Natural Remedies for an Eye Infection from Feline Herpes

Is there a feline herpes treatment at home?

Question:

I took my 11 yr. old female, spayed cat into the vet as she seemed to be having pain in her mouth. They extracted a bad tooth, gave her all her shots including rabies and because I work 12 hours a day kept her there for a week to give her pain medication and antibiotics. When I picked her up her right eye was completely closed with goop running out of it. They told me she had herpes virus and said there was nothing they could do. I said she never had a break out before and gave me no clue on what to do for it. It has been 8 days now and the poor little thing is in pain and her eye is all swollen. I try to clean it but she paws at my hand and I feel so helpless. What should I do? Please help.  Signed - Shar

Answer:

Eye inflammation, or conjunctivitis, can be caused by allergies, environmental irritants, corneal ulcers, glaucoma, or bacterial/viral infections, such as feline herpes. If a cat's eyes are watering, squinting and producing a discharge, feline herpes may be the cause. The inside lining of the eyelids becomes inflamed, and shallow, painful ulcers develop. Herpes generally occurs when cats are exposed to the virus previously and have a stressed or imbalanced immune system. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential when you see signs of eye irritation as waiting too long can mean the difference between saving the animal's sight and losing it. Eyebright is a very common herb used for eye irritations. Eyebright eye washes are often helpful to control symptoms and minor infections and can assist in cleansing and soothing the eye. Certain Chinese herbal formulas like Nature's Herbs Clear Vision, may also be helpful for boosting the immune system and clearing minor eye infections.If allergies are suspected as the cause of conjunctivitis, it is best to change to a hypoallergenic diet. Allergy supplements, like Inflamzyme by Integrative Therapeutics, can also be quite helpful in battling airborne allergies. It acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory agent. With feline herpes infections, diet and immune support need attention. To help control the virus the amino acid L-lysine may be helpful. L-lysine can be found at any natural food store. The dosage for cats is 500 mg twice a day. Sincerely,S.M. Sanderlin DVM