Reluctantly took Old Kitty to the vet

[CountAllVotes]

:hi: friends!

Well, my old kitty is getting mighty old and her eyes look so awful, all red and a horrid discharge coming from them. I thought I saw signs of the cancer coming back on her temples (she is an old white cat) and decided it was time for a visit to her friend the cat doctor.

Mr. Cat Doctor checked out Old Kitty really well and told me it is chronic herpes of the eyes and that the only thing that might help this is L-Lysine. This was tried before and it didn't help much and Old Kitty didn't like it in mixed in her food. Mr. Cat Doctor gave us a few options as to how to try to get L-Lysine into her food. I couldn't find capsules where I live so I had to order some. Does any one have any ideas on how to treat this eye problem? Old Kitty is pretty wise and cannot be fooled easily with food tricks.

Otherwise, Old Kitty checked out just fine - heart is strong and teeth are miraculously good for the age of 17 years.

In any event, my worst fears were nothing more than that - fears that weren't warranted and it was well worth the $38.00 for this visit.

Oh yes, btw ... I noticed however that there was no one else in this once very busy office. Where have all of the customers and their pets gone? Is this another example of just how bad the economy really is?

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks.

[david13]

1. Quite probably it is a sign of the economy. I know they say

the shelters are full and pets are being dumped here and there.
My old cat gave me a concern this week as well. He is over 20. He had a huge clump of his long fur near the box using portion of his anatomy which caught and clumped his activity.
I thought he had swallowed a branch or something, which was only half out. But it was only a big bunch of fur and etc.
Your eye business sounds like a sad business, but what can you do?
dc

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Feline lysine

http://www.entirelypets.com/lysine.html?gclid=CLnBrf7VyaQCFRpO5QodmFv-iw

http://www.thensome.com/herpes.htm

Vitamin Shoppe sells L-Lysine capsules.
Open capsule and put it into very small of very highly attractive food....

[CountAllVotes]

5. wow, thanks!

This looks like the same stuff the vet had! The only difference seems to be the price! $16.99 compared to $33.00! THANK YOU!! :hug:

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/entirelypets_2124_1525672983

[Warpy]

6. I have never met a cat who could turn down

cream cheese with a little bit of smoked salmon mixed into it. I think you could mix orange peels into it (most offensive smell ever to a cat) and the cat would still eat it.

[CountAllVotes]

7. great idea!

She just loves smoked salmon and I think cream cheese is on her list too! ;)

Old Kitty thanks you (right) and her boyfriend (left) thanks you too! :D

[glinda]

3. Congratulations sort of on your kittie's health. Perhaps making sure

his herpes area is dry would help also. I know my vet has some L-Lysine salve stuffs.
Yes, the Vets have told me business is way way down.

[CountAllVotes]

4. thanks for the replies

I'll try some "highly attractive food". I know she likes freshly baked salmon, organic chicken and prawns (gee no wonder this cat is 17 years old; gourmet appetite!). ;)

The vet had this type of L-lysine that was in a tube type of thing that you can squirt into the mouth. It cost $33.00 a tube and you need one tube a month he said.

He also gave me a form of Science Diet canned cat food and he said he was sure she would like it. I have never seen her eat canned cat food in her life; dry food only. We'll see about this. :eyes:

The treatment plan for now is to keep the eyes as clean as possible. I wash them off a few times a day with cotton balls that are dipped in warm water. She likes this I can tell.

As for the veterinarians being closed and slow, what a shock this is to me. It seemed to me that there were a lot of customers there most of the time. I wonder where they and their pets went? I hate to think of someone dumping a pet because of the times we live in. Sad no doubt. :(

Thanks again and I'll see if I can find the stuff you can rub on the eye area. That could be an option along with the capsules which are on their way.

[hamsterjill]

8. Was it Viralys?

If so, it can be ordered from many of the pet web sites for a lot less.

What I do is to get a regular syringe and fill it with the Viralys, then shoot it down the mouth. It sometimes takes both hands and your teeth (to fill the syringe, not to get it into the cat!).

I've had good luck using lysine for viral infections with my kitties.

As to the eyes, you can also add a teeny tiny bit of regular table salt to the warm water. Like one small pinch of salt to a full cup of water, and mix well.

I wish you and your kitty the very best!

[CountAllVotes]

9. update on this situation

:hi: again and thanks everyone!

I ordered some of the paste and treats called Vetri-Science Vetri-Lysine Plus - Soft Chews (120 chews).

She likes the treats but not the paste (no shock).

I've been feeding her about 2 of the treats a day and her eyes are better. I've been applying warm compresses to the eyes and she likes that.

As for the powder - I added some to some cream cheese mixed w/salmon and no, she would not eat that either.

My next test will be with smoked salmon. I found a small piece of it at Safeway for $4.00.

So this whole thing is try it and see so far.

She is an ultra finicky cat and I have to hide those treats from the other two cats as they'd like to try them out. They have a very strong odor and are chicken flavored. This may be my only route with her I'm thinking.

At least she is better, that is what matters! :)