L-lysine making symptoms worse?

Hello all

My poor 17 year old cat has been suffering from chronic runny nose, teary eyes, congestion and sneezing (possibly URI). We took him to the vets and he prescribed two lots of antibiotics which didn't cure it.

I decided to research online for remedies and I found that quite a lot of people use L-lysine in a cat's diet to improve their immune system.

I bought Pet Naturals of Vermost L-Lysine Chews for Cats and have given him two chews a day (equivalent to 500mg as stated as the dose o the packet) 

However the day after I fed him two chews, his nose was really runny and thick mucus - such as when we we are peaking with a full blown cold, the day after that wasn't much better. Today I only fed him one chew, but his eyes look glassy and he seems quite warm in body temperature.  He is also acting very moody (turning away and facing the wall) and he has developed bad breath, so I can't imagine he is feeling very well at all  

Can L-lysine disagree with cats and should I stop feeding him the chews? Or could it be he is fighting the infection (fever, peaking) or have the symptoms just worsened by coincidence?

 

Thank you very much for your help in advance. 

I just want him to be happy again!  

The antibiotics didn't kill the URI, sounds like.  I would take him back to the vet.  Tell him the symptoms and have him do a dental exam.  That sounds like Silly's problem.  She had two teeth removed and the bad breath went away. I haven't heard of the l-lysine making symptoms worse.  Maybe someone else has had that happen. If so, I am sure they will let you know.

L Lysine does not "improve the immune system" . It only works if the URI is due to the Herpesvirus.  If it is calicivirus . or a bacterial infection,  L-lysine does not have an effect.     The reason it can be helpful for FHV is that that virus needs a different amino acid that is chemically similar.  The L lysine tricks it into using it instead,  and that slows the virus down from replicating.    but it is not a general immune system thing.

Some people do give supplements like Echinacea or Goldenseal for that. 

But  I  would call your vet back and let them know what Is going on

actually my vet had said I could give up to 2000 mg / day of L Lysine in a bad outbreak .  but I don't know if you want to do that.

There are also anti viral meds.  ( if it is from a virus,  the antibiotics don't cure it.) .

Make sure the cat eats!  even if you have to syringe feed him some  pate style canned food.  Sometimes if they can't smell they don't want to eat,  and if a cat stops eating or eats a lot less for days , it can cause liver problems that can be very serious.  ,

  I hope your old kitty will be feeling better very soon. 

Thank you for both of your help catspaw66 and maewkaew. We took Bonnie to the vet today and he has been put on a drip over night. Like Silly - Bonnie will have to have a tooth removed! The tooth has become infected and has caused an abcess in his eye. I am going to speak to the vet more about his URI.

Thank you again

So happy to hear that I could help. Is she going to lose the eye as well? I hope not.  Silly's just got too bad from the herpes virus. for Bonnie.

Like Catspaw - I have a Herpes kitty. Perla has a herpetic eye. So far so good though. But she does get drops in the eye daily. She also is on Lysine - 500 mg. per day. When her eye is flaring - then I bump it to 1000 mg. per day. The Lysine really should not make your cat worse. It is very safe to use and I have heard of those chews too but have not tried them. THANKS for reminding me about them. I hope Perla will agree. for Bonnie :rub:

Thanks for your thoughts for Bonnie It wasn't a very good few days at first. The vet called after the operation and said Bonnie hadn't come round very well and that he might not even last over the weekend. Further to that the x-ray showed some lack of density in the bone.. the vet isn't ruling out the possibility of a tumour . But the next day Bonnie suddenly picked up and when we saw him he was alert and bright

We went to visit him today... and brought him home!  

Poor Silly! My friend's cat also had her eye out, but seems to be coping well. I hope Silly is coping also  Bonnie didn't have to have his eye out but has to have eye drops twice a day. He has to be on anti-biotics always now, and we are praying the x-ray was showing something less malicious (he'll have to be assessed still) But he seems settled and is eating food (the vets have got him hooked on sardines) so hopefully he is on the road to full recovery. 

He's been away three nights and now he's home I think he is a bit confused. Although he's been purring today he doesn't really know what to do with himself, he has been walking around sniffing everything and exploring the garden and corners of the house - I imagine this behaviour is normal for when cats have returned from the vets? Bonnie hasn't stayed over at a vets since he was a kitten!

Lots of   to Silly and Perla! 

Silly gets around as well as the other ladies.  In fact, I saw her jumping Sheba yesterday.   Bonnie will probably be alright. The older cat takes a little while longer to recover fully. He is re-acquainting himself to all the old smells. They probably smell just a little different now that the infection is gone.  Three days away is a long time to a cat. Just keep an eye on him and if he doesn't seem to be recovered in a couple of days, call your vet and ask questions. 

Sorry for the late reply, it's been a hectic few days! I'm glad Silly keeping well. Bonnie is much better now, he is up and about in the sunshine and knocking things from the window sills again 

Thank you so much for your help and support through a tough time, this is such a friendly forum!