lysine sources and forms

I suspect Archie has FHV. He had diagnosed conjunctivitis in his right eye last August, cleared up with Terramycin. But since then the eye has been a problem for him. It will spontaneously swell and sometimes puts out clear goop/weepy. This goes on for a day or two and then it retreats to pretty much normal. I keep close watch on it to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. Any sign of bacterial infection and whoosh.. he would be at the vet.

I talked this over with the vet; she suspects FHV, too. And of course, suggested 500 mg/daily of lysine. ( she did say there can be other underlying causes for the eye issue, but didn't elaborate.)

I am being lazy here ... I could search and sift through scores of posts, but I think it's just easier for me to ask outright:

Best brands? Sources (for purchase)? Powder or tablets? Ease of cat eating it mixed in his wet food??

He is on grain free dry, but there is some grain - mostly rice - in his wet food. He and the others won't eat the GF wets. Mostly GF treats too... They all adore the freeze-dried meats.

You can tell that the eye bothers him when this happens, but it doesn't seem to slow him down. I also don't notice any other URI viral symptoms, such as sneezing, nasal discharge, etc.

Oh, and I have Feliway running in the house.

ETA - no one else in the house is showing symptoms. Vet says they probably have immunity.

I use NOW and Source natural s ... both are low $ and have no other ingrediants

Price for NOW seems to be Amazon where a lb is 10$ local health food store 3.5 oz is 7$ ish

I also use NOW foods L-Lysine 1lb has 822 500mg doses, 100% pure L-Lysine that lazy Carolina mixes right in the water fountain for all the kitties in the house. Costs $10.90 plus shipping, cheap cheap!
It is cheap and tasteless enough to allow me to do so - problem solved overhere.... When Bugsy is on a flare up, I double it up by mixing another dose on his wet food.
1/4 tsp = 500mg.

I also use the NOW Brand powder in the gigantic size that Carolina posted. I mix it in my girl's wet food concoction with a bit of water added to help it dissolve.

Terrific! So I can put it in the water fountain? It won't get filtered out by the charcoal filter in the Drinkwell???

I, too, use the NOW brand of L-Lysine. Thank goodness I was turned on to that brand as I was paying a lot more for a lot less when purchasing Viralys from the pet store. I put it through my Drinkwell and don't have a problem with it at all. But, during flare-ups, I also add an additional dose to my cats' wet food (to make their dose 1g per day).

It's been a lifesaver for my cats. My Cassidy has the herpes virus and this has almost eliminated (knock on wood!) her flares. And, now with my kitten, it's helped him as well. It just works wonders. And the NOW brand is excellent -- I'd definitely recommend it to any cat owner.

Oh, and, yes, get it from Amazon. It's way cheaper there! And, I'm all about saving some money !

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Terrific! So I can put it in the water fountain? It won't get filtered out by the charcoal filter in the Drinkwell???

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Nope, it wont... That filter doesn't filter much, I think it filters more lint, sediment, and things that are not completely dissolved in the water. The L-Lysine dissolves completely in it. It works very well in here... Since I started adding to the fountain, Bugsy never got another flare up... not one!
I just mix it in the water every week when I wash/change it, and done!

I also use the Now brand lysine powder. By far the best value and easiest to administer...I just mix it into their food and they have no idea it's there!

There are also some fairly new Lysine treats on the market that most cats absolutely LOVE. My cats go nuts for them, even at the vet's office, when most cats will not eat a treat, they eat these: Lysine Treats

(5 treats = 250mg of Lysine)

I use Viralys, but I do not use the paste form, I use the powder form, which is MUCH cheaper than the paste form. You sprinkle it on the food twice daily.

Okie

Originally Posted by Okie89

I use Viralys, but I do not use the paste form, I use the powder form, which is MUCH cheaper than the paste form. You sprinkle it on the food twice daily.

Okie

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Okie, you might want to check Now foods... It is a fraction of the price of Vyralis... Vyralis powder, in a CHEAP place, costs about $12.50 for 3.5oz... Now foods cost $10 for 1lb...HUGE difference... Just a tip

Originally Posted by Carolina

Okie, you might want to check Now foods... It is a fraction of the price of Vyralis... Vyralis powder, in a CHEAP place, costs about $12.50 for 3.5oz... Now foods cost $10 for 1lb...HUGE difference... Just a tip

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Thanks for the tip! I work at a veterinary clinic, so I get the Viralys at cost.

I'll look into the NOW foods, though... Thanks!

Okie