Herpes virus

[Engine 88]

Hi I am new to the forum.I have a 7 month old kitten. I have had cats all my life the last one for 16 years. Within 24 hrs of picking him up he started sneezing . This was a Sunday on Monday we took him to the vet and his nose was now running clear licquid.By wednesday he just about stopped eating and the vet put him on clavamox and lysine. Within a couple of days it cleared and he was eating well again.Although he did not stop sneezing.I spoke to the vet again a couple of weeks later and he was again put on lysine no antibiotic this time.He still kept sneezing .At this point we did not know what to do.I then began to research alternative medicine and decided to go see an holistic vet which is were we are now.The holistic vet has put him on a VERY HIGH quality diet. The vet also said she would give him some drops to simulate a virus attack to raise his immune level.His body would think that it was being attacked but it really wasn't.I do not know what this liquid is.She also put him on propolis which come from bees and is EXTREMELY bitter and he certainely lets me know about it by trying to spit it out.He has been on this for almost a week and he hasn't sneezed in the last 4 or 5 days.Stay Tuned

[Jac]

Hi ya and Welcome to Catsey.

Has your cat actually been diagnosed? What strain of the virus does it have?
the reason I ask is we have members here in the same situation and may be able to give you some tips.
Looking forward to chatting to you.

[Engine 88]

The conventional vet we took him to did not take any swabs or anything else for testing. The vet did look at his symtoms runny eyes, nose from clear to a dark geen and sneezing and determined it was probably herpes.The holistic vet said she was quite sure it was a virus but which one it was she wasn't quite sure.

[Jac]

My Caspurr had caliche virus. He will always be a carrier but is well and living a normal life.
He had runny sticky eyes, going from green gunge to clear. I had to bathe them open in the morning. He had a runny sore nose and eventually developed a limp with a very high temperature. In fact we nearly lost him at one point.
I think most carrier cats go on to lead a healthy happy life. It's when you introduce or have another cat you really have to look at the bigger picture.

In my case stress can bring it on.

If I were you I would get the swabs done, better to know exactly what your dealing with.
If you had only had your kitten a little while chances are it had whatever the virus is before you got it. It seem's rather quick to develop it through stress.

[alexgirl73]

very strange. Lets hope this new vet has him sorted!

[Engine 88]

Alexgirl why do you say it's strange?

[Elaine]

I am always very interested in hearing about holistic meds etc. I used to have a CRF cat and found that Slippery elm bark help him alot with tummy upsets, excess tummy acid etc thus aiding him to keep a fairly good and steady appetite.
I do think that swabs etc would be a good idea, as Jac says, better to know exactly what you are dealing with and how best to treat.
I wish you and your kitty well and welcome to Catsey xxx:D

[dandysmom]

I'm a little surprised that the first vet didn't take any swabs or do blood work. Glad the medications he's on now seem to be helping the little guy...what's his name? Any chance of pics?

[alexgirl73]

Alexgirl why do you say it's strange?

sorry, I meant it was strange how the vet didnt bother doing any swabs or proper testing on your poor kitty. It seems to me as if there are too many vets taking shortcuts these days and risking animals lives. I wish you and your cat well, and hope the holisitc vet can get him on the road to recovery!

[Kay]

I have to say I am also surprised that no tests were done to see just exactly what virus or strain or virus your kitty has. It would have been my vets first port of call. When you know what you are dealing with you can prescribe much more effectively and as both vets don't know for certain what they are dealing with I would ask them to find out. Hope he gets better soon.

[Grete]

I have to echo everyone else here and say I am surprised no tests were done as treatment can be very illness specific.

I would maybe think about seeing another vet or insisting your current vet does the tests to find out exactly what the issue is.

[tilly]

Hi I have got a cat (Tilly) who has been a herpes virus carrier all her life she is 10 and a half years old and is OK apart from her sneezing. please feel free to PM me if you have any question. If it is herpes it can be very hard to pick up Tilly has been tsted four time with swabs and they haven't found the virus yet but all her symptons point to herpes virus. The problem is that it doiesn't live very long once it has left the cats body so that make it very hard to find.
I took Tilly to a specialist and he said that she has got the virus.

Do ask if yo have any question and I will try to answer them.

sally

ps here is alink to tell you a bit about feline herpes virus. Ther seem to be a forum on there as well
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/rhinotracheitis/