Sneezing & Stuffy Nose!

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

Wow that was fast! The Lysine's here!

Should I wait to start him on it (after speaking with the vet Monday, or after he's done with his antibiotics (8 more days)), or just go for it? I can't see how it would do any harm, but just in case it would react weirdly with antibiotics, I thought I'd ask.

1/4 tsp once a day (500mg), yes?

I have so much hope!

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Just go for it, there won't be a reaction with the antibiotics... Your kitty will be on it for life, through antibiotics, and everything else he goes through.
I would give him 1,000mg (1g) now during the flare up), and 500 mg for life.
Yes, 1/4tsp = 500mg.
I would mix it in the water fountain to make his maintenance dose as I PM'd you, PLUS I would add another 500mg on his wet food every day.
Once he is better, leave him only with the Lysine on the water, that will suffice.

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

Wow that was fast! The Lysine's here!

Should I wait to start him on it (after speaking with the vet Monday, or after he's done with his antibiotics (8 more days)), or just go for it? I can't see how it would do any harm, but just in case it would react weirdly with antibiotics, I thought I'd ask.

1/4 tsp once a day (500mg), yes?

I have so much hope!

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Though I do not believe it would react with the meds I would suggest a quick call to the vet as they should have some books that would have possible interactions

Originally Posted by Carolina

Just go for it, there won't be a reaction with the antibiotics... Your kitty will be on it for life, through antibiotics, and everything else he goes through.
I would give him 1,000mg (1g) now during the flare up), and 500 mg for life.
Yes, 1/4tsp = 500mg.
I would mix it in the water fountain to make his maintenance dose as I PM'd you, PLUS I would add another 500mg on his wet food every day.
Once he is better, leave him only with the Lysine on the water, that will suffice.

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Thanks Carolina -- he is upstairs, where he just has a small bowl of water. The fountain is downstairs with the other two, so we didn't do that part yet, but I DID mix up 4 cups with 1 tsp into a special jug ready to pour for him when he needs topping off. So he has one dose in his water already, and I added 1/4 tsp to some wet food for him. Just out of curiosity, I tasted the water, and you really CAN'T taste it. He drank a good healthy dose of the water (and is drinking more right now, actually), and had a bit of the wet food.

So here's hoping for results! I realize we might have to wait for 2-3 weeks to see improvement, but I'll be watching him like a hawk for any signs...

I know I shouldn't say this, because of COURSE you guys will understand -- but I can't believe how in love with him I am, after only 2 weeks with him. He just seems to happy and playful, and if we can get him healthy, it will be the least I can do for him, for he's already supplied my partner and I with such love and laughter. He is so full of spunk and life! I can't wait for a lifetime of funny stories and sweet purrs.

I love my other cats so much it hurts (and the new little girl I've only had for the same amount of time), so of course I understand, but at the same time, my other cats came with no "strings" attached, per se. They were healthy. No extra effort, except for getting Rosalita spayed. Even with the trials and tribulations that we've gone through the past 2 weeks (not all which have been health-related - it's also been 3am playtime related ), he just seems so WORTH IT.

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

Thanks Carolina -- he is upstairs, where he just has a small bowl of water. The fountain is downstairs with the other two, so we didn't do that part yet, but I DID mix up 4 cups with 1 tsp into a special jug ready to pour for him when he needs topping off. So he has one dose in his water already, and I added 1/4 tsp to some wet food for him. Just out of curiosity, I tasted the water, and you really CAN'T taste it. He drank a good healthy dose of the water (and is drinking more right now, actually), and had a bit of the wet food.

So here's hoping for results! I realize we might have to wait for 2-3 weeks to see improvement, but I'll be watching him like a hawk for any signs...

I know I shouldn't say this, because of COURSE you guys will understand -- but I can't believe how in love with him I am, after only 2 weeks with him.

He just seems to happy and playful, and if we can get him healthy, it will be the least I can do for him, for he's already supplied my partner and I with such love and laughter. He is so full of spunk and life! I can't wait for a lifetime of funny stories and sweet purrs.

I love my other cats so much it hurts (and the new little girl I've only had for the same amount of time), so of course I understand, but at the same time, my other cats came with no "strings" attached, per se. They were healthy. No extra effort, except for getting Rosalita spayed. Even with the trials and tribulations that we've gone through the past 2 weeks (not all which have been health-related - it's also been 3am playtime related

), he just seems so WORTH IT.

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Of course you can say these things here!
Isn't it amazing how they have us wrapped around all over their little paws? My three own me... big time! Oh... They are my babies! I will do everything and anything for them... I love them SO much!
I totally understand you! We all do here at TCS
I hope your baby gets better really soon, and that this is herpes... if it is, this can very well be the last time you will be dealing with this.
For me it was like this... Once Bugsy went on Lysine, all gone - never again he had a flare up. NEVER. His vet says that Lysine is pretty much the only thing that he knows to work, for cats, besides traditional meds.
I will be crossing my fingers.
Ah, I know you don't like giving them wet food everyday, but it is really ok... Good for them, if you are worried, it is even better for their health... So, this wet food he is having everyday is going to be good for him too.
Yeah, if it makes you feel better, call your vet tomorrow to say you are giving it to her... I am sure will say it is ok... The only interactions I know of, with antibiotics, are when Lysine is taken in massive doses, which is not the case here. Bugsy has been in several different antibiotics, never had an issue, and it was never an issue with any of his 3 vets who prescribed antibiotics, so...

I'm so glad I found this site! My kitty has FHV and my husband and I are at our wits end trying to help him feel better. I adopted a brother and sister from the local shelter and they were both so dehydrated and sick (URI, ear mites, ring worm). Turned out that they both have FHV, the boy shows symptoms but the girl is only a carrier. I have had them for 2 years now and we've done several rounds of antibiotics with him. The vet has never mentioned L-Lysine before. I read through all the posts and y'all mentioned putting it in their water. I have a fountain with a carbon filter. How will that effect the medicine in the water? I went to amazon and already purchased it. Now I just have to wait for it to get here. I'm so excited that we may have found something that can help him longterm! Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by Riley

I'm so glad I found this site! My kitty has FHV and my husband and I are at our wits end trying to help him feel better. I adopted a brother and sister from the local shelter and they were both so dehydrated and sick (URI, ear mites, ring worm). Turned out that they both have FHV, the boy shows symptoms but the girl is only a carrier. I have had them for 2 years now and we've done several rounds of antibiotics with him. The vet has never mentioned L-Lysine before. I read through all the posts and y'all mentioned putting it in their water. I have a fountain with a carbon filter. How will that effect the medicine in the water? I went to amazon and already purchased it. Now I just have to wait for it to get here. I'm so excited that we may have found something that can help him longterm! Thanks so much!

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Hi there!!! I put it right in my water fountain as well, as do quite a few of us... I just use one of those coffee makers carafe, and for each "cup" measurement of water I add 1/4 tsp, which is 500mg. Those measure "cups" are much less thant the regular 8oz cups, and more in line with the qty of water that cats drink a day... So... if you have a coffee maker at home, get its carafe, wash it very (very) well, as that's an easy way to measure it... The carbon filter work more for lint and sediments then for anything else... the lysine dissolves completely, and it is not filtered on it. This has worked well for us, and since I started, Bugsy has never again had another Flare up. In the beginning, when he had a flare, I would give him double dose - what is in the water, plus another 500mg on his wet food a day, until he got better.
His vet wants him to be on for life... It is fantastic, it has been a life saver for Bugsy!

Thank you so much Carolina! I can't wait to get it in the mail! And just curious, but is Amazon the cheapest place to get it? I used the link that was provided in an earlier post and just bought it right away (due to my excitement) without shopping around. It was a 1lb powder for around 10 dollars.

Originally Posted by Riley

Thank you so much Carolina! I can't wait to get it in the mail! And just curious, but is Amazon the cheapest place to get it? I used the link that was provided in an earlier post and just bought it right away (due to my excitement) without shopping around. It was a 1lb powder for around 10 dollars.

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it is... considering at the local store 3.5 oz is 7$

Originally Posted by Riley

Thank you so much Carolina! I can't wait to get it in the mail! And just curious, but is Amazon the cheapest place to get it? I used the link that was provided in an earlier post and just bought it right away (due to my excitement) without shopping around. It was a 1lb powder for around 10 dollars.

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It really really is... One day I ran out of it, and went around town looking for it... Found at the local store - same brand... $35... Said noooo.... Thank you very much!
As Sharky said, 3.5 oz at local stores, $7... At the vets, they Sell Lysine 3.5 oz for $17-$18... So... this is reaaaaalllyy good!

Thanks once again! Y'all saved me from a lot of shopping around and comparing.

Just a small aside:
And I can't even begin to express how happy I am to have found this site. I have read through many threads and y'all are so helpful and care so much about your furry family members! =)

Originally Posted by Riley

Thanks once again! Y'all saved me from a lot of shopping around and comparing.

Just a small aside:
And I can't even begin to express how happy I am to have found this site. I have read through many threads and y'all are so helpful and care so much about your furry family members! =)

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That we do!!!
And I see you are yet another one from Texas! Welcome to TCS!!! Please do stick around... this is a great place!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad this post has helped someone else, too!

I'm going to go ahead and put it in the water downstairs for the downstairs cats. I had to clean the fountain anyway, so I just went ahead and made up a batch. I figure it won't hurt them. And I am doubling Butters' doses upstairs. And I also am thinking of getting another fountain, because I need the filters anyway, and ours is black (which shows the water splash droplets, and I'm a crazy person and that bothers me). That has nothing to do with anything.

Anyone know how long he should be separated? I'm no vet, and I'm new to this, but I just don't understand why he NEEDS to be if we really think it's herpes. The other cats probably already have it, or if they don't, they will in time anyway. There's a chance it's NOT, but I think since it didn't respond to any of the antibiotics, it probably IS.

AND speaking of antibiotics, is there anything I can do to help him? He's not even halfway through his 10-day dose, and I can tell it's giving him the poopies. He's eating and drinking plenty, so I think he's ok for now as far as being dehydrated from that, but I'm a little concerned nonetheless.

The vet wanted to keep him separated for 3-4 weeks (which would be about the first of April), but I'm really wanting him to get down there and get to know his new house. I've held him in my arms and let the other two cats see him, and there were no hisses or growls. Just curious kitties. Both of my two downstairs babies seem to be social, so I think everyone will get along.

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

I'm so glad this post has helped someone else, too!

I'm going to go ahead and put it in the water downstairs for the downstairs cats. I had to clean the fountain anyway, so I just went ahead and made up a batch. I figure it won't hurt them. And I am doubling Butters' doses upstairs. And I also am thinking of getting another fountain, because I need the filters anyway, and ours is black (which shows the water splash droplets, and I'm a crazy person and that bothers me). That has nothing to do with anything.

Anyone know how long he should be separated? I'm no vet, and I'm new to this, but I just don't understand why he NEEDS to be if we really think it's herpes. The other cats probably already have it, or if they don't, they will in time anyway. There's a chance it's NOT, but I think since it didn't respond to any of the antibiotics, it probably IS.

AND speaking of antibiotics, is there anything I can do to help him? He's not even halfway through his 10-day dose, and I can tell it's giving him the poopies.

He's eating and drinking plenty, so I think he's ok for now as far as being dehydrated from that, but I'm a little concerned nonetheless.

The vet wanted to keep him separated for 3-4 weeks (which would be about the first of April), but I'm really wanting him to get down there and get to know his new house. I've held him in my arms and let the other two cats see him, and there were no hisses or growls. Just curious kitties. Both of my two downstairs babies seem to be social, so I think everyone will get along.

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About the diarrhea: as soon as he finishes the antibiotics, start him o a good probiotic to rebuild his flora: I like Bene-Bac... This is also great to have home for anytime your kitties have diarrhea, or to give them regularly, on their wet food...
But diarrhea during antibiotics, unfortunately is normal... If it gets to be too much, several times a day, call the vet.
As for introducing the kitty to the other kitties: The only objection I have to that is increasing the stress to him. As a herpes kitty, you want to minimize the stress, and introductions can be stressful...
You can try and play it by ear... (as long as they are all UTD on their shots and the new kitty tested for FIV and Leukemia negative, of course)... If you feel he is doing fine, the continue with the introductions... A little at time...
I would not do too much during his flare up - the least amount of stress the better. I am not concerned about the other kitties... I am more concerned bout him...

Originally Posted by Carolina

About the diarrhea: as soon as he finishes the antibiotics, start him o a good probiotic to rebuild his flora: I like Bene-Bac... This is also great to have home for anytime your kitties have diarrhea, or to give them regularly, on their wet food...
But diarrhea during antibiotics, unfortunately is normal... If it gets to be too much, several times a day, call the vet.
As for introducing the kitty to the other kitties: The only objection I have to that is increasing the stress to him. As a herpes kitty, you want to minimize the stress, and introductions can be stressful...
You can try and play it by ear... (as long as they are all UTD on their shots and the new kitty tested for FIV and Leukemia negative, of course)... If you feel he is doing fine, the continue with the introductions... A little at time...
I would not do too much during his flare up - the least amount of stress the better. I am not concerned about the other kitties... I am more concerned bout him...

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Thanks Carolina. It's not so much diarrhea, but I can tell he's definitely going several times a day, and it's softer than normal. So I'm sure it's not pleasant. And it seems as though it's been so urgent that he's missed the box a little a few times (he's been standing up too high, probably). I have a towel there, and I've been cleaning out the entire box (not just scooping) every few days, but scooping every time I pass it by and notice that it's been used. Normally, I scoop the boxes twice a week (I have 4 in the basement -- this was when we only had the one cat though, so I'm thinking I should get a few more boxes or make it a daily trip to the basement, sort of a ritual when I go to get them some wet food, now that I've decided to try wet food more often with them), but I sort of want to make sure everything is pristine with this new little guy (and not to mention the box is in plain site in our office hallway, since he's up here, and not able to go to the basement boxes).

I'll order some of the Bene-Bac to have on hand, and I'll start him up on it the day after he finishes. I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I'm imagining that he's sounding better already (I haven't seen any super boogers in a few days), but I'm sure he'll need at least 2-3 weeks for the Lysine to kick in, right?

Hi Staceyloobug,
You can also try giving Butters a tablespoon of canned pumpkin (make sure you get pure pumpkin only, not the pie filling with sugar & spices) for a few days while he's on the antibiotics. The fiber in the pumpkin will help firm up his stools. This will be a good quick fix while you're waiting for the Bene-Bac to arrive.

I don't recommend just giving pumpkin for all diarrhea problems, you always want to know and fix the cause. But, since we know this is because of the antibiotics - the pumpkin should help within several hours.

ETA - I've always read that Lysine takes several weeks to be effective, but I noticed it worked faster than that with my herpes girl. And, I also notice that if I've missed a couple of doses, she starts to have a flare up. So, do stay vigilant with your Lysine dosing! Don't worry about giving too much, excess will just come out in his urine.

I also agree with Carolina that introducing them now is probably fine for the health of the other kitties, but may slow down his recovery if it's too stressful. As you now know, stress does bring on herpes flare ups. You're doing great. Please continue to keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Staceyloobug

Thanks Carolina. It's not so much diarrhea, but I can tell he's definitely going several times a day, and it's softer than normal. So I'm sure it's not pleasant. And it seems as though it's been so urgent that he's missed the box a little a few times (he's been standing up too high, probably). I have a towel there, and I've been cleaning out the entire box (not just scooping) every few days, but scooping every time I pass it by and notice that it's been used. Normally, I scoop the boxes twice a week (I have 4 in the basement -- this was when we only had the one cat though, so I'm thinking I should get a few more boxes or make it a daily trip to the basement, sort of a ritual when I go to get them some wet food, now that I've decided to try wet food more often with them), but I sort of want to make sure everything is pristine with this new little guy (and not to mention the box is in plain site in our office hallway, since he's up here, and not able to go to the basement boxes).

I'll order some of the Bene-Bac to have on hand, and I'll start him up on it the day after he finishes. I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I'm imagining that he's sounding better already (I haven't seen any super boogers in a few days), but I'm sure he'll need at least 2-3 weeks for the Lysine to kick in, right?

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Lysine does take 2-3 weeks to kick in, but it can happen faster too... Keep in mind that the antibiotics are also kicking in on the secondary infections, so your boy is getting better all around. The full effects for Lysine you will see within a month - but I am saying the FULL effects, that doesn't mean you are not going to see any effects before... you will...
I say probably you will be free of these attacks very soon !!!
About the poop - make sure you are cleaning it with a good enzyme cleaner, so she doesn't keep going back to the same place... A regular carpet cleaner will not do it
And definitely scooping the box daily is a must... I never replace my litter, so... I just scoop and clean the box walls daily, but I do not drop the litter off and replace it...

I've done a lot worse than worry about herpes transmission. I brought my 2 leukemia positive kittens inside with a very leukemia negative Maude. We introduced them the day Maude had her leukemia vaccination. They lived together for months before Maude crossed the RB from liver failure. They tested her and she was still leukemia negative. They shared food and water bowls(they all had their own but they liked to eat out of each others bowls.) they also shared litter boxes(they used all of them equally.) Leukemia can be easily transmitted and is fatal, so herpes isn't anything in my mind. I will say that quite a few cats have been exposed and their immune system just fought it off, so their only lasting thing of that is a lifelong immunity to it(like chickenpox, you have it once and are immune so you never get it again.) Also as an adult cat it is very hard for them to catch it. Attitude and Nuts most likely had it transmitted to them before they were born(and they are both barely positive.) The amount of leukemia it takes to infect 100% of newborn kittens would only infect 30% or fewer adult cats.

I know Attitude most likely has herpes(she has a never ending eye infection) the vet has put her on lysine so hopefully she clears up. Nuts who is her brother and has the same compromised immune system remains herpes free as far as I can tell. They have been exposed to each other since birth and due to the leukemia have lowered immune systems(it's like human AIDS or FIV feline AIDS) and only one has it. Most cats are immune to it since Maude was fine on that as well. Like with the leukemia some cats immune systems will just fight it off so most have already been exposed and same as the leukemia they have a lifelong immunity to it.

I honestly wouldn't worry about your other cats and herpes but then again I knowingly brought in 2 kittens with a fatal contagious disease and exposed a non-infected cat to it, so I might not be one to talk.

Personally I'd introduce the cats as long as they don't really stress each other it should be fine. If he shows signs of stress separate them again until he recovers. You never know how it will turn out until you try. There was not much stress after the initial introduction in which I had to bring them into the living room(they were too afraid of the 'big kitty'(Maude was 14 lbs), but really there was some hissing and paw smacks and even Maude taking both Attitude and Nuts' entire heads in her mouth(they were fine but she was letting them know when she had had enough, Attitude kept shoving her tail in Maude's mouth so she couldn't hiss at her), but no one was stressed. They eventually just tolerated each other but were never friends but Maude would put up with Attitude more than Nuts. Like I said you never know until you try so if you want to try it, but if he starts getting stressed then separate them again.

Also, daily litter box cleaning is a must I have only had to replace litter once because if I missed a day or 2 because I was sick and Paul won't do the boxes. It's not nasty or stinky but just enough that the outside cats will get it in their litter box instead of keeping it inside. I'm doing it right now, I filled the outside box with the litter from the bathroom box. When it needs to be changed(I lose the litter when it rains it becomes a solid clump) I will empty one of the kitchen boxes in there. I haven't done a complete litter change ever and I don't really have to do one now, but like I said the litter is at the just enough stage from me not getting the box for a day or 2 that it's better served giving it to the outside cats.

Taryn

This not changing the litter ever thing amazes me. Normally (and maybe it's the litter I use), after so long, the litter becomes a darker shade that I always assumed meant that it was dirty. So I changed the whole box. Maybe I don't have to.

I use Tidy Cat scoopable, because it's the biggest container I can get (40lb) at a time. It does seem to last FOREVER.

I think I'll leave Butters up here for now...and wait until the antibiotic is finished at least before letting him wander around downstairs. I may let him down there supervised for a few minutes, just to see how he does. He honestly doesn't seem to care one way or the other about Domino or Rosalita, the two times I've been holding him. He's too busy looking around the room at all the new sights.

If you scoop the litter daily (or twice daily in some cases), the litter will last longer. You generally should change the boxes once a year.

Intriguing for me too...I have an extra large box for 2 cats. I scoop 2-3x daily and I change out the litter and bleach the box about every 3 weeks. More and more, I've been loading the box deep and hope this will allow me to go 4 weeks between cleaning the box.

Perhaps it depends on the litter used? I now use Swheat Scoop. When I used to use pine, I was dumping out and cleaning the box every 4-5 days. I quickly switched litter. So much easier now.