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Please consult a veterinarian before deciding on any medical treatment for your pet!
Our cat has herpes that affects one eye. The vet told us there’s nothing to be done medically, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to give her some relief.
Over time I’ve tried a few different products, some helpful, some misleading, and one that delivers the best mix of comfort and results (for both of us). Here’s what I found.
Active ingredient: Hypochlorous acid (HOCl)
Form: Gel
This one’s hands-down my favorite. The gel texture is thick enough to stay where you drop it, but still liquid enough to drip onto her eyelid and gently rub in. She blinks it right into her eye, and afterward she genuinely looks more comfortable and wide-eyed for the rest of the day.
She, of course, sees the process as a combination of torture and high treason. But it doesn’t hurt her. She never vocalizes, just grooms herself indignantly and then accepts post-treatment treats like the (drama) queen she is.
If you’re dealing with chronic irritation from feline herpes or allergies, this kind of hypochlorous-acid gel is an excellent choice for daily comfort.
Active ingredient: Terramycin (antibiotic: oxytetracycline + polymyxin B)
Form: Thick ointment
This one was a surprise, and in an unsettling way. The box and description never clearly say it’s an antibiotic ointment. From the insert, it’s actually Terramycin, which means it should only be used for confirmed bacterial infections under a vet’s guidance.
Antibiotics won’t do anything for viral conditions like herpes, and overuse contributes to antibiotic resistance. It’s irresponsible marketing to sell it as a “pet eye health ointment” without that clarification.
Consistency-wise, it’s a stiff gel that needs warming between your fingers to even spread. I’ll be keeping this on hand in case of a future bacterial infection, but I can’t recommend it for daily soothing or viral irritation.
Active ingredient: Zinc ascorbate (vitamin C + zinc complex)
Form: Watery liquid drops
I’ve used this one the longest, mostly before I found the HICC PET gel. It does calm irritation, but the marketing is a miss. It calls itself an “advanced European homeopathic formula” full of vague wellness language, when the real active ingredient is just zinc ascorbate.
To its credit, the dropper bottle is convenient. You can drop or rub it onto the closed eye and they’ll blink it in. It’s watery but simple to use. And I appreciate that it’s made in the USA with human-grade ingredients. It’s fine for mild irritation unless your pet has a reaction to zinc ascorbate, in which case go for something milder.
| Product | Type | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HICC PET Dog Eye Gel | HOCl gel | Visible relief; stays in place; easy to see results | Application may be tricky (cat protests) | Everyday soothing for viral irritation |
| TERRAVISION Pet Eye Health Ointment | Antibiotic ointment | Useful for bacterial infections | Misleading labeling; too thick; wrong for viral irritation | Only for confirmed bacterial eye infections |
| Dr. Goodpet Eye-C | Zinc & vitamin C liquid | Easy to apply; USA-made; human-grade | Overblown claims; watery texture | Light soothing / preventive use |
If your cat has viral eye irritation (like herpes), skip the “homeopathic” marketing and the antibiotic ointments masquerading as gentle eye creams. What actually helps is simple: hypochlorous acid, ideally in a gel form that stays put.
For me, the winner is clear: HICC PET Dog Eye Gel. (The cat remains unconvinced, but she stopped squinting, so I count that as a win.)
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