MrCat's eye infection

[Dilbertian]

On Thursday vet gave MrCat chloramphenicol ointment for an eye infection. I don't remember how long we're supposed to use it for, and there's nothing on the dispensing label.

Also, vet said he couldn't tell whether MrCat's lower eyelid was turning in because of the infection, or the infection was causing the eyelid to turn in. So the plan is to see what happens once the infection is cured, before deciding whether the eyelid needs surgery.

Any advice or experiences?

Please keep a close check on his eye. Last Friday I had to take my gorgeous 16 year old cat because I thought he had an infection - he didn't, his eye had completely burst open. It was awful. I had to have him put to sleep straight away.

That is heart breaking. Poor cat, and poor you.

Our boy is on chloramphenicol at the moment and we’ve been told to do every 6 hours for 10 days. I’m not sure if that’s standard for everyone though.

Penelope has been on chloramphenicol most of the year for ulcers. Her eyes were to big for her head! She also had the eyelashes growing inwards in some areas of her lids. She's had surgery to fix it, and the shape of her lids. It's spoiled her pretty face. But she's so much happier!

@Toddlerteaplease, does Penelope forgive you? MrCat is so upset by having the ointment put in his eye. It takes two of us, one to immobilise and one to hold his eye open and put the stuff in. We're gentle, and we cuddle him and scratch him and hum to him, but then we have to keep hold of him as he tries to wash the stuff out if we don't. And sometimes he cries that heartbreaking throaty moan while we're doing it. Afterwards he's afraid of us and flinches or runs away. For all that MrCat's a big bruiser and the terror of his territory, he's a nervous softie when it comes to people.

She's been in and off them since February. She doesn't trust me when I go anywhere near her. Shes actually really clever so knows when I'm after her. I find chloramphenicol drops much easier than ointment to administer. Fortunately now she's had corrective surgery, we won't need to do it any more. Poor thing has had 15 moths of being poked and prodded and medicated. She is fairly forgiving though!

MrCat needs a cone collar. Vet said he'd give us one, but is the hard sort better than the soft sort? Ought I buy a soft one? MrCat is big, 6kg. Any recommendations?