Stubborn herpes infection? Add Lactoferrin in addition to Lysine

In researching proactive methods of slowing down the progression of Chumley's FIV, the FIVtherapy site had quite a bit of information up on the anti-viral properties of Lactoferrin. There are a number of both in vitro and clinical studies of Bovine Lactoferrin for various things: one of them is Feline Herpes Virus.

In fact, one was published just this year. http://www.medwelljournals.com/abstract/?doi=javaa.2013.181.185

From the study:

Viral shedding in oculo-conjunctival samples gradually decreased in almost all cats. These data suggest that the association lysine-lactoferrin could be a first choice in FHV-1 infected cats for reducing clinical signs and viral shedding.

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Here's an in vitro study from 2003: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12950656

I've been giving Billy various doses of L-lysine to get him to stop sneezing. We got his runny eyes under control with lysine, but he remained very sneezey.

When I found the information on Lactoferrin in regards to herpes (I didn't have the 2013 study at the time, but human study papers), I added Bovine Lactoferrin to his supplement regimen.

I didn't track how long it took to take effect. :anon: I just noticed one day that he rarely sneezes any longer. I asked Gary if he'd heard Bill sneezing much, and upon reflection, he said "I can't remember the last time I heard him sneeze."

I confirmed with Jarrow that their lactoferrin is Bovine Lactoferrin. This is important, because lactoferrin is also made from transgenically modified rice that produce human lactoferrin.

I am giving my cats 250mg daily, split into two doses, 125mg in the morning and 125mg in the evening. The Jarrow lactoferrin comes in 250mg capsules: easy to open and sprinkle on half a capsule and mix into food. I did not buy the 2013 paper to see the doses used for either lysine or lactoferrin.

It is palatable to all of my cats, some of whom are very picky (it has so many benefits, I give it to all of them now).

Bagel is my resident herpes kitten, at the age of five months old (November 2013). He's always had teary eyes, congestion that you can barely hear, and sneezing. The sneezing was the worst. Poor guy was sneezing up to ten times a day. Some days even more.

The L-Lysine helped with the teary eyes and the congestion to a degree. I saw more of a change when I switched to NOW Brand L-Lysine. Before I was using Lysine treats that were pulverized - they were not liked by Bagel and he often ate around it. 

Still, with the Lysine he was sneezing ten times+ a day. I had already upped the dosage of Lysine from 250mg x2, to 500mg x2. After talking to LDG, I too have decided to test out Jarrow's Lactoferrin. I split one capsule twice a day, along with the Lysine, mixed into ground food. Bagel has no issues eating food with both Lysine and Lactoferrin. It should also be noted that he also receives probiotics twice a day also (been on it since he was adopted).

It's been about a month, maybe six weeks since Bagel has been on the Lactoferrin and I definitely am pleased. Bagel has not sneezed in a few days. He will sometimes have a sneeze here and there but never more than one at a time. I am going to continue to give Bagel Lactoferrin, I may decrease the amount of Lysine to 250mg twice a day to see what happens, but I am very content with Bagel right now. He still does have the snushy congestion, which I am hoping it is due to the cold, dry, air during this season with the radiators going nuts (hoping that a humidifier will help).

I usually give my cat 500mg just at night, should I give it to him twice a day 250mg morning and night?

I believe it's because cats metabolize the doses in 12 hours.   Twice a day 250mg morning and night sounds good, if 500mg daily works for him. Bagel was taking 500mg twice a day, and his sneezing was still crazy - which is why I added the Lactoferrin. 

My big guy has runny goopy eyes and Im thinking of starting him on lysine. Should I start with 250 twice a day first and see? How long usually before you would expect to notice a change?

The lysine dose I started with was 250mg AM and PM. :nod: You should see results in a few days to a week. If not, a "flare-up" dose is often 500mg AM and PM. But it's always best to start lower and work up to it.

If that doesn't control it, Lactoferrin may help.

If it does control it, then find the lowest maintenance dose that keeps it under control once the flare-up subsides.

Molly doesn't sneeze but has the runny eyes constantly.  I've got her on lysine--her eyes are better but still not really "under control".  I'm going to try adding the lactoferrin.  Thanks so much for posting this information!  

I hope it helps! Maybe you can report back to us in about a month.

LDG said:

I hope it helps! Maybe you can report back to us in about a month.

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I definitely will !  

I got the lactoferrin today and am going to start Molly on it in the morning.  I'll let you all know how it goes.  

Wow.  The lactoferrin has definitely helped Molly.  Her poor eyes are so much better!  The only problem I have with Molly is she doesn't eat much, so she never get the full dose of lacto. or lysine.  I've recently started giving her a smaller portion of dinner with the meds in them to make sure she gets them down before getting any more food.  She LOVES treats but unfortunately I couldn't fool her by giving her lysine treats instead of Greenies or Temptations.        

At any rate, I'm wondering if anyone knows if it's okay to just keep giving Molly the lactoferrin indefinitely?  She sure looks better and I'm sure she MUST feel better, too!  

Thanks again for the info, I'd never even heard of the lacto. before.  

That's great, I'm so glad it helped! :bigthumb:

Yes, like Lysine, it's safe to use long term. :nod:

That is awesome that it is helping. Yes you can give it long term.

I need to try this! Lysine helps a little bit, but maybe this will be better. Where do I buy this?

You can see if a local health food store carries it. You do have to confirm that it is bovine lactoferrin, not human lactoferrin.

I buy it on Amazon:

I got mine on Amazon too

Before I forget.

Bagel's snooshy sniffles have decreased tremendously with using a humidifier - they are definitely as as audible as before. I have also decreased the amount of Lysine from 500/500 to 250/250, kept the Lactoferrin the same. No changes for the worse.

Also, my older cat Lox had some eye boogies going on for a bit. She also went off her food, and I've been reintroducing raw/supplements to her. I haven't given her the Lysine for a week now, but have given her to Lactoferrin for four days. No eye boogies! She likes the taste of Lactoferrin better so if you have a cat like Lox who hates Lysine treats in any form and the taste of Lysine, please give Lactoferrin a try.

:bigthumb: That is awesome!!!!!

And yes - I think for kitties that don't like lysine, it's worth trying just lactoferrin!

That's what I've been doing recently --I've had better luck using only lactoferrin with Molly than lysine or lysine+lactoferrin. 

That's really interesting!