Scary find about human-grade lysine - comments?

[silverpersian]

My kitty had been acting strangely. I figured that he might be ill. Details here:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/274131/very-social-cat-hiding-for-no-apparent-reason

I found bloody discharge after he sneezed. He is with our vet now.

I was doing some research on the forums here. Someone else was asking about bloody sneezes, and was given a link to this article about feline herpes:

http://www.vetdepot.com/feline-herpes.html

The part cited stated that "cat owners should only use lysine products intended for felines such as Vyralis with L-Lysine. Products formulated for humans may contain propylene glycol as a preservative, which can cause reactions in the blood."

I know that the source has every reason to recommend pet products, but it still makes me wonder. About a month ago, I switched from cat lysine to the NOW brand recommended very often on this forum. Could that have anything to do with the bloody sneezing? Has anyone else had trouble with the NOW lysine? It claims 100% purity and does not list propylene glycol (or anything else) as a preservative.

 

[stephanietx]

I have been using human grade Lysine for almost 8 years now with no negative side effects.  If the ingredient isn't listed, then it's not usually in the product.  I think the product is safe.

 

[goholistic]

Human grade drugs and supplements are heavily regulated and they have to list everything. It's actually quite the opposite of pet supplements. They are not as heavily regulated, which is why a lot of us go the human grade route at the proper dose.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) provides strict guidelines for the labeling and marketing of human dietary supplements. The legislation did not provide such guidelines for animal health supplements. Most animal health supplements are considered “drugs of low regulatory priority” and fall under the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

http://nasc.cc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=38

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/FDAVeterinarianNewsletter/ucm110415.htm

I would actually be more concerned and suspicious about what's in a pet supplement than a human one. I certainly wouldn't think that the NOW lysine would cause any issues. I've been use the Carlson brand of l-lysine powder for my cats with no issues.

 

[silverpersian]

Thanks to both of you for the information. It is very reassuring.

 

[evlwoman3]

same here I have been using human -grade lysine for over 10 years on all my cats. they are doing great.

 

[cprcheetah]

I just switched to the human NOW Lysine a couple of months ago and if anything it seems to be working BETTER than the Viralys powder I have been using for years.  My herpes kitties are much improved and my respiratory kitty is all cleared up (he is on antibiotics as well) but we've been giving Viralys for about 4 or 5 years and still have eye weepies.

 

[a cattan]

I have been using Douglas Labs Llysine capsules for about Fifteen years with my Bengal Babies.......they are human grade and the purest I can get.....
I use One thousand milligrams a day for each Kitt and my vets.................... known as the rocket science vets in this area........fully functioning ICU and vet hospital.............are aware of what they get.......these are human grade L lysine caps.........would not feel comfortable using anything formulated for the pet industry.........

 

[mum of two]

Why should we use lysine for cats?

I have an almost 7 year old male neutered cat and have been thinking of it. But nothing is pushing me to.

 

[samus]

 
Why should we use lysine for cats?

I have an almost 7 year old male neutered cat and have been thinking of it. But nothing is pushing me to.

Herpes

 

[mum of two]

 
Herpes

Thanks. I noticed some cat food contains them, is it enough?

 

[stephanie42]

how are you all getting your cats to take the lysine?  i make our cats' food and add supplements; would it be okay to add lysine to their food?  two of mine show herpes symptoms but of course it's likely that all three 'have' it since they share everything.

 

[samus]

 
Thanks. I noticed some cat food contains them, is it enough?

Lysine is also an essential amino acid that cats need and can't synthesize themselves. A complete cat food should have enough lysine that the cat won't get a deficiency, but it probably won't have a medicinal dose to prevent/treat herpes flare ups.

 

[goholistic]

 
how are you all getting your cats to take the lysine?  i make our cats' food and add supplements; would it be okay to add lysine to their food?  two of mine show herpes symptoms but of course it's likely that all three 'have' it since they share everything.

Mine get the Carlson l-lysine powder added to their wet food, and they do not mind it in there. L-lysine does, in general, have a bitter salty flavor. I'm not sure how much this varies between brands, but there may be some cats who will not readily accept it.

 

[stephiedoodle]

Having had no experience with feline herpes or Lysine but working on the assumption that all cats are different and will react differently it could be your cat is more sensitive to products intended for humans and would indeed thrive better on products intended for felines. I'd ask your vet if the change may be what has caused the problem and switch back to your original brand to see if the problem clears up.

 

[feline03]

@GoHolistic.  I use Carlson also.  I give 1/8 of a tsp twice daily, which I think is 500mg.  How much do you give? 

I had cut down to once a day and she got another outbreak.  Then increased it to 1/4 tsp twice a day and she was getting better.  Now using a compound eye drops for 30 days as well as 1/8 tsp twice a day again. 

Just wondering how much you measure out to equal the mg you want.

Thanks

 

[feline03]

@ GoHolitic,

Another question please.  Have you had any experience with high Calcium?  My cats level is 12.4 and my vet put him on fiber pills for a month and then a retest, and possibly ultrasound.

 

[the3rdname]

My fussiest kitties, that usually rebel when the teeniest amount of something new is added to their food, have no issue with the Jarrow Formulas L-Lysine.  

Our former vet gave me a hard time about using human grade L-Lysine, but they were selling the feline version, so...  

 

   I've yet to meet a vet that doesn't get snagged in that conflict of interests net.  When I do find one, they'll be our vet forever and ever, till death (or retirement) do us part!

 

[goholistic]

 
@GoHolistic.  I use Carlson also.  I give 1/8 of a tsp twice daily, which I think is 500mg.  How much do you give? 

I had cut down to once a day and she got another outbreak.  Then increased it to 1/4 tsp twice a day and she was getting better.  Now using a compound eye drops for 30 days as well as 1/8 tsp twice a day again. 

Just wondering how much you measure out to equal the mg you want.

Thanks

The labeling on the Carlson l-lysine powder had changed at some point. It's now 960 mg per 1/2 teaspoon, which means 1/8 teaspoon is 240 mg. If you're giving 1/8 teaspoon twice daily, it comes to a little under 500 mg. My cats' FHV symptoms have gone dormant for a long time, so I actually shoot for about 300 mg daily and give two rounded "smidgens" twice daily. When Sebastian was recently sneezing (no other symptoms), I upped it to 1/8 teaspoon twice daily (480 mg). During a severe flare, I'll go up to 1/4 teaspoon twice daily (960 mg). Many people go up to 1000 mg a day during a flare, but Carlson doesn't make it so straightforward anymore to get there.

 
@ GoHolitic,

Another question please.  Have you had any experience with high Calcium?  My cats level is 12.4 and my vet put him on fiber pills for a month and then a retest, and possibly ultrasound.

A little, but it's not chronic in any of my cats at this time. I would suggest starting a new thread in Cat Health if you'd like to discuss hypercalcemia, so as not to go off-topic in this thread about l-lysine.

 

[ann2tie713]

My Vet suggests putting it in their water.

 

[tigerlilly64]

What concentration would you put in their water, ann2tie713? I don't know how much water an average cat drinks in a day, even, though you'd think I might since I have so many. I figure that all of mine have herpes, though very few show symptoms.