The root of an eye infection...
Q Our nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier has an infection just below his right eye. We have bathed it but it keeps coming back. It doesn’t seem to bother him, but should we take him to the vet?
A A simple infection should have resolved itself with bathing. Improvement, followed by a relapse, points to an underlying cause that needs investigating and treating.
So a consultation with your vet is needed now.
I suspect this is an abscess of the carnassial tooth in the upper jaw. This is a large tooth with three roots which extend quite high up.
Root infection can cause an abscess which, if unable to drain through the tooth, will extend above the tooth roots into the maxillary sinus.
Eventually, infection breaks out, draining below the eye, but this is insufficient to be a permanent cure.
A course of antibiotics will temporarily improve the condition but the issue reoccurs when the antibiotics finish.
Although you mention it doesn’t seem to bother him, you may notice he tends to eat on one side, or resents you opening his mouth or touching his face.
Your vet may wish to X-ray the upper jaw to confirm the tooth root abscess and could remove the carnassial tooth to promote good drainage. The outlook is normally very good, with healing and normal eating in a week or so.
Root canal treatment is a more expensive option that avoids tooth removal, although not possible in all cases, and is a specialist procedure usually requiring a referral.
Q My vet says my six-year-old cat doesn’t need another feline enteritis booster vaccination for three years as the risk is small. He is an indoor cat, and there isn’t much enteritis around. Is feline enteritis no longer anything to worry about?
A Feline infectious enteritis, also known as feline panleukopenia or feline parvovirus, is a very unpleasant disease.
Vaccination has brought it to a currently low level, but I have seen several epidemic outbreaks in my career that have caused panic in cat owners.
And that panic is understandable due to the severity of the disease.
The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system, causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
There is also damage to the bone marrow, resulting in very low white cell counts (panleukopenia).
Because of this, affected cats often acquire secondary infections. In addition to vomiting and diarrhoea these include profound depression, dehydration and refusal to eat.
Many young unvaccinated cats die quickly, even with intensive treatment.
Common risk factors are multi-cat households and catteries, if vaccinations have been inadequate.
If you need to leave your cat in a cattery a recent booster will be required.
Vaccination gives good immunity and there are evidence-based guidelines on boosters from world authorities which your vet is following.
Indoor cats are less at risk, but the virus is very stable in the environment and can be brought in on shoes, for example.
Your vet will advise if the guidelines change, or if an outbreak occurs locally.