My younger 3 year old cat Chunk has been having eye discharge for a few months. He uses the bathroom just fine, eats just fine, seems to be playful and very aware. The discharge is predominantly in one eye although it happens in the other too. It is a brown / rusty red color that seeps from the inner tear ducts. His eye looks okay when you look up close but Im no DVM. (He has been tested for FIV as well as Herpes in prior checkups years ago and tested negative). He doesn’t sneeze, although he does breathe some what heavy but that could also be attributed to his Chunky frame (working on it). I’ve read several possibilities including herpes, conjunctivitis, and respiratory infection. I am hoping this is something that can be resolved through an ointment like terramycin? Any recommendations / suggestions / advice? Thank you!
*Also may be beneficial to note my other rescue Captain Hook has one eye. The non working eye is flipped backward and does not function. As a result that one eye has always had blackish discharge (not the same color as chunks nor does it come out in the same way as chunks). Our vet said this is normal for his eye condition, but just wanted to mention because perhaps could be related? Or no?
Disclaimer *My cats are indoor cats on a strict wet food diet. Chunk is 3 and Captain Hook is 7. I take them to the vet when needed. Their last general checkups were two years ago. I realize they need to go every year, but my cat Captain Hook had many many medical problems (bowel disorders) so thousands of dollars in care credit we try not to take them unless needed, especially since they are indoor.
How likely is FIV to be transmitted from mother’s milk to kittens? If a mother cat is pos for FIV and all 4 of her 8wk old kittens tested neg for FIV, what is the likelihood of the results actually being a false neg?
Tx!
Comments
Brandon took a few pictures when we were having our initial visit at JVC last week. I don’t have any digital pics yet as she is very shy and scared. I’ll try to get some. So there is no danger to my other cats regarding Leukemia, FIV?
Hi Carolyn,
I don’t know if it’s technically impossible, but certainly not a common scenario in my personal experience. Over the last 4 years my rescue has taken in 3 cats (with litters) that have tested positive for FIV. All of the litters of kittens turned out to be negative. Our policy with FIV+ mom’s is to test the kittens on intake and then again in 6 months to verify results.
We did have one litter that tested positive initially and then tested negative 6 months later (a second test was given at 6 months just to double check).
Here’s some additional information from Best Friends Animal Society http://bestfriends.org/Resources/Pet-Care/Cats/Health-And-Care/FAQs-About-FIV/Hope
Hope this helps,
Adam
Thanks for your reply!