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Cats/9 week old kitten

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Expert: - 4/28/2011


Question
Hi,
I have just got a new kitten 2 days ago and she seems to have what looks like a cold. She is sneezing and had very gunky eyes which are always stuck together when she has a nap.
I have been cleaning them with clean cotton wool and warm water from the kettle.
I was just wondering if there is anything I could use or give to her to make it better, or could it be something worser that I would have to take her to the vets for.
Thank you in advance for your help, anything recieved would be much appreciated.

Answer
Hi Krissy,

The little one should see a vet. Most likely, the initial infection was caused by a virus, just as the cold is in humans. In most cases where a thick eye discharge is present, this is the feline herpes virus (this is contagious to other cats but not to humans or other kinds of animals). However, almost always, bacterial infections come along with these viral upper respiratory infections. When this happens, the kitten requires antibiotics to recover. Typically, this will consist of an oral antibiotic and an antibiotic eye ointment or eye drop.

Do continue to clean her eyes as you have been doing very often. In severe cases, the eyelids can actually adhere together and require surgical separation if the eyes have been sealed shut too long.

Best wishes!

Jessica

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Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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