Phinehas and Malachi health issues - confirmed diagnoses: herpes virus in the eye

[wolflady]

Malachi is back home with Terramycin ointment for his eye. It turns out he has a strain of chlamydia which can cause swollen conjuctivae and discharge from the eye - but other than that he seems fine. Still eating, drinking and playing. When she said that I was like...WTF? How can a cat get chlamydia...isn't that what our doctors test for during our annual female exam?? LOL It's a different strain and she said it wouldn't be likely that it's contageous to me unless I rubbed his goo in my eye (yuk, which I won't LOL) and then I'd get pink eye. She said it could transfer to his other eye when this one clears up, so I can just apply the ointment if that's the case. Poor little baby, just looking at his eye makes mine water! Hopefully Phinehas won't get it, but I am taking him in tomorrow for his ultrasound and I can talk more about it then. I hope everything goes ok and we can get these vet visits behind us...not to mention the fortune I've shelled out! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for my babies!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for the update. I'm glad that it's only his eye that's infected and that it's an easy fix. Hopefully Phinehas won't catch this too. Yes, I've heard of cats getting chlamydia and I think that the FVRCP shot is supposed to help make sure that they don't get this if I remember correctly.

You might also want to call the breeder to let her know that some of her cats might be carrying chlamydia. At least he doesn't have the herpes virus which never really goes away. How did you like my vet? I hope that everything will go well with Phinehas tomorrow. I'm still keeping him in my thoughts and prayers.

[wolflady]

Oh I hope it's an easy fix. It actually looked worse this morning and he didn't seem as active *sigh* When I went to put the ointment in his eye, I couldn't even find his eye the conjuctivae was so swollen! I really really hope I don't have to keep bringing my cats into the vet. I'm already financially unstable and this is getting really really expensive. All I want are my kitties to be healthy. Now I'm almost regretting this because maybe I should have waited until after my Ireland trip to bring a new kitty home! I hate to think it's my fault they are now suffering. I'll probably ask Dr. Boltz about Malachi when I bring Phinehas in today. I just hope she doesn't find something to be concerned about. I don't think I can afford much more.

[katladyd]

My Ming's vet bills get so expensive, my vet has set me up a payment plan. He get urinary blockages from time to time that keep repeating. He has been blockage free for 3 weeks now. Still, I know how expensive vets can be. I "only" owe about $1,000 on my account. She is real good about it, though. I even get his meds on credit. I pay her between $50 -$100 per month. Maybe your vet can do this for you.

[wolflady]

I started a new thread for Phinehas about his condition which can be found here: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=150586

[wolflady]

I'm about ready to have a mental breakdown. Why can't these guys get better? I was hoping Malachi was on the mend, but he's looking worse and even had bloody discharge from his eye! I've shelled out over $1000 during the past 2 weeks at the vet and don't know how much more I can afford. I left a message for the vet about Malachi's eye and if I should just wait it out or if I needed to bring him in again. I have no experience with chlamydia in the eye and I just hate to see him so miserable, but I'm really at my wit's end. My husband is working a contract job in Indiana because we needed to do something to help our financial situation and that's stressful enough, but with me being alone and these cats having health issues with no end in sight I just feel like I'm going to lose it.
Sorry, I just needed to vent.

[Catty1]

wolflady - here is a link to info on the chlamydia that Malachi has: http://www.future-of-vaccination.co....amydophila.asp

The link mentions an oral medication in addition to the eye ointment. But don't stress - read the info and ask your vet about it.

{{{{hugs}}}}

[krazyaboutkatz]

Karen, I'm sorry to hear that you're so stressed out and that Malachi's eye doesn't look any better. I've had cats with eye infections but I don't remember them being this type and their eyes usually start looking better in 2-3 days. From reading Catty1's link it sounds like Phinehas should also receive medication at the same time as Malachi so that he won't get this too.

Did you ask my vet when you should start noticing some improvement? Did she give you her e-mail address? If so I'd also e-mail her because she only works from Sun.-Wed. I sure hope that you won't need to bring him into the vet again. I'll keep him in my prayers too. Please take care.

[wolflady]

Tracey, does Rachel check her email on the days she's not working? It seems she's going to be off through the 15th, so I did send her a mail this morning asking if there is anything else I should do for Malachi. His eye was swollen shut this morning so I couldn't even get the ointment in and it looks like it's spreading to the other eye now. *sigh*

edit: I just got an email from Rachel and she's going to call in some new meds for Malachi. She didn't seem to think he needed to come back in (thank goodness), but said if I was worried I could bring him back in. I figured I'll try the new meds first to see if we can get his poor little eyes cleared up. I've never had a kitten and he's so small that I'm just freaking out.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Tracey, does Rachel check her email on the days she's not working? It seems she's going to be off through the 15th, so I did send her a mail this morning asking if there is anything else I should do for Malachi. His eye was swollen shut this morning so I couldn't even get the ointment in and it looks like it's spreading to the other eye now. *sigh*

Yes, she has in the past when I've e-mailed her. I'm sorry to hear about Malachi. You might want to call Adobe and speak to a vet tech about this and let them know what's going on. He might need to be put on pills instead. I sure hope that he'll get better soon.

[wolflady]

I emailed Rachel again this morning to see if it's typical for the eye discharge to be bloody. Poor Malachi. I feel so bad for him. I can tell his eye bothers him and he wiggles out of my grasp when I try to do the warm compress on his eye. I've started him on the new meds that Rachel arranged for me, but so far no improvement. I know it's only been one day, but why can't I get even just a little ray of hope that he's going to be on the mend? Why does it seem to be getting worse and worse?

[Don Juan's mom]

Prayers for Malachy. We'll ask St. Jude, St. Francis and Goddess Bastet to put in a good word for the little guy.

Liz
Don Juan
Zerlina

[krazyaboutkatz]

Karen, I'm sorry to hear this. Hopefully his eyes will start improving soon. Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[RedHedd]

Oh poor baby! That does not sound good. Do keep us posted.

[Medusa]

Goodness, I'm sorry to read about Malachi's eye and I do hope that you vet is able to give him (and you) some relief soon. Keep the faythe.