L-Lysine questions please.....

valkyri

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This is referring back to mphscat's post regarding the lysine studies:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4647294/

Hopefully more people will delve into reading this and giving us their two pennies...

I think the biggie point I missed mentioning was that the health problems came at increased dosage. The things about stunted growth in kittens and ammonia levels... didn't that reference something about higher than normal doses? I can't remember the exact wording but I think that was the gist. Yeah, if you don't follow dosage instructions in most medications, something not so very nice will happen....
 

kittens mom

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Mechanism


It is believed that lysine itself does not have antiviral properties, but that it affects replication of HHV-1 and FHV-1 by lowering arginine concentrations. Here, we discuss (1) the proposed antagonistic effects of lysine on arginine, and (2) how lowering of arginine concentrations is suggested to affect herpesvirus replication. We conclude with (3) a section discussing the importance of arginine for the cat.- Quoted from link.

As with anything you should start with the lowest dose possible and check with your veterinarian.  I keep it on hand after our first episode ever or a URI. It is an excellent stopgap between the onset of symptoms and being able to get your cat to the vet. It is not a replacement for treatment. Unless you are using this in a large feral colony where any treatment that is not directly harmful is better than none or If you have a cat that has long term chronic issues and this is what provides relief. Cost effective. the antiviral eye drops are expensive. Again if you have more than one cat or limited income using L Lysine is better than letting your cat suffer if they respond to it.

Some vets prescribe it. Others are fine with you giving it and still another may question if it has any value. And that's where the rubber meets the road. Pet owners themselves have to decided if this is something they want to use.
 

mphscat

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My vet, God love him, didn't have a clue and I've been the one to tell them about l-lysine, slippery elm bark, egg yolk lethicin, etc etc. They just look at me in amazement and tell me to do what I need to do.

I am following the recommended dosage and monitoring her closely.

Maggie has had a weepy eye on and off for years but it had never progressed to a cold. I left for a two day business trip and came back to Darth Vader. I got home in bed at 3am and by 7.30am, I was at the vet with her.

Now about 4 months ago, she started doing this "reverse sneezing". She did that for a couple of months but of course never did it when we went to the vet, didn't have the weepy eye, etc (of course, right?)

She had started sneezing when I got home from that business trip and was severely congested. I have no idea, nor does the vet, if the reverse sneezing was a precursor to the URI.

So do you think Maggie has a URI or herpes? He has never mentioned herpes to me, maybe because her eyes are clear?
 

valkyri

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Hey, hon. According to

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/feline-herpes-symptoms-treatment

What Are the Symptoms of Feline Herpes?

  • Sneezing “attacks”
  • Discharge from the nose and eyes
  • Conjunctivitis or pink eye (inflammation of the eyelid)
  • Lesions in and around the eyes
  • Eye ulcers
  • Congestion
  • Fever
  • Depression
  • Loss of appetite
  • Drooling
  • Squinting
  • Lethargy
BUT same website different page

http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/upper-respiratory-infection-cats
  • Sneezing
  • Congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Clear to colored nasal discharge
  • Gagging, drooling
  • Fever
  • Loss of or decreased appetite
  • Nasal and oral ulcers
  • Squinting or rubbing eyes
  • Depression
What I have found primarily in MY cats whom have FHV sneezing fits (Peaches) runny eyes (BlackJack) bad congestion (Charm, Obsidian, Peaches) and the third eyelids become inflamed to the point where the cat can barely see out of that eye (Obsidian & Charm)..

I am not a vet or health professional. There had got to be some definitive test for FHV, right? Ok, did some digging. Hate to be off topic (Lysine) but here is the website that has what they do to diagnose FHV.

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_ct_feline_rhinotracheitis
 

mphscat

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Well I'm thinking this is NOT herpes because she's not sneezing much anymore at all and her eye only had a little, clear drainage from it. She's just come out of my bedroom for another small meal and was very alert and jumped up on the coffee table to eat. She's gone back to the bedroom where I have the vaporizer still on rather than her favorite afternoon spot do that tells me she's getting relief being in there.

I gave her another dose of llysine this morning...she didn't want to eat canned food so I mixed it in some high calorie recovery paste and spread it on her tongue to make sure she got it. Hopefully she'll like the paste form better that should be here Tuesday.

I do believe there is still some congestion but the snorting has stopped. Hopefully she's well on the road to recovery.
 

jlgagne

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Can you give human lysine supplements to a cat? Or are there kitty specific ones?
 

mphscat

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I have read about people using human grade l-lysine but as a found pet grade l-lysine and had read such favorable reviews, I opted for the pet grade.
 

angels mommy

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Can you give human lysine supplements to a cat? Or are there kitty specific ones?
Yes, I think most of us that have given our kitties lysine do that. Ordering on amazon seems to be the best deal. The maintenance dose is 250mgs 2xs/day.

Most capsules come in 500mgs. so what I used to do for Angel is open a capsule & sprinkle half on their breakfast, & the other half on their dinner. 

I can tell you the "now" brand is a good one, & usually one of the most affordable. 

If kitty is having an outbreak, the dose is to double up, so 500 mgs, 2xs/day. Usually until symptoms subside. It's safe because it gets peed out of the system, hens the 2xs/day. 

(like Angel's 3rd eye used to start showing & was a little pink, thank goodness he never had a URI, he just needed Rx eye drops from the vet every few months the first 2 yrs. I had him, & getting the lysine everyday kept him healthy otherwise from herpes symptoms) 
 

backwoodsvet

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Yes, I think most of us that have given our kitties lysine do that. Ordering on amazon seems to be the best deal. The maintenance dose is 250mgs 2xs/day.

Most capsules come in 500mgs. so what I used to do for Angel is open a capsule & sprinkle half on their breakfast, & the other half on their dinner. 

I can tell you the "now" brand is a good one, & usually one of the most affordable. 

If kitty is having an outbreak, the dose is to double up, so 500 mgs, 2xs/day. Usually until symptoms subside. It's safe because it gets peed out of the system, hens the 2xs/day. 

(like Angel's 3rd eye used to start showing & was a little pink, thank goodness he never had a URI, he just needed Rx eye drops from the vet every few months the first 2 yrs. I had him, & getting the lysine everyday kept him healthy otherwise from herpes symptoms) 
Thank you Angels mommy,  for that dosage amounts, they are correct, I use Spring Valley brand tablets from wal-mart and they are cheap,......even if your wrong about  your cat having FHV,  aL-lysine can't hurt one bit,  It's my #1 source to fight against FHV flair-up's/outbreaks that usually last 1-3 days.........This is all IMO,  I live in a very wooded area of north florida,  30 min. from the nearest town at highway speed,  the symtoms that I see here the most as far as FHV are rapid sneezing spells,  nasal discharge (which if you let go to far, will start as clear, then go to pink, then to full blood red),  runny eyes,  and sometimes that white eyelid that starts creeping in,  and sometimes even cloudy looking eyes,  now this is what I have learned from all these cats AND kittens coming out of these woods where I live and let me tell ya,  some are in pitiful shape,  will bring tears to your eyes,  I'm not rich by any means,  and I wish I could do more,  but I do as much as my wallet will allow.................
 

angels mommy

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Thank you Angels mommy,  for that dosage amounts, they are correct, I use Spring Valley brand tablets from wal-mart and they are cheap,......even if your wrong about  your cat having FHV,  aL-lysine can't hurt one bit,  It's my #1 source to fight against FHV flair-up's/outbreaks that usually last 1-3 days.........This is all IMO,  I live in a very wooded area of north florida,  30 min. from the nearest town at highway speed,  the symtoms that I see here the most as far as FHV are rapid sneezing spells,  nasal discharge (which if you let go to far, will start as clear, then go to pink, then to full blood red),  runny eyes,  and sometimes that white eyelid that starts creeping in,  and sometimes even cloudy looking eyes,  now this is what I have learned from all these cats AND kittens coming out of these woods where I live and let me tell ya,  some are in pitiful shape,  will bring tears to your eyes,  I'm not rich by any means,  and I wish I could do more,  but I do as much as my wallet will allow.................
You are very welcome. Yes, I found the daily maintenance dose helped keep any symptoms at bay. Fortunately, Angel would only get the third eye showing, & his eye just wouldn't look as bright. Thank goodness, never any colored discharge, & usually a couple of weeks or so of the doubled up dose would take care of it.   Bless you for caring for those kitties! I'm sure they appreciate it. 
 
 

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Not sure if I need new thread, please let me know if so, but I wanted some advice on l lysine too.
My 9 year old Rosie is trapped in a cycle of allergic dermatitis with daily atopica. Whenever she has a flare up she gets antibiotics, followed 2 weeks later by depomedrone injection, followed by a flare up of herpes virus 10 days later with more antibiotics.I usually start 500 mg of l lysine as soon as she has her steroid injection then reduce it after her herpes subsides.it does help because the first time it happened she was not on lysine and got pneumonia,was really ill and tbd veg was talking euthanasia. Since the lysine she gets about 5 days of snuffling and sneezing. Obviously I need to increase the lysine, but how high and how long for as she gets steroids every.month and herpes flare ups every month .I hate to see her like this, also has bucket & jacket , is very depressed.Can anyone advise please? Rosiedozy
 

readburn

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How much does Perla weigh?  I give my 16 lb. Valentine 1000 mg for about 3 days when he is having a tough bout.  I have never done "maintenance", only megadoses for a short period.
 

angels mommy

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All I can tell you is that when Angel was going through chemo, I did the double up dose (500 mg/ 2xs/day), and his vet said that was fine to do indefinitely. He was usually 15 lbs, but was down to 13 by the end I think. So from that I would say its safe to double up as long as needed. It gets peed out, & thats why it's given 2xs a day, so is safe. ;) good luck with everything. Maybe someone w/ more info will come along soon.
If not, yes, starting your own thread will probably get you more help. :)
 

rosiedozy

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Thank you for your advice, will try that dose. Cat flu symptoms due to start in 7 days, be great if it works. My vet not sure if it works but doesn't mind me experimenting.
 

barbarag42

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I scanned over the comments regarding L-lysine and the controversy over it's use. My personal opinion is; if it works then why fix it? Continue to use it. The cost is small compared to some of the other stuff that's being used and it's easy to find and apply. 

I have 2 young (they're not kittens any more) cats one of which has the FHV symptoms and it manifests itself with periodic sneezing spells. I use the L-lysine and she's fine. I get the capsules and put the powder on the dry food. I figure it's not going to hurt the other 2 cats and she'll get the benefit as well.
 

mphscat

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Just an update.....Maggie's unending cold ended up being something much worse...She was disposed with large cell nasal lymphoma and has already had 4 chemo treatments and is going well. Hope is to get it into permanent remission. The key indicator was when I noticed her left eye was ever so slightly moved forward compared to the right. Vet agreed and the next day we were at an internal specialist and next day did the rhinoscopy and CT. I don't want to alarm anyone...Just be vigilant
 

angels mommy

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I'm so sorry to hear that, but am so glad you caught it!  I pray that the chemo does it's job, & that it does not spread in any way. Cancer sucks!! 
 
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