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Boosting the immune system.. what to use?

post #1 of 8
1/9/12 at 8:36am
Thread Starter 

I want to supplement my cat's diet with something to boost their immune system. they've been getting sick lately (pink eye, ringworm..) and I want to boost their system.

 

Any suggestions?

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post #2 of 8
1/9/12 at 8:50am
Interferon is the generally cited supplement to boost the immune system, but it is very expensive. I am no expert but I have used two things to boost the immune system, Transfer Factor and L-lysine. Both are inexpensoive and can be obtained on-line. Transfer Factor is processed from colostrum, the naturally produced 'first milk' that confers the mother's immunity to calves. I used it for six months in a case where a cat had been exposed to a house where two cats had died from FIP in a short space of time. There is of course no guarantee that it worked, but four years later there is no sign of any sickness. There is a human version and an animal version, but either can be used.
I give L-lysine to one of my cats with Herpes and it seems to have made a huge improvement in the number of flare-ups and eye infections. Again, no guarantees that it is the lysine that does it, but for me it has corresponded. The normal dosage for a cat is from 500-1000 mg daily, and it is impossible to overdose. There are a number of TCS members who use both these substances to help immune systems and boost general health. If you ask vets, opinion may be divided, but they are both harmless substances, so the only thing that may suffer is your wallet.
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post #3 of 8
1/9/12 at 9:05am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the awesome response! I really appreciate it and it helps a lot :)

 

if anyone else has input, please put it in!

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post #4 of 8
1/9/12 at 9:40am
Just adding in on the L-Lysine. Perla has a Herpes virus flare-up going on right now. I am giving her 500 mg. Lysine am & pm. at the moment. I was worried about it looking like ringworm too as her ears are all red to now. BUT she was already tested for ringworm and it was negative. I have also heard of Transfer Factor but have not tried as of yet. Good luck and hope Monet is feeling better soon smile.gif.vibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #5 of 8
1/9/12 at 9:43am

I would add that feeding the best food you can afford (and the cats will eat) is probably the most important factor with immunity. To me, that means no dry food and only high quality (ie no by-products, minimal plant matter, no chemical preservatives or added colouring) wet food. Minimizing stress is also a good idea, if possible. Using Transfer Factor is a great recommendation (I would use the Classic human version over the pet version though).

 

Just a word of caution with L-lysine: it does interfere with arginine (which is why it's effective against the herpes virus, which needs arginine to replicate), and since arginine is an essential amino acid for cats, too much L-lysine over the long-term may potentially cause an arginine deficiency. The recommended maintenance dose for L-lysine is about 250mg/day, as per the comments at this link: http://www.holisticat.com/uri.html

 

Quote:

Supplements:

  • L-Lysine* – 500mg for up to a week, then 250mg maintenance dose

 

*Unfortunately, cats that recover from the herpes and calici virus tend to become carriers and “shed” the virus throughout their life particularly in times of stress. If your cat has a flare-up of symptoms, 500mg of the amino acid L-Lysine works very effectively. Cats need the amino acid arginine, and since lysine and arginine compete with each other, do not exceed a maintenance dose of 250mg on a long-term basis.

 

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post #6 of 8
1/9/12 at 10:25am
Thread Starter 

thanks Sugarcat :)

 

He's on Soulistic and Trader Joes.. the best food I can afford in my price range. He doesn't eat dry. Great advice, thanks!

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post #7 of 8
1/9/12 at 2:38pm

I'm wondering if using a good probiotic would help too, like Proviable-DC?  My thinking is that if the intestines are freed up to work as well as possible, then all nutrients can be used by their little bodies, so they should be healthier.  I could be wrong (probably am), but then again, there might be some merit to it!!

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post #8 of 8
1/9/12 at 2:53pm
Yep, I was going to recommend the Transfer Factor. It's cheaper if you buy the human, but use the cat recommended dose. smile.gif I think a good probiotic is always a good idea (the best are the kind you get a health food store - have to be refrigerated agree.gif Just plain acidophilus is good, but I buy acidophilus + bifidus, because that's what they sell there laughing02.gif ), and we also use the L-lysine! smile.gif

vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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