Symptoms

• The FHV-1 virus causes ocular swelling, discharge, conjunctivitis and clouding of the cornea. The cat might also squint a lot and seem to have difficulty seeing. FHV-1 can also cause symptoms of upper respiratory infection, including sneezing and nasal discharge. The cat might also be lethargic and have little appetite.
  
  

Diagnosis

• The FHV-1 virus is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Current diagnostic tests aren't that reliable, so vets often rule out other causes for eye issues. If there isn't another bacterial or viral infection present, the cat hasn't been injured or there isn't a congenital deformity, the vet usually assumes FHV-1 is the cause.
  
  

Treatment

• There is no cure for FHV-1. After an initial outbreak, the virus can go dormant for years or might never become active again. The infected cat will always be a carrier. Treatment for an outbreak is usually a combination of oral and topical medications to increase eye lubrication, treat any secondary bacterial infections and provide pain relief. Antivirals can treat an outbreak but will only be prescribed if the cat has a serious case and is in good health overall .Surgery is only required in advanced cases to minimize damage or to remove an eye that is beyond treatment.
  
  

Complications

• When dormant, the virus will not cause symptoms. During flareups, FHV-1 can cause corneal scarring or degeneration, both of which can lead to permanent vision loss. After an outbreak, your cat's eye might water frequently, and there is no cure or preventative. Kittens have a much higher rate of mortality from FHV-1 than adult cats. Adult cats rarely die from FHV-1, and usually only then from complications related to no treatment. If your cat has FHV-1, it is important to keep its environment as stress-free as possible to avoid future flareups. L-Lysine is an amino acid that can help inhibit flareups of FHV-1.
  
  

Transmissibility

• Up to 90 percent of all cats could be infected with FHV-1, and many are infected at birth from their mothers. Most will remain carriers without symptoms ever appearing. Elderly cats, young kittens and cats with compromised immune systems are most at risk. FHV-1 is species-specific and will not transmit to humans or other pets. Multiple-cat households have a greater risk of infection among all members, because FHV-1 is easily passed in nasal and ocular discharge, even when the infected cat isn't currently having a flareup.