posted 12-08-2003 05:06 PM         

Over the last 2 weeks it has occasionally sneezed..maybe once a day, maybe twice.....but the last several days he has had thick green gunk build up and drip from the corner of his eyes, and his eyes seem to have the tiniest hint of red, could he be sick? He wasnt due for his final shots til Dec 12th as he's been netured and was all caught up for shots otherwise. However, I called the vet and we have a 10:45 am appt.

Does this sound like a virus? I have never seen such thick green gunk before and its a lot there to speak of just draining away.

posted 12-08-2003 06:05 PM         

Checking for lacerations is very important. If a laceration is present your vet will select medication that will not interfere with the healing of the laceration. If no laceration is present your vet might simply select an eye ointment or perhaps eye drops that contain steroids.

Some of the signs of infection are redness, light sensitivity, keeping the eye partially closed, puffiness, drainage, lots of eye matter, eye lid matted shut, 3rd eye lid swollen and beginning to cover the eye etc . . . Also, there may be signs of upper respiratory disease such as sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge etc.

Your pets eyesight is very important. Not only to them but to you. It is harder to take care of a pet that is blind.

One of the most common eye infections that breeders encounter is conjunctivitis aka "pink eye". The most common causes of pink eye are Feline Herpes Virus, Chlamydia and bacterial infections, and allergies. There are also a few more "nasties" that can cause pink eye.

Follow your vets directions for care including the prescribed medication. Keep the eye free from matter or other discharge by gently washing the eye area morning and night. Depending on the severity of the infection you may need to soak the eye lid open. Do this by applying warm wet cotton balls or sterile pads and holding it on the eye. You may have to do this quite a few times before the matter loosens enough so that the eye can be opened gently.

Never EVER force an eye open. You can damage tear ducts etc . . .

Once you have the eye open if there is quite a bit of discharge you should rinse out the eye with saline solution to remove the matter. Once this is done clean all of the discharge up and apply the medication that your vet has given you. Continue using the medication for several days after the eye looks normal.

I got this information off the internet. I did not write the above. I hope this helps. Keep us posted.
Credit for the above information goes to:http://www.cat-health-beauty.com/cat-eye-infections.htm
I don't want to get in trouble for any plagiarism. LOl

posted 12-09-2003 11:33 AM         

Update! He does have an upper respiratory infection along with conjunctivitus. He only sneezed once in a while so I was really suprised to hear that he has the respiratory infection along with the eye infection. But the vet said they go hand in hand and especially when the kitten comes from the humane society.

Kitty was RX'd Clavamox and some eye ointment. It's weird, but my kitty HATES the clavamox, whereas our 12 week old beagle, who had kennel cough last week and was on it, LOVES it. Our kitty reacts violently to the meds and refuses to eat it. My husband had to hold him so I could give it to him and Im not sure how much of the clavamox actually got inside him because he clamped his mouth downa dn turned his head from side to side angrily. lol

I witnessed our sweet and docile kitty turn into one angry cat. lol

But the eye drops are a different story. No problem there!