URI - Lysine question

brooklet425

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I know I've seen info on here about using lysine in the water bowls, but for some reason I'm having no luck with search at the moment.

I have several cats prone to URIs, most likely the result of herpes.

My newest kitten has had an almost constant URI since we got her about 2 months ago. She's been to the vet several times and is otherwise healthy, and the vet wants her immune system to fight this off on her own. He said he'll give her an antibiotic if it gets worse to get rid of any secondary bacterial infection.

In the meantime, it hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't really gotten better yet either. She never acts sick - she eats, drinks and plays normally, but she sneezes pretty often and has constant goopy discharge in her eyes (though her eyes have never sealed shut the way I've seen other kittens with bad URIs in the past). She also has a very slight clear nasal discharge that basically just looks like she has a slight wetness under her nose, but nothing worse.

I have Lysine treats for her and give them to her daily, but is there a better way to give her lysine? My vet loves these treats, and I suppose they're working since she isn't getting any worse, but they're also really expensive, so if there is a cheaper option that is a better way to give her the lysine I'm curious to know what it is! I know i've read stuff about putting it in water bowls, but where do I get the lysine and how much do I put in the water? I have 10 other cats in the house too who would all be sharing water bowls with her.

Aside from the lysine, is there any other way to deal with a constant URI? Or is this poor girl just going to suffer from it constantly for the rest of her life?
 

carolina

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Hi, this is the one I get, Now Foods L-Lysine; I get it from Amazon as it is usually the cheapest price around... It has 522 doses of 500mg, 100% L-Lysine. Here in my house I mix it directly on the water and fill the water fountain with the mixture, all my cats are on it and it has kept URIs at bay.
You can certainly mix it in the water bowl as well, or on the wet food...
Good luck!
 

ladyhitchhiker

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WHOA! That's a great deal! Way better than what I pay at the vet's office! I might have to remember that when I run out of my powder! Thanks!!
 
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brooklet425

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Thank you! This is five thousand times cheaper than the treats I've been using. At the vet they cost about $20 for a bag of treats, but I've been buying mine from entirelypets.com for about $12 a bag. So $15.89 for the pure stuff is definitely a MUCH better deal for me!

Two questions though, it says a serving size is 1/4 level teaspoon (I'm guessing thats the same as the 500mg you mentioned). Is that how much you put into the water, and if not, how much do you use (and is this per cat, or the same dose for everyone since they share a bowl)? Is it possible to overdose on lysine if I put too much in? I think thats my biggest fear. I don't want to give them a dose that's harmful to them.
 

carolina

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Originally Posted by Brooklet425

Thank you! This is five thousand times cheaper than the treats I've been using. At the vet they cost about $20 for a bag of treats, but I've been buying mine from entirelypets.com for about $12 a bag. So $15.89 for the pure stuff is definitely a MUCH better deal for me!

Two questions though, it says a serving size is 1/4 level teaspoon (I'm guessing thats the same as the 500mg you mentioned). Is that how much you put into the water, and if not, how much do you use (and is this per cat, or the same dose for everyone since they share a bowl)? Is it possible to overdose on lysine if I put too much in? I think thats my biggest fear. I don't want to give them a dose that's harmful to them.
I put 1/4 tsp per 5 1/2 oz of water, which is pretty much how much a cat drinks a day, mix in big pots and then fill the fountain with the mixture.
If your cats eat mostly wet food, they will drink less water, so you can just mix it right into their wet food - it barely tastes, they will not even notice it...

Yes, $15 for 522 doses is not bad at all! it lasts and lasts!
 

otto

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I put the pure l-lysine powder right in their food. This way I know each cat is getting the proper dose for him or her.

They seem to like the salty taste. Even Mazy, who eats the Hill's c/d kibble, eats it sprinkled over her kibble.

In fact I take it myself now too. I put my half teaspoon a day in my one tablespoon of ranch dressing I have every day with my daily carrot.

I use the Source Naturals brand. No particular reason except that it's the brand I started with 9 years ago, so I just stuck with it. I'm a "if it works don't fix it" type.
 
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brooklet425

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Originally Posted by GloriaJH

sorry - guess I have UTI's on my brain
Thanks anyway though
. My cats are actually on a prescription diet for UTIs and crystals, so we deal with both UTIs and URIs here in this house so no worries about getting the 2 mixed up...the UTIs seem to be under control for now though.

I ordered some of the lysine from Amazon, so hopefully this will help my cats and my wallet! DH was thrilled when I told him how much money we'd save by getting the pure lysine. So I am very, very thankful for this information!
 

taryn

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I add it to Attitude and Nuts' dry food, I figure they get enough of it since for the most part Attitude's stuff has cleared up, but since she's been on it for awhile and it only seemed minimally effective she could of just got out of her slump, or we found the right antibiotic.

It's easier since they get it and I don't have to try and separate them when I feed them canned since they share a 3.5 oz can nightly.

Taryn
 
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