Crusty eyed kitten-advice???

[Smallflockchickens]

Hi I had 5 kittens born, all are healthy but one. She has crusty eyes thats mucus build up and dries, causing her eyes shut. Everyday I clean and flush them out but it just keeps coming back! Does anyone know how to fix this for good? Thanks

 

[Glenmar]

Sounds like that upper respiratory thing that infant kittens can get. It is very contagious. All kittens will need to be treated. Antibiotic ointment in the eyes and oral antibiotics, or they may have permanent sight damage.

 

[Nslangton]

Ditto. You will soon have 5 kittens with crusty eyes and a mom cat too. They need an oral antibiotic or a two week shot antibiotic and an ophthalmic ointment in the eyes.

 

[Kelly G]

Yep! What they said....very easy to treat, but you have to treat it now - and you have to treat all of them.

 

[yomama]

If it hasn't spread into any discharge from the nose, or wheezing, you may be able to get away with antibiotic eye ointment. You can usually get Terimycin at your feed store. It can be spendy, but is the next best thing to getting something at your vet. If you can, I'd take at least one into the vet, and they will usually let you get enough meds for the whole litter. When I was a tech, we ALWAYS had kittens coming in with this. If the kittens are all acting fine, except the eyes, I would just start with the eyes. Makes sure you use a warm, wet, wash rag to clean the eyes off, as it sounds like you have been doing. Not sure I would flush them, though, then apply the ointment three times a day. If you don't see any improvement within 5 or so days, or if they get worse, I'd get them into the vet.

Also, if it has turned into a respiratory infection, you will definitely need oral antibiotics. Cats won't eat well if they can't smell, and kittens that don't eat well, won't thrive. Good luck!

 

[Smallflockchickens]

Thanks everyone! The kittens are doing well, and and purrrfectly happy!

 

[yomama]

Thanks everyone! The kittens are doing well, and and purrrfectly happy!

I'm glad to hear that!!

Were you able to get them into a vet, or find meds over the counter?

 

[copperpatina]

if you add l-lysine which you can get at a health food store to their food it helps keep the eyes clear it is most like a form of herpe virus of the eye usally get it with uri which means even though fine now it will continue to come back once they have it , it can be a reoccuring thing a shot from the vet zithromax works much better then terrimyacin, baytril shots work well to but will ten to leave a scar.
hope this helps