Advice on an Immune system supplement? Need help. Lysine only for herpes or no?

Sabby, my 8.5 month old gray tabby has FELV+ and we've known that for awhile. Since his first positive in October he has been on Rx Immuno Booster first in hopes that he could fight it off but now he is on it just to keep him healthy and keep his immune system from getting worse. 

Unfortunately I can't afford this anymore. I've only had him for a month, and he is running out of the last bottle I bought him. At around $48 every two weeks, it's difficult for a highschool student such as myself to afford $100 a month medication on top of food, litter, and the occasional "he's breathing weird I need to bring him to the vet" visits (which has only happened once so far). 

I can easily afford the food and litter and treats and toys and the occasional vet visit with some stretching of how I spend my money as I'm very frugal with it but the cost of the Rx Immuno Booster is stretching me VERY thin to the point where I'd have to start sacrificing other things and I don't want to buy his vitamins and find out I need to bring him to the vet but I can't because I just spent $50 on something that is only going to last two weeks. 

My vet wasn't adamant I keep him on it, but she did seem like she was discouraging me trying anything else other than the Rx brand because it's great and has all these studies and vet reviews etc. 

The vet assistant is someone I'm not too keen on because she told me:

1) Coconut oil does nothing for cats except maybe keep their coat shiny.

2) Lysine (which is 3/4 of his Rx Immuno Booster) does nothing for cats except prevent herpes. 

I said, "I'm sorry but if it just prevents herpes then why is the Immuno Booster 75% Lysine" and she replied with "Erm... well... I'm not sure, maybe because cats with FELV are more prone to getting herpes? And the other ingredients in it are what help" 

First of all- yeah cats with FELV (I'm assuming especially kittens and elderly cats) are more prone to EVERYTHING not just herpes. 

Second of all- If it's the other ingredients that help boost/stabilize his immune system why the hell am I paying $50 a month for something when only 25% is actually doing anything- oh, unless he comes into contact with herpes one day then the other 75% will actually do it's job?

I'm very confused and frustrated. Because he's happy and healthy and finally getting into the groove of things with our dog. Other than being a picky eater now that I've introduced wet food into his dry food everyday he's perfectly healthy. 

I'm not okay with just stopping all vitamins because I think it is a good idea to keep him on them in case he does come into contact with anything (other than our 125 lb Great Dane, it's just him and her and us 3 humans. No other cats, and rarely do we ever have another dog over and especially never another cat), but is there anything else that I could put him on?

Is Lysine really only for herpes?

What do you think about coconut oil? 

Sabby is getting 1/2 cup dry food, 1/4 can wet food, 4mL Rx Immuno Booster daily plus 1/4 teaspoon of pure, cold-pressed coconut oil whenever I remember. He loved it the first couple times but now he gets bored quickly so he actually gets much less than 1/4 teaspoon a day. 

Also if he won't eat his dry food, I cut down on the wet food sometimes because I don't want him refusing the dry food, I can't afford feeding him all wet food all day every day. He also sometimes gets freeze-dried cooked chicken as a treat. 

I also fill up his water with fresh cold water every night before I go to bed- should I be giving him fresh water more often?

I've had cats in the past but they were healthy female cats so he is my first experience with FELV and male cats and I don't regret it. I knew he had FELV when I took him in, and I will do anything to make sure I can afford everything he needs even if I have to beg and fundraise because I'm not ready to let him get sick or succumb to any disease or sickness. I'm just hoping I can find a substitute for the Rx Immuno Booster because $100 every month for it is too much until I graduate February 2016 and get a part time job. 

Thank you!!

L-Lysine is to boost the immune system, not just against herpes, although that is what it is mainly used for.  I get mine on Amazon as treats. You might want to research it on the internet or call another vet and get their opinion. Anything that helps the immune system can't be bad. All the luck, I'll pray for you to find a solution you can live with!

L-lysine works for FHV because it blocks absorption of l-arginine, which promotes outbreaks.  L-arginine, being a somewhat important amino acid, isn't something I'd want to mess with unless necessary.  Not sure how much corroborating evidence exists, but I've read that long-term l-lysine usage can lead to other negative health effects, like kidney disease, so I'm of the opinion that it should only be used to treat intractable cases of FHV and at the minimum effective dose.  I use it in my FeLV+ cats because otherwise their FHV would get out of control and possibly cause a life-threatening respiratory infection.

There are a plethora of immune boosting supplements you can try: DMG, colostrum/Transfer Factor, a good probiotic, and plant sterol/sterolin formulas being most touted in the felv+ support community.  Medicinal mushrooms is something that always seems to pop up, but I haven't had much luck getting anyone to consume food with the teeniest amount mixed in.  (Cats!   )  The DMG and colostrum derivative "transfer factor" increase T-cell activity, which is theorized to target felv specifically and the mechanism by which LTCI, an rx drug for treating felv, works.  I get my DMG without fillers from Bulk Supplements (sold through Amazon).  Really good bang for your buck and the cats don't seem to mind it.

Pet-Tinic, an iron and B vitamin supplement, can be helpful for felv related anemia.  

Here's an email list you can sign up for to get more suggestions and support: http://felineleukemia.org/index.shtml

Another good group here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FeLVPositiveCats/info

Very curious about this rx immuno booster your kitty is on.  Is it a supplement or medication?  It isn't ImmunoRegulin, is it?

Best wishes and I hope you'll keep us updated!

Both of my cats have herpes.  Talk to your vet about other solutions, or maybe get a second opinion.  I think we went to 5 vets before we got control of the one and only outbreak.

We control by using:

1) Lysine powder from capsules in glass bottles- (Sprouts Lysine seems to be the best-$10 for 100 capules)

2) Famciclovir- this a human anti-viral

3) Fortiflora or a bit of Romaine lettuce

This has been working for 5 years, however both will start to show symptoms if I am late with medication. 

My original source was a vet out of Colorado State University and a paper he published. 

The Fortiflora is expensive but I found the lettuce is a great substitute and prevents vomiting.

I dissolve the Lysine and Famciclovir in hot water and add a can of cat food and lettuce and some fresh grown catnip.

I have it down to a science, even for my petsitters when I leave town!

GOOD LUCK!

the3rdname - Hey there, it's a supplement, no prescription needed I just need to order it and I get it. It's not ImmunoRegulin the full name is Rx Immuno Booster. I will look into the other things you mentioned, thank you

catsnip - Thank you! Is what you use only to avoid an outbreak of herpes, or for the immune system in general?

Di and Bob - Thank you!

Hi! We use this regimen to prevent herpes outbreak.

My older cat has more serious eye symptoms and is also prone to vomiting.

(The calico was a carrier kitten and she mainly sniffles or sneezes.)

Zoozi has to keep the medication down or he will show symptoms, so that is why the probiotic- or the small amount of shredded lettuce- is essential for us.

I wish you and your kitty the best .