Feline herpesvirus can be a scary diagnosis for a cat owner. It's actually a very common eye infection that can be treated and controlled. Cats with eye herpes can lead normal and healthy lives.
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What Is It?
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Feline herpesvirus is a common cause of eye and upper respiratory infections in cats. Most cats are actually exposed to the virus as kittens.
Symptoms
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Cats with the virus may have sneezing, nasal discharge and a loss of appetite. One or both eyes may have swelling, discharge or corneal ulcers, and the cat may squint. In some cats the virus is latent, meaning it remains dormant and the cat never shows symptoms.
Diagnosis
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A veterinarian may evaluate the history of your cat's eye problem and check how the eyes look, but only laboratory testing for feline herpesvirus can provide a definite diagnosis.
Complications
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The latent virus can be triggered repeatedly after stressful events or illness. Repeated infections can result in serious eye problems.
Treatment
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Once infected, your cat will have the virus for life, but a flare-up may never occur after the initial infection. Avoid stressors if possible. Antiviral drops or ointment can be applied to the affected eyes, and adding L-lysine to the cat's diet may help.
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