My cat has feline herpes. What helps his crusty, watery eyes?

Question

I just brought my cat Max to my parents because I'm house sitting and he was rubbing at his eyes and they were watering and crusty. He has feline herpes which I guess could flare up because of the stress of a new surrounding. Is there anything I could give him or put on his eyes to help? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 16 lbs

Anna M., DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thanks for using PetCoach. It does sound very likely that Max is having a flare-up of feline herpes. Many cats respond favorably to a supplement of L-lysine, which can shorten herpes flare-ups. If this is something Max is prone to, I recommend keeping L-lysine on hand - you can always start the supplement prior to an anticipated stressful event to help decrease the risk of a flare-up. There are many different products out there, so you can call your vet and see what they carry, or there are also over-the-counter options such as this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tomlyn-l-lysine-chews Upper respiratory viruses can definitely cause some discomfort and inflammation in the eyes, but I recommend not putting anything on his eyes without consulting your veterinarian first, as some products are dangerous if there's any risk of a corneal ulcer (which can also occur secondary to upper respiratory viruses). However, if his eyes appear uncomfortable it is worth the vet visit to get a prescription eye drop that will make him more comfortable. Hope this helps!

My cat has feline herpes. What helps his crusty, watery eyes?

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