Chronic Sneezing

Coniferously said:

I actually have a question for you.
 The vet never suggested it, honestly, and I have spent way too much on vet bills of late, so if Lysine might help them regardless, I am willing to try that.
Any opinion is welcome.

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My answer is also shortened a lot. There's no risk in trying L-lysine.  Expect a month for results.

StephenQ said:

My answer is also shortened a lot. There's no risk in trying L-lysine.  Expect a month for results.

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Thank you kindly, sir! I will take your advice and hopefully buy them some treats tomorrow Thank you again.

I meant to ask - is there a specific brand of l-lysine treats I should get? I'll be going to Petsmart. 21st Century?

Also, apologies to OP for invading your thread! I just had a similar problem and didn't want to make a new, redundant post.

Just wanted to add that Coronavirus - had it been that - is not a significant find. My cat Gezer had coronavirus all his life, never had FIP and died of something entirely different at the age of 17.

Coniferously said:

Thank you kindly, sir! I will take your advice and hopefully buy them some treats tomorrow

Thank you again.

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You can buy L-lysine powder (tasteless) at a vitamin shop or amazon.

Coniferously said:

Also, apologies to OP for invading your thread! I just had a similar problem and didn't want to make a new, redundant post.

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Don't worry about it; it sounds like you have your own feline problems and that's what we're here for.

I hope the L-lysine helps your cat.

I have a rescue with chronic upper respiratory, and skin allergies... and a whole host of other problems and she has had every medicine and test discussed here.  When she had dental surgery we went ahead got xrays of her nasal cavities and they are irregular.  We do the steaming also. One thing our vet recently suggested we try is simple saline drops in her nose.  Hold her on her back for a minute or so to give the saline a chance to get up in her nostrils before you let her go.  It helps to clear out the upper sinus cavity. (So, if there is anything up there, be prepared for some gross sneezes following this treatment, but better out than in!)  Not sure if that is what is causing your kitty to sneeze... but had to mention it.  It brings her short term relief so it is now a part of her daily routine, but since we have started, she hasn't gotten another infection so that's at least good. 

Anne said:

 
Just wanted to add that Coronavirus - had it been that - is not a significant find. My cat Gezer had coronavirus all his life, never had FIP and died of something entirely different at the age of 17.

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Thank you; I'm sorry for your loss, but that is a small weight off my mind.

MollyBlue said:

 
I hope the L-lysine helps your cat.

I have a rescue with chronic upper respiratory, and skin allergies... and a whole host of other problems and she has had every medicine and test discussed here.  When she had dental surgery we went ahead got xrays of her nasal cavities and they are irregular.  We do the steaming also. One thing our vet recently suggested we try is simple saline drops in her nose.  Hold her on her back for a minute or so to give the saline a chance to get up in her nostrils before you let her go.  It helps to clear out the upper sinus cavity. (So, if there is anything up there, be prepared for some gross sneezes following this treatment, but better out than in!)  Not sure if that is what is causing your kitty to sneeze... but had to mention it.  It brings her short term relief so it is now a part of her daily routine, but since we have started, she hasn't gotten another infection so that's at least good. 

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Thanks. 

I'm really hoping it won't come to nasal drops, but if that's what she needs, I'll get some padded shirts and gloves and do it.

Thanks 

Oh, I don't think you will need to go to that links.. there are different kinds of nose drops.  She has a steroid drop, and she positively hates that one.... but it does help with inflammation but we do it as a last resort.  She likes the saline though.  ( I think my vet says what they give us basically eye drops).  She doesn't snot all day, but if there is congestion causing the irritation making her sneeze, she may have a couple snot filled sneezes.  With Puff, her morning routine involves us going in the bathroom, I have the shower on so the bathroom gets nice and steamy.  She is long haired and mats and sheds incessantly, so she gets a quick brushing, followed by the drops and another quick brushing. The she lays on the cabinet on a towel and finishes grooming while I have a shower.  She stays in the bathroom while I get ready for work and gets the residual benefit of a warm somewhat steamy bathroom.  By the time I am dressed we both head to the kitchen and by this time her nose is pretty clear, she has her breakfast.  Some mornings she heads to the bathroom and gets on her towel long before I am ready to start our routine.  It must make her feel better.  If I feed her before we do the routine, she still usually waits until after to eat... (smell - food).  Anyway, hope you find something that helps!

StephenQ said:

You can buy L-lysine powder (tasteless) at a vitamin shop or amazon.

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The problem with that, is the fact I have 15 cats who will need it. We monitor their eating intakes by giving them limited food each day, dry food, but there's no way of knowing which cat is eating what. So with the powder, I wouldn't know how much each cat is eating, unless it doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter, then that becomes a reasonable option. But if the daily intake does matter, treats will be a lot better for our situation.

Coniferously said:

The problem with that, is the fact I have 15 cats who will need it. We monitor their eating intakes by giving them limited food each day, dry food, but there's no way of knowing which cat is eating what. So with the powder, I wouldn't know how much each cat is eating, unless it doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter, then that becomes a reasonable option. But if the daily intake does matter, treats will be a lot better for our situation.

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OK but it would probably be much cheaper in the long run if you made your own treats, like little american cheese balls with powder and handed those out rather than commercial lysine treats.  A single large bottle of lysine could be a lifetime supply for all of them.

I have been reading online, is it true that L-lysine could potentially be harmful? And ineffective?

Coniferously said:

I have been reading online, is it true that L-lysine could potentially be harmful? And ineffective?

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Unfortunately, any medication has the potential to be ineffective, even harmful, but it's more likely to do good than bad.

Coniferously said:

The problem with that, is the fact I have 15 cats who will need it. We monitor their eating intakes by giving them limited food each day, dry food, but there's no way of knowing which cat is eating what. So with the powder, I wouldn't know how much each cat is eating, unless it doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter, then that becomes a reasonable option. But if the daily intake does matter, treats will be a lot better for our situation.

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Do you care for feral cats? When I was investigating L-lysine for my cat (he was sick and we thought it was feline herpes when we got him), a lot of people in charge of cat colonies had good input on the stuff. I think many of them just sprinkled it in the food and the dosage ended up being ok. Anyway, not giving you advice on dosage, but those would be the kind of people who would know a lot about it.

Tarot said:

Unfortunately, any medication has the potential to be ineffective, even harmful, but it's more likely to do good than bad.

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L-lysine gave my cat the runs. So it didn't work great for him but it didn't really hurt him as I stopped when I noticed. I would talk to the vet and try it out in extremely small doses if you're out of options. (Both Tarot and Coniferously).

The vet gave it her blessing, but that doesn't mean every vet will.

Tarot said:

Mellisani had her most recent vaccinations in august... which was the time that the steroid and decongestant stopped working.
Not much I can do about it now, but it's interesting to know.

Thank you.

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The decongestant and steroid stopped working because of the "R" part of that vaccine. Discuss with your vet about doing the other vaccines and not including the Rhinotracheitis part.

How is she doing now?  Is she any better?

Coniferously said:

I have been reading online, is it true that L-lysine could potentially be harmful? And ineffective?

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It's not a medicine to be precise, it's an amino acid. There are some recent studies that do suggest it may not be effective, but I don't think many vets are worried that it is harmful. The literature and many vets still recommend it so I would say the jury is out. You can try it and see if there is an improvement in a month.

stephanietx said:

The decongestant and steroid stopped working because of the "R" part of that vaccine. Discuss with your vet about doing the other vaccines and not including the Rhinotracheitis part.

How is she doing now?  Is she any better?

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I'm afraid I only got the lysine yesterday so she's had 3 x 500mg doses. I'd love to say that she's a little better today, but I think it's too soon to be certain.

Thank you.

my Honeybee gets winter snots and we use little noses nose drops. I don't put her on her back because when you squeeze the bottle in her nostril it will shoot it up there. Honeybee HATES it but it really helps with the wheezing. We have forced hot air and the past few days it's been very cold..makes dry air and causes her to wheeze whistle throw her little nosey when she's sleeping. I only do one squirt in each nostril. put the cat on the back/arm of the couch facing away from you-that way they will try to rear wheel drive but they back up against your chest. thick sweatshirt for claws-I give her treats before and after. I know she hates it but it really helps.

I get my lysine on Amazon. NOW! brand is what I use. 1lb jar lasts me a year. I measure out 1/4 teaspoon-mix in hot water (dissolves better) then mix that into some wet food. some people add babyfood meat and syringe it or add right to some wet food. my girl won't touch catfood in a cat so we use a tablespoon of tuna and mash it up then add the shot glass full of hot water/lysine and mash that up and she licks the juice-while my other cat comes along and eats the meat she leaves behind.