My cat hates drops. Can oral Famciclovir treat her herpes eye?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend making sure he does not have an underlying disease that may be predisposing him to these infections. Test him for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) at your veterinarian's clinic to rule these possible causes out. Some cats will have chronic viral infections their entire life and we just treat these as they come. If you are not giving lysine supplementation and not giving Purine Fortiflora, I would definitely recommend doing so as both of these have been shown to lessen the severity and duration of the herpes virus flare ups. I would also consider an upper respiratory culture to make sure that there are no other bacterial causes that may be resistant to the antibiotics currently being given. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Naz. Medications have to list potential side effects, but it doesn't always happen. Yes it is typically a safe medication. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cidofovir ophthalmic has a typical length of about 10 days and Famciclovir has a recommended duration of 2-4 weeks. Kittens less than 5 days old may only need only a 2 week treatment. The chloramphenicol length of time is determined by your prescribing veterinarian. As always, you should receive all dosing and prescribing information directly from your veterinarian who is Rx the medication. I hope this has helped!

By far the most common cause of corneal ulcers is herpesvirus; so although antibiotic drops are usually indicated to treat secondary bacterial infections or prevent infection, Kit might not be improving because she has viral eye disease. Some vets will try oral antiviral medication or topical antiviral drops. Herpesvirus can be very difficult to treat and it never goes away completely. You may want to ask about referral to an ophthalmologist for the best treatment.

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitties! Unfortunately, there is no evidence that homeopathic remedies like these work. My other concern is that this is a pretty high concentration of alcohol. I'm sure the dose is small, but still, I worry that it could be potentially harmful. If you are looking for a natural support for herpes virus, I recommend trying Lysine. This is an amino acid that we think may help interrupt the herpes life cycle. It is very safe for any cat in the household and may be used long term to help prevent flare-ups. A few veterinary approved products I like are Vetoquinol Viralys (L-Lysine) Oral Gel for Cats and Duralactin Feline L-lysine Cat Supplement. Just follow the directions on label. If any cat has squinting eyes, is not eating, or seems very lethargic, it is time to visit your vet as these signs may indicate a secondary eye ulcer or bacterial infection that requires medication. Best of luck to you all!

That is a tough situation since you can't treat a pet unless you can catch them. You may try trapping her somehow and keeping her contained until the treatment is ended. Adding Lysine (a supplement for cats) may also help but will not be as effective as the eye drops. Best of luck.

I would continue with Puck's eye drops even though he doesn't like getting them. His eye health is vitally important. Cutting off the treatment now could have damaging effects to his eyes, which should be avoided. I'm not sure how much longer you have to give Puck his eye drops, but I would continue to give them to him as prescribed by your vet. Should it be a long course of treatment, give your vet a call in the morning to discuss your concerns.