it's going to be a lifelong problem, I'll give this a go.
That's so sweet that Polly comes to you when hers need wiping, HK

[Corporal Smokey]

I always used to have a tube in stock incase of her eyes being really bad but that was only time I used it.

My current vet said it may help Frantas eyes too but have forgotten to get a tube when I have been there.

I use it now and again when Smokey's eye goo is a little greener than normal. Gill, can you just ask at the vets for it like a reapeat prescription? I don't want to spend another 20 quid at the vets when I know what it is and he's had it before but my supply's getting a bit low.

[Hippykitty]

Polly has constantly runny gungy eyes, she's had them since I took her in back in '93. My vet, who has a speciality in opthalmics, has checked them and thinks that her tear ducts have become blocked due to cat flu (before I became her slave!). He tested for chlamydia, but she was negative.

I wipe her eyes with clean tissue, which she loves, as I stroke her cheeks and nose at the same time. She's 21, so this hasn't shortened her life or caused any noticeable problems with her eyesight - vet checked this also.

My advice is: not to worry, just wipe her eyes with tissues when they look mucky. Polly has got into the habit of coming to me when she wants her eyes wiped, maybe Jonty will too.

[Desley (booktigger)]

L-Lysine can help boost their immune system, so might be worth trying.

[Mark]

Willow is 9 and still has runny eyes from having cat flue as a kitten. Over the years various vets have prescribed steroid drops but all they do is temporarily relieve it a bit. As she gets so upset having it done, the vet just said to leave it. When she is having a bad patch, he said to wipe her eyes with optrex but use a separate pad for each eye. Alos as long as it is clear (red) it is fine but if it goes cloudy, it is infected so take her in. She does have flare-ups but so far no infection. I think stress ad cold can make her worse.

[gibraltarcat]

Thanks Chris and Gill

Like Franta, Jonty has had cat flu at some time in the past which has left him with these problems. I don't want to not treat it and make it worse, but also don't like to over medicate.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I agree with Chjris and its best to ask the vet.

Franta has a bit of an eye problem and vet thinks he had cat flu at some point but I just leave it and it clears up by itself.

Kocka used to have eye probs on and off and a couple of drops of Fucithalmic used to clear her eyes up. I dsont know if its an antibiotic but like you I dont like over medicating cats. I always used to have a tube in stock incase of her eyes being really bad but that was only time I used it.

My current vet said it may help Frantas eyes too but have forgotten to get a tube when I have been there.

[chris91011]

oh poor thing!
does it look sore? is it red and nasty looking?
all i can suggest is to keep bathing it, i would have a word with the vet.
Chris

[gibraltarcat]

I rescued Jonty 6 months ago from abroad. He has recently had his teeth out because of Calici and has a constantly runny left eye. When swabbed it was negative for Clamydia, but Vet thinks it could be herpes and/or calici. He's had Aureomycin ointment on three occasions which clears it very quickly, but within days of finishing the course, it's running again. I bathe it regularly.
What I'd be grateful for advice on is, should I keep using the ointment every time it starts to look a bit mucky? I just feel uneasy to keep using antibiotics so frequently. It doesn't bother him at all, he doesn't paw at it or keep cleaning it and doesn't close his eye at all.
 Thanks, Linda.