Feline Herpes and other questions

I took my 12 year old cat to the vet today to get some more eye cream and because she's still throwing up. I've had this cat for 10 years and they've always said the eye and sneezing was probably allergies and just gave me an eye cream when it would act up, which it would about twice a year. This last year she's lost weight from 12 pounds to 8 pounds. The eye is acting up more often and she's been vomiting off and on the last 2 months.
They are now saying they're pretty sure she's got Feline Herpes (I've gone to this place for several years and they never suggested this to me before. They do have a high turn over rate of vets there, though, so I do see a different one a lot!) So, they prescribed Lysine powder to give her. I asked if we could test her for this and they said there's no real test for this? She said they go by symptoms and that most cats have this. Ok, so I'll start her on this medicine and see if that helps.
The weight loss and vomiting we still aren't sure about. They ran a bunch of blood tests on her and that all came back normal (liver, kidneys, etc.) She thinks she heard a heart murmur today and maybe she's got something going on with her heart. This is the first time I've heard this too. She thinks there's something more going on to cause the eye discharge and other symptoms to be acting up but is not sure what it is. While palpitating her abdomin (abdomen) she noticed a hard lump near her hind quarters. She had me feel it and sure enough, there's a hard little mass there. She said it was hard to find so just petting her I wouldn't have felt it. Now she's concerned about that because it's hard. We don't know if it's cancerous or what. I'm going to take her back in next week to check her for hypothyroidism (which she suspects) and to get a biopsy of that mass.
What does all of this sound like to you all? I'm just so thrown by all these new things I'm not sure what to think. I'm dreading that this could be cancer since I just lost my dog 7 months ago.
Does it sound like to you all that she has the Feline Herpes and possibly hypothyroidism based on the weight loss and vomiting? What do you all think about this mass? I would love to get some more opinions. Thanks everyone.
April

[Jade59]

It's always sounded like herpes to me and that is bizarre your vet said there is no test for herpes since Jade was just tested a few months ago.  Vet told me on a scale from 1-20, Jade scored 200, so I do believe there is an actual herpes test!   You being told there is no test...that's odd and I am going to call my vet tomorrow to make sure I know what I'm talking about here and there is an actual test since we were sure led to believe there was one and we charged for it!

April, the Lysine is an amino acid that helps combat the herpes, but it's not medicine.  I put a tsp on Jades food everyday.   There IS medicine for herpes though...we were sold it.  It's called Acyclovir which is the same as humans take.  Humans also take L-Lysine to control herpes.  

I'm sorry, but I don't know about the rest of the possibilities your vet thinks may be wrong with your girl.  I do know, if it's hypothyroidism, it can be controlled.  

Best of luck, hon.  I'm so sorry to hear this on top of everything else :(

[April2]

To tell you the truth, Jade, I haven't been very happy with our treatment of this clinic for some time, at least the last year or so. I can't believe they never told me they thought it was Feline Herpes! It took them 10 years to tell me this? And yes, I asked twice about the test for it because I remembered you telling me to get my cat tested! She said there is no real test for it, they go by symptoms. I would be interested in what your vet says about that too. I started taking the puppies to another vet but I had my cat and dog go to this one for so long and they had their records, etc. that I hated to start a new vet. I just don't know what to think.
And you're right, the Lysine is a powder she told me to sprinkle 1/2 tsp on her food twice a day. That's all I've got so far.
I'm worried about that lump. I can't believe how things have been going lately, ugh. And now I'm getting a cold and my little guy's got an ear infection all right before Thanksgiving. And we're broke, now too of course, since I just spent $200  and still no answers. Oh well, I'm too tired to get too worked up about any of this. I just have to hope and pray for the best.

[PrettyKitty1]

I am so sorry to hear this, April. I'd be very upset. I cannot believe it would take a vet 10 years to come up with a possible diagnosis. We are talking about a living being, a family pet. I hope you'll find  the answers to all your questions. I can only imagine what you are going through right now. I will be hoping for the best. I hope it isn't cancer she has. Please keep us updated. And have a happy Thanksgiving :)

[Maddie6]

Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty.  Four pounds is a lot for a kitty to lose in one year. That's a red flag.  My Vet was concerned when my cat had lost two pounds in a year.

I was wondering about that lump your Vet found.  My cat had a lump on its shoulder, and the Vet did a needle aspiration, and it was just a fatty cyst.  I was concerned it was something more serious.  Has the Vet mentioned getting the lump X-rayed or biopsied?

It wouldn't hurt to get your latest records Faxed and a second opinion from another Vet.  

[zodiacqueen]

I am also sorry to hear about Misha.  I know how scary it is dealing w/ these lumps.  I've had to get biopsies on my kitties, too.  They were ultrasound-guided needle biopsies, so the vet will get a whole bunch of info for you w/ the ultrasound alone.  You will get a definite answer and that should give you some peace of mind.  And, please keep telling yourself that not all lumps are cancer-so stay positive until you know for sure.  

We've all got our fingers crossed for pretty Misha!  = )

[April2]

We're going back in next week to check for hypothyroidism and they will aspirate the lump and send it out to be checked at that time. I'm hoping for the best.

[Kaydey]

April, there is a simple blood test your vet can do to determine if it is feline herpes or not.  If she has not this yet, better get to another vet.

Weight loss is not assoc with FH.  The lump on her abdomen may just be an infected mammary gland. However, if the vet you are taking her to is worth the money she would have done an ultrasound right away.

Cats, like humans, don't just get random lumps for nothing and lose weight.

Sounds like your vet is overwhelmed or not well enough schooled for this situation..   Go to another Vet.

I would put this an emergency exam with another Vet.

[Kaydey]

P.S.  You can't aspirate a lump if you haven't recognized it as a possible problem.  She could have taken that syringe and tried to pull fluid right away,...  but she didn't...and she didn't do and ultrasound or an x-ray.

[April2]

The lump was actually near her hind quarters more on her back, sorry about that.

I kind of ran out of money, that's why I have to wait till next pay day to do more tests. I already spent $200 just for the blood tests and medicine. I was completely wiped out. I will bring her in Tuesday morning and let you all know how that goes. I don't think I'll get the pathology report back right away but I'll let you all know as soon as I know anything.

And I think it's very weird that they're saying there's no test to test for Feline Herpes!

[Jade59]

You know, April, my vet never once mentioned testing for herpes either, even seeing Jade's eyes at her very worst ever back in July didn't instigate the suggestion of testing for herpes.  The request came from ME after doing some research.  After Jade came up positive, my vet said the same thing yours did...that most cats have this.  I'm thinking, then why didn't you test Jade 3yrs ago instead of all this fiddling around?

I must warn you, the test was expensive, but the bloodwork also included testing for FIV, among other things so that may be why it was so expensive.  Even if you did have the test done, the protocol is the same.  Lysine on the food and Acyclovir to deal with a breakout.  Since not much can be done about herpes and you are running short on money, you may want to skip the herpes test and concentrate more on the mass.  

With no test, your vet is just guessing at this point about the herpes so it's possible your kitty could also have a blocked tear duct which will cause the eyes to run (I just read this in my cat magazine) and not herpes at all.  

Best of luck, hon, and please let us know about the blood results.