> I apologize in advance for the length, it's hard to explain without
> telling the whole story.
>
> I have a question concerning a 7 week old kitten that I am hoping
> maybe someone can give me some advice, or maybe knows of an "ask a
> vet" type website that could help.
>
> My biggest problem is that I have been consulted two vets (because
> it's just so weird), and I'm getting conflicting diagnosis.
>
> Unfortunately, I need to give you the whole run-down to put it in
> context.
>
> The litter of 3 was abandoned at birth, never had any mother's milk,
> and had no nourishment for the first 24 hours. By age 1 week, only one
> kitten was still alive.  Her eyes didn't open until 3 weeks, and when
> they did, the left was not completely formed (cloudy-looking almost
> like a cataract)
>
> Vet #1 gave me terramycin (antibiotic ointment) as a preventitive to
> use indefinitely. Shortly afterward I accidentally knocked her in the
> eye with the bottle while trying to feed her. Swelling began two days
> later, which I assumed was a result of the injury. The swelling
> continued to an extreme point (on a Sunday when my vet was
> unreachable) and I called the only vet that was available.
>
> Vet #2 said that the terramycin was congesting the tear ducts and
> preventing drainage, causing the swelling (and should not be used for
> more than 10 days). He suggested stopping the ointment, which I did
> and two days later tears began to flow constantly and the swelling
> began to go down, slowly over two weeks.
>
> On Saturday, a large pocket of infection behind the eye (that we
> didn't know was there) burst and drained, finally bringing the eye
> back to normal size, which seemed like a happy ending
>
> But the draining continued...clear tear-like fluid. And now (2 days
> later) the eye seems to be shrinking (the side of her face appears
> concave), the eye and 3rd lid are pink and irritated looking, and the
> lid is trying to close.
>
> Vet #1 says that this is a normal reaction to the infection, the
> cornea is losing pressure but it will return to normal. He also thinks
> some limited vision may develop. He prescribed another antibiotic, in
> drop form and didn't seem very concerned about it.
>
> Vet #2 says that the infection bursting may have caused a tear in the
> "skin" of the eye, allowing the eye fluid to drain out. HE says that
> the eye will not return to normal and that when the draining stops, it
> should either close on its own or be sewn shut. He believes the eye
> will never have vision and that leaving it open will only encourage
> irritation and possibly allow contaminates (bacteria) to enter the
> eye.
>
> What do I do? She's never been able to see out of the eye, so I don't
> believe she will ever develop sight. I don't know which vet is correct
> as to the cause; if I did, I could make a choice easier as to what to
> do.
>
> Has anyone ever encountered this? Or know a website that might help?
>
> Also, both vets do not believe it is feline herpes, FIV, or FLeV.
> They are reluctant to do tests, as she is only 15.9 oz, but both have
> said tests can wait, as it doesn't appear to be any of the 3.(her
> growth/development is stunted, but thought to be result of a birth
> defect, not a virus/illness)
>
> This little kitten has had so many problems (slow growth, joints still
> soft, eyes developing slowly), and the vets here (rural small town)
> don't see this type of thing often. I'm not trying to second guess the
> vets, just trying to get some info to be sure that they are giving me
> good advice. I'm half afraid that they are both just guessing as to
> the cause and vet #1 doesn't seem like a "cat person", he doesn't seem
> very compassionate but vet #2 does. I would really like to find a vet
> who has experience with this, that I could talk to, or even get one of
> the vets into contact with for consulting.
>
> Also, I know that I am putting this all into "layman's terms." It's
> how they explained it to me.