Yes, of course, each kitties case would be different. :nod: I am doing what is recommended for Perla by her eye specialist and just passing on the information. Each owner should always do what their vet is recommending for each individual cat. I think if a lower dose works for some herpes kitties then less is more. For Perla, the lower dose does not help her eye. At least I know that a dose of 1000 mg. Divided into two doses daily is safe for Perla.
I'm with Laurie, Lauren, and Otto on this. Each kitty is an individual, so my opinion is to start with the lowest dose and if no improvement you can always increase it. I talked to my main vet, Wendy, and she says what I've always thought: start at 500mg divided between two doses per day in the acute phase, then maintenance dose of 250mg divided between two doses per day. She did say if kitty doesn't respond to 500mg, you can up the dose, etc.I'm sure, that as with any supplement, it's best to start with the lower dose, and if kitty doesn't respond, then increase the dose. And now we know, the dose can safely be increased to 1000mg (or twice that during a flare-up) daily.
Hey NutroMike!Hmmm... I have read this entire thread and done some research on my own. Now I am more confused than ever. Is 500mg too much as a maintenance dose? I give my 500mg daily. I wonder if I should reduce that to 250 and see what happens.
Hi Mike
. I was wondering the same as Flint above. Do your kitties have FHV? If so, then I agree that starting at the lower dose would be just fine and see if you get an improvement. I am just forwarding my information from Perla's specialist who says that for FHV kitties - 1000 mg. divided into two daily doses is what is required - she did say that any less for Herpes kitties might not be beneficial in controlling and warding off the chronic virus. Herpes is a chronic condition for some of these poor kitties. So you just have to experiment with the dosage, i.e. starting low, and see if there is improvement in symptoms.
This was my understanding from Dr. Lindley. That is why she is insisting that Perla stay on the 1000 mg. daily of Lysine. It creates more cells for the cat to use normally which leaves less arginine for the herpes to take over, slowing the growth. IF you stop the Lysine or drop the dosage to much then it might be ineffective against assisting the cat's body to control the virus. This made a lot of sense to me. She also reiterated to me that there is no risk to Perla getting the 1000 mg. per day in regards to depleting arginine even at 25 times that amount, and I am going to trust her on that. :cross: I feel that the risk (if you want to call it a risk, that is) giving a herpes cat Lysine as opposed to the cat possibly losing an eye down the road - outweighs it in my mind. Like Otto said somewhere in an earlier post
, quality of life. Sometimes we have to pick the lesser of two evils - (again, if you want to call Lysine - evil at high doses 
) (just adding a laugh or two.) 
Yes, I agree. I just wish I had known about lysine before Silly started having the major problem with her eye. Maybe she wouldn't have lost it. Julie has the virus I am sure and I hope Sheba and S&S don't get it.This was my understanding from Dr. Lindley. That is why she is insisting that Perla stay on the 1000 mg. daily of Lysine. It creates more cells for the cat to use normally which leaves less arginine for the herpes to take over, slowing the growth. IF you stop the Lysine or drop the dosage to much then it might be ineffective against assisting the cat's body to control the virus. This made a lot of sense to me. She also reiterated to me that there is no risk to Perla getting the 1000 mg. per day in regards to depleting arginine even at 25 times that amount, and I am going to trust her on that.I feel that the risk (if you want to call it a risk, that is) giving a herpes cat Lysine as opposed to the cat possibly losing an eye down the road - outweighs it in my mind. Like Otto said somewhere in an earlier post, quality of life. Sometimes we have to pick the lesser of two evils - (again, if you want to call Lysine - evil at high doses) (just adding a laugh or two.)
That is another good thought. So I will throw this situation, into the mix, lol.Y'all are bringing up some interesting points. Use with FHV I can understand giving it, but for other diseases that don't replicate a virus from arginine, would this cause problems? Just thinking out loud here because the reason for giving lysine (and from my travels about the internet) I've only seen if given for FHV and other related diseases that "feed" off arginine. If given for a non-FHV sort of illness, might it NOT be a good idea? Might it upset the delicate balance of the amino acids? I'm tired, so maybe my thinking is "off" at the moment.
Perla... :heart3:
Thank you. I'll give Tilly the huggles when she comes back inside. She is on the back porch snoozing in the shade and breeze.For SillyYour a great meowmy.
Ahr-juh-neen.How do you pronounce arginine, so I don't sound like an idiot, when I ask my vet about her thoughts, on Friday, lol.
I've only seen L-Lysine used for kitties with FHV and other immune system repressive-type diseases, like skin diseases, allergies, etc. These diseases "attack" the immune system. With HCM (or CHM) one would be looking at supporting the heart and related blood issues with that, so I don't know if L-Lysine would be any help unless latently infected with FHV. Probably isn't hurting,
Are you both talking about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus =FIV (Kitty AIDS) or Feline Herpes Virus = FHV? There is a lot of difference.
OK, thank you for clearing that up. My FHV kitties have been getting L-lysine for almost 2 years now, with no noticeable side effects.
