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Uveitis in kitten after leukemia vaccine

My ragdoll kitten developed uveitis after receiving the leukemia vaccine.  

She is 5 months old, very energetic, eats a ton, drinks a ton, plays constantly and tested negative for leukemia and FIV.  She received the vaccine Friday evening and was lethargic for two days although she did eat and drink. I called the vet, they said it was normal she would feel poor.

On Sunday night she perked up and ran around playing like usual.  I noticed her third eyelid was out and that her eye color had darkened from its normal pale baby blue. I took her to an ophthalmologist on Monday morning and they gave me steroid drops + ointment for 10 days. Its day 4 now and the color is back to normal and the swelling/pinkness has mostly subsided.  

I should include I found her abandoned at three weeks of age in a cardboard box with some water.

What I would like to know is if this a sign of something else and will ever go away?
Best Answer
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi HH,

How is kitty today?? Let us know.

Thanks,
CML
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7052683 tn?1392938795
So very happy to hear the good news. Thank you for letting us know.
I do not know how you get that ointment in your baby's eye, but Kudo's to you. Mia would have to go blind, cause no one gets near her eyes or nose.

Ya know I am not sure why the ointment is causing so much redness--but if you have faith in this ophthalmologist, then at least call him and tell him about your concern. You won't feel like you are flying blind with him instructing you. Try not to discontinue ANY medications (or cut back) until you have cleared it with the prescribing vet.

Keep up the great care,
CML
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey guys, she is doing MUCH better.  We had already been to the vet, 9 days ago, and received a regimen of steroid drops and ointment.  Her color came back immediately and the cloudiness disappeared.  Her eyes are dilating normally too.  She eats, drinks, and plays like a crazy all the time.

It became clear to me yesterday that the drops were irritating the heck out of her eye and turning it red and angry.  In the 12 hour period between dosages, her eye returns to normal and there is no angry redness.  So i was hesitant to continue giving the full dosage as is seems to be causing irritation at this point and her eye looks perfect otherwise.

We JUST walked in the door from the 10 day check up with the ophthalmologist and the vet said her internal eye is 100% normal.  No more swelling, no more of whatever reaction was happening because of the vaccine, but that her top eyelid is still a little inflamed (she said its 90% normal).  I should continue with the ointment for TWO MORE WEEKS and then bring her back.  

Again I feel that 14 days is a LONG time to give the ointment when she screams in pain and it makes it worse looking BUT i will follow the doctors advice for at least the first week and then lower the dosage depending on how it looks the second week.

Can anyone weigh in on the length of the dosage?  (ointment twice a day in her left eye only for two weeks)   Is this normal or does is sound heavy?

***I ask for second opinions because we live in Mexico and I dont have 100% confidence in all the vets here (although this ophthalmologist is incredible).  I do find that doctors and vets are more traditional here, recommending a lot of meds for everything and for the kitten, every vaccine possible(even though she doesnt leave the house).

Any opinions on this?

***also sorry for posting things multiple times or hitting crazy buttons, I am new to this forum or any forum really so I am making the beginner errors***
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey guys, she is doing MUCH better.  We had already been to the vet, 9 days ago, and received a regimen of steroid drops and ointment.  Her color came back immediately and the cloudiness disappeared.  Her eyes are dilating normally too.  She eats, drinks, and plays like a crazy all the time.

It became clear to me yesterday that the drops were irritating the heck out of her eye and turning it red and angry.  In the 12 hour period between dosages, her eye returns to normal and there is no angry redness.  So i was hesitant to continue giving the full dosage as is seems to be causing irritation at this point and her eye looks perfect otherwise.

We JUST walked in the door from the 10 day check up with the ophthalmologist and the vet said her internal eye is 100% normal.  No more swelling, no more of whatever reaction was happening because of the vaccine, but that her top eyelid is still a little inflamed (she said its 90% normal).  I should continue with the ointment for TWO MORE WEEKS and then bring her back.  

Again I feel that 14 days is a LONG time to give the ointment when she screams in pain and it makes it worse looking BUT i will follow the doctors advice for at least the first week and then lower the dosage depending on how it looks the second week.

Can anyone weigh in on the length of the dosage?  (ointment twice a day in her left eye only for two weeks)   Is this normal or does is sound heavy?

***I ask for second opinions because we live in Mexico and I dont have 100% confidence in all the vets here (although this ophthalmologist is incredible).  I do find that doctors and vets are more traditional here, recommending a lot of meds for everything and for the kitten, every vaccine possible(even though she doesnt leave the house).

Any opinions on this?
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
so glad you came along at just the right time when this little one really needed someone to love and care for her...ragdolls are a special breed, they are such lovely cats..if you look on my profile I too had a ragdoll at one time, her name was Tia:)

sorry I'm not very knowledgeable abt uveitis..I suspect there is some degree of low immune system involved (from former neglect)...thus adding a vaccine into the mix when the immune system is already struggling was enough for something to go wrong...
I suspect the drops is a med called Maxitrol? this being a steroid can also lower the immune system.

like I said I don't know much abt this condition. I will post a site with a little info.

http://www.acvo.org/new/public/common_diseases/uveitis.shtml

can I  recommend you start her on an supplement called Lactoferrin. its an excellent supplement to build the immune system and help fight off a bacterial infection. this brand by SYMBIOTICS is safe for cats...in the if not avail from a local health food outlet(human not pet) I would recommend you order from iherb.com. I order many of my own and my cat supplements from them, they are excellent to deal with. open the capsule  and sprinkle it in her food. just a word of caution, use half a capsule since she is a kitten...some cats are allergic to Lactoferrin and vomit...if you use MY code you will get $4 off your first order b/c I am a good customer:)
SED957
they are located in CA, don't knw where you live? I am in Canada, they do ship internationally...

http://www.iherb.com/Symbiotics-Lactoferrin-100-60-Capsules/4088#bid=SYM&p=1&oos=1&disc=0&lc=en-US&w=symbiotics%20lactoferrin%20100%25&rc=11&sr=null&ic=1

best of luck to you and the little lady, keep us updated also please post again if we can try to be of any help:)
Helpful - 0
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