L-Lysine questions please.....

bekkacat

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I am fairly certain my cat Yoda has the herpes virus and has passed it to my other cat King. Yoda shows much more severe symptoms than King, i.e. very bad eye discharge that causes his long fur to mat up and his eyes get crusted shut, very bad sneezing and congestion sometimes with blood and during a very bad flare up he wheezes. King has mild eye discharge and sneezing. I am certain it's not a bacterial infection because the vet has given many different antibiotics with no success, he gets better for about a week maybe 2 (not cured mind you, just better) then it's right back to the bad symptoms. Now I say that I am fairly certain it's herpes, but as the vet has not brought it up, I am not 100%. Though, seeing as Lysine is not harmful to cats, I figured I'd give it to them and see if they get better, especially Yoda. 
 

ctimney

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Hi there! I really hope someone can help me. My hubby and I just adopted a kitten from our local shelter who had a URI a few months before we got him. We brought him into a house with 4 other cats who were perfectly healthy. A few weeks later he started sneezing really bad so I took him to the vet and he was put on Doxycycline... Which really helped him. The very next week, one of our cats started sneezing and doing this weird thing with her head, so I took her to the vet and they put her on Clavamox and Carafate. The very next day she stopped eating. I had to syringe feed her for several days and took her to a different vet who gave her IV fluids and switched her over to the Doxycycline. Then 2 more of our cats started sneezing, so I immediately started them on the Doxy. Then a couple days later, our last cat got it. I ended up taking the cat who want eating back to the vet and she put her on Mirtazipan... An appetite stimulant and also some other drug that is a antihistamine. Now she is at least eating on her own. This has all taken place over the last 11 days. I was reading online about L-Lysine, so I just went to Petsmart and picked some up and gave them all their first dose. How long does it usually take for the L-Lysine to take effect and really help their URI? After the URI is cleared, should I continue to keep them on the l-lysine as a maintenenc? As you could imagine, its been quite sad and stressful trying to care for 5 cats with URIs, so any suggestions on what I can do to prevent it from coming back, it would be soooo greatly appreciated. I just love my fur babies so much and it hurts me to see them sick. Thanks so much for your help!!!!!
 

wolflover326

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Hi there! I really hope someone can help me. My hubby and I just adopted a kitten from our local shelter who had a URI a few months before we got him. We brought him into a house with 4 other cats who were perfectly healthy. A few weeks later he started sneezing really bad so I took him to the vet and he was put on Doxycycline... Which really helped him. The very next week, one of our cats started sneezing and doing this weird thing with her head, so I took her to the vet and they put her on Clavamox and Carafate. The very next day she stopped eating. I had to syringe feed her for several days and took her to a different vet who gave her IV fluids and switched her over to the Doxycycline. Then 2 more of our cats started sneezing, so I immediately started them on the Doxy. Then a couple days later, our last cat got it. I ended up taking the cat who want eating back to the vet and she put her on Mirtazipan... An appetite stimulant and also some other drug that is a antihistamine. Now she is at least eating on her own. This has all taken place over the last 11 days. I was reading online about L-Lysine, so I just went to Petsmart and picked some up and gave them all their first dose. How long does it usually take for the L-Lysine to take effect and really help their URI? After the URI is cleared, should I continue to keep them on the l-lysine as a maintenenc? As you could imagine, its been quite sad and stressful trying to care for 5 cats with URIs, so any suggestions on what I can do to prevent it from coming back, it would be soooo greatly appreciated. I just love my fur babies so much and it hurts me to see them sick. Thanks so much for your help!!!!!
So sorry to hear your babies are sick! I adopted a 6month old kitten from a rescue a little over a year ago. To make a long story short, he had feline herpes (even though she said he was healthy- her vet couldn't verify who the cat was). I started all my cats on L-Lysine (the powder because it lasts longer and easier to put into food). I was using it daily as a maintenance up until a few months ago. I began working at a vet's office and one of the vets had recently read an article on the Lysine that said there were issues using it like that (that didn't show until years down the road). However, she said it was fine to use when they began showing symptoms. She could not remember specific issues that the cats had.

So, I use it for all my cats when one cat begins to show symptoms (sneezing, "winking", runny eyes), and I use it for about a week after all symptoms stop for all my cats. Since URI's and Herpes are highly contagious, I just bet that if one has it, they'll all have it. So far, using it like this has helped with their outbreaks, and it saves me money and product since I'm not using so much. They've only had one outbreak since I cut back.
 

wolflover326

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I am fairly certain my cat Yoda has the herpes virus and has passed it to my other cat King. Yoda shows much more severe symptoms than King, i.e. very bad eye discharge that causes his long fur to mat up and his eyes get crusted shut, very bad sneezing and congestion sometimes with blood and during a very bad flare up he wheezes. King has mild eye discharge and sneezing. I am certain it's not a bacterial infection because the vet has given many different antibiotics with no success, he gets better for about a week maybe 2 (not cured mind you, just better) then it's right back to the bad symptoms. Now I say that I am fairly certain it's herpes, but as the vet has not brought it up, I am not 100%. Though, seeing as Lysine is not harmful to cats, I figured I'd give it to them and see if they get better, especially Yoda. 
Even if your vet hasn't brought this up, I urge you to. Herpes is not curable, but the symptoms/outbreaks are treatable. Please see my above post, if you'd like more info on the Lysine. 
 

ctimney

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Hi there! I am actually dealing with the same situation right now. Everything you mentioned, my cat Sandy has... and it's definitely Herpes. My vet took one look at her and knew right away! I've got her on a bunch of things... an eye cream 2 times a day, an antibiotic 3 times a day, l-lysine every 12 hours and I'm still waiting for some eye drops to come in the mail. This all stemmed from an upper respiratory infection spread from a cat we adopted from a local animal shelter. Sandy was just diagnosed with the herpes a few days ago, so I totally know what u are going thru. We have 4 other cats, so I'm trying to keep her away from them as much as I can. Thankfully, my vet said it cannot be transmitted to humans or dogs, so don't worry about that. I'm not sure how long the outbreak is suppose to last, but Im hoping all these medicines will help her. I hope this was helpful for you and I hope your little one feels better soon! ~Christy
 

cheeser

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Just wanted to thank everyone for sharing your experiences on this thread. :-)

My vets haven't really given me much guidance re: dosage for my FIV/FHV kitty, and I was afraid of overdosing him if I gave him a 500 mg. scoop twice a day per the instructions on the container.  Now I feel encouraged to give it a try.  Bless his heart, it seems like every time I turn around, he has another flare-up of some kind.  I really need to stop turning around so often. ;-)
 

ctimney

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No problem! I'm glad that my experience so far has been helpful. It has also been helpful for me to read everyone else's posts too! Here is a list of the mess my vet gave me for Sandy's herpes.... the l-lysine is called Enisyl-F (it's a paste they gave me at the vet), the antibiotic is called Famciclovir (it's a tablet), the eye cream is NeoPolyBac OphO, and the eye drops I'm still waiting to receive so I don't know the name. For my other cats, I got a different l-lysine to give them to help boost their immune system since they all had the upper respiratory infection. The brand is Simply Nourish and it is a 125mg soft chew that looks like a treat. I got them at PetSmart. It says to give a small portion of the treat at meal time over 7days, increasing the amount each time until they get the whole treat. Two of my cats will eat it on its own, but the other ones I have to break up and hide it in their food. As for the l-lysine paste for Sandy, I measure the prescribed amount into a syringe and mix it with her food. It's only been a few days so far, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all this helps. I will keep you updated! Good luck with your little one too!!!! ~Christy
 

cheeser

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No problem! I'm glad that my experience so far has been helpful. It has also been helpful for me to read everyone else's posts too! Here is a list of the mess my vet gave me for Sandy's herpes.... the l-lysine is called Enisyl-F (it's a paste they gave me at the vet)...
Huh.  I've accidentally stumbled across Enisyl-F before when ordering some Vetoquinol L-Lysine, but that's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject. ;-)

Is that something you can give cats in addition to L-Lysine?  Or is it an either/or kind of thing? *iz so embarrassed*
 

ctimney

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Huh.  I've accidentally stumbled across Enisyl-F before when ordering some Vetoquinol L-Lysine, but that's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject. ;-)

Is that something you can give cats in addition to L-Lysine?  Or is it an either/or kind of thing? *iz so embarrassed*
The Enisyl-F is l-lysine. :) It is a prescription brand given to me at the vet for Sandy (the one with the eye herpes). I give that to her only! The other Simply Nourish L-lysine treats are the ones I give to my other cats since i got it over the counter at PetSmart. I know all of this is very confusing. I'm really just learning as I go too ;)
 

cheeser

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The Enisyl-F is l-lysine.
It is a prescription brand given to me at the vet for Sandy (the one with the eye herpes). I give that to her only!
Thanks for the clarification.  I'm easily confusable. ;-)
 

ctimney

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Thanks for the clarification.  I'm easily confusable. ;-)
Me too! So I totally understand! I literally asked my vet a million questions while I was there PLUS I had to call several times afterwards! So don't feel bad ;)
 

ctimney

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Me too! So I totally understand! I literally asked my vet a million questions while I was there PLUS I had to call several times afterwards! So don't feel bad ;)
Just as I was typing my last message, FedEx came with the eye drops from the compounding pharmacy. The drops are called Idoxuridine AQ 0.1% Ophth Sol 5ml. Like I said... it's a prescription that was prescribed by my vet. I hope these drops help my Sandy's herpes.
 

leni kalish

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I have been reading about Lysine, and I am new to the world of FHV. I lost a precious female Bengal and am now treating my three male Bengals with Lysine. Only one exhibits any symptoms, that being some tearing from his left eye. My question is "what specifically constitutes a flair up"?? I understand that we will be dealing with this for the rest of our lives, and I am trying to get a handle on just what I am looking for in the way of "flair ups" and symptoms along the way. Thank you.

Leni Kalish

and The MoMangy Spangy Gangsters
 

wolflover326

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For me, a flare up is excessive tearing, "winking", and/or excessive/consistent sneezing. If I see one or more of those signs, they get lysine
 

snugglecat

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For me, a flare up is excessive tearing, "winking", and/or excessive/consistent sneezing. If I see one or more of those signs, they get lysine
I was wondering which L-lysine you are using? I have been giving my feral cats just the regular people L-lysine in powder form and all of a sudden they will not eat the canned food as long as L-ysine is in it.

I have been giving to them since 2012 with no problems. I know it tastes salty but what other kind could I use that does not cost a fortune and doesn't have the taste of salt?
 

leni kalish

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Thanks for your quick reply.....

I am giving The Gangsters people's grade Lysine as well. But I get it in the tablet form and powder it myself in a mortar and pestle. Currently, I am using the Spring Valley brand, available at the local Walmart Pharmacy department. It comes in 500mg tablets, and I powder it and give 2/3 of a teaspoon sprinkled in a tablespoon of Hills Feline CD soft food twice a day. The Gangsters eat Hills Feline CD dry food normally, but inhale the wet stuff laced with the Lysine. So far, so good.

Leni
 

wolflover326

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I was wondering which L-lysine you are using? I have been giving my feral cats just the regular people L-lysine in powder form and all of a sudden they will not eat the canned food as long as L-ysine is in it.

I have been giving to them since 2012 with no problems. I know it tastes salty but what other kind could I use that does not cost a fortune and doesn't have the taste of salt?
I use vetoquinol viralys powder. I get it on Amazon. Per my vet's instructions, I only use it during a flare up. It kinda smells like fish, so my cats love it
 

leni kalish

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I got some of the Viralys ointment from my vet. The Gangsters didn't dig me smearing it on their faces at all, not to mention that it turns to cement if it dries there without them getting it all off. It smells like maple and butterscotch, so I might use it myself, but they refused it pretty quick. The powder in the CD Slop is working well so far, so I'll stick to it......

LJK
 

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For my cat the flare up sign is runny eye and if it goes on more than one day I look to start the L Lysine.   He sometimes coughs and sneezes but unless it is regular, several times a day I don't usually treat that as a flare up unless there is more than one symptom present, I keep an eye on him for a week or two though.

Powder didn't go down well in this cat housek, he'd foam at the mouth like I'd poisoned him.  Fish oil Lysine gel is happily licked off my finger thankfully.
 
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