Companion Animals

Cat FHV Herpesvirus: Chronic Management and Corneal Welfare

Feline herpesvirus causes lifelong latent infection with welfare implications for recurrent ocular and respiratory disease.

Key Facts

FHV-1 causes acute upper respiratory infection and establishes lifelong latency in trigeminal ganglion
Stress-related recrudescence causes corneal ulceration and dendritic keratitis
Lysine supplementation has been used for recurrence prevention though evidence is mixed
Antiviral eye drops including cidofovir reduce corneal disease severity during outbreaks

Welfare Considerations

Corneal herpesvirus ulcers are acutely painful and can cause permanent scarring and vision loss. Cats with chronic FHV experience recurrent painful eye disease triggered by stress. Stress reduction and antiviral treatment during outbreaks directly reduce duration of eye pain.

What You Can Do

Seek ophthalmological assessment for cats with recurrent eye ulcers or corneal cloudiness
Reduce stress triggers for FHV-positive cats prone to recurrent outbreaks
Discuss antiviral eye drops with your vet for active corneal FHV disease