The vet, he is perplexed

[crowdog66]

I just got off the phone with Dr. M, and he's scratching his head in complete puzzlement. He has no idea why Mina's eyes are watering in the absence of any other symptom except the occasional sneeze. He ran down a list of possible causes with me -- an infection in kittenhood, excessive stress, new potourri or incense, the use of Carpet Fresh or paint -- none of which fit Mina's situation. It's possible that it might be an allergy, but the fact that only one eye was watering initially is very strange.

We left off with the agreement that I'd bring Mina in again in a week if she hasn't improved, or sooner if she starts producing infected mucous or goes off her food.

This is so, SO frustrating. The mystery is driving me crazy more than anything else, since Mina doesn't seem to be suffering. This morning she was scampering around, chasing after a bit of popcorn that George brushed off the couch, and begging for some of my breakfast yogurt.

GrrrrRRRRGGGGG! What an infuriating little beast. I love her dearly, but right now I'm very worried about her.

Comments

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

Try not to worry so -- there are a thousand minor things which might be responsible for her condition, and it may even clear up on it's own. (If the other cat smacked her with extended claws, one of the claws could have slid into the tear duct and some dirt has led to a slight infection, for example. Or she might have inhaled some sort of irritant particle.) As long as she's energetic, in good spirits, eating, and performing other bodily functions normally it's nothing immediately threatening. I know it's not possible *not* to worry, but try not to let it the anxiety mount. Odds are very good that she'll be perfectly healthy again in no time, and you've done everything possible by taking her to the vet. The rest has to manage itself.

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. :-)

I posted a question about her on Yahoo!Answers in the Cats section, and a couple of people have suggested that she might have feline herpes, which she could have caught in her mother's womb. It's highly contagious between cats but not to humans. In any case, even if it is that the flare-ups usually only last a week to ten days, and there are medications that can prevent future outbreaks. We'll have to take her to the vet at some point and get her tested, but it's not high priority.

I'm feeling a lot less worried about her now than I was a few hours ago. I think I've just been transferring the stress of the MM deadline onto other things.

[eastpath.livejournal.com]

Could it be the yogurt?

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Nope. I've been giving her yogurt for a few weeks, and she had no reaction to it.

I posted a question on Yahoo!Answers in the Cats section, and a couple of people have suggested that it might be feline herpes, which she could have caught while in her mother's womb. It's contagious to other cats but not to humans.

[eastpath.livejournal.com]

so essentially she has a cat cold-sore? oO

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Perhaps.

http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/rhinotracheitis/

She has some symptoms but not others. Unless she gets suddenly worse, having her testing isn't a priority right now -- it's not like we can do much about it. I'm going to let her be and take each day as it comes.

[eastpath.livejournal.com]

oh... so emmie can get it :(

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Yes she can, and probably already has if Mina is a carrier.

However, she seems to be perfectly fine and full of the beans, so I'm not going to let that worry me too much. That's a bridge to cross if and when we come to it.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

She sounds like a cat version of me from spring to autumn: sniffly and watery-eyed but keeps on keepin' on.

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

The vet did suggest that it might just be a seasonal thing, but of course we won't know for a few weeks. If she recovers and if it occurs again at roughly the same time next year... ding! We have a winner. :-)