I know I've seen info on here about using lysine in the water bowls, but for some reason I'm having no luck with search at the moment.
I have several cats prone to URIs, most likely the result of herpes.
My newest kitten has had an almost constant URI since we got her about 2 months ago. She's been to the vet several times and is otherwise healthy, and the vet wants her immune system to fight this off on her own. He said he'll give her an antibiotic if it gets worse to get rid of any secondary bacterial infection.
In the meantime, it hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't really gotten better yet either. She never acts sick - she eats, drinks and plays normally, but she sneezes pretty often and has constant goopy discharge in her eyes (though her eyes have never sealed shut the way I've seen other kittens with bad URIs in the past). She also has a very slight clear nasal discharge that basically just looks like she has a slight wetness under her nose, but nothing worse.
I have Lysine treats for her and give them to her daily, but is there a better way to give her lysine? My vet loves these treats, and I suppose they're working since she isn't getting any worse, but they're also really expensive, so if there is a cheaper option that is a better way to give her the lysine I'm curious to know what it is! I know i've read stuff about putting it in water bowls, but where do I get the lysine and how much do I put in the water? I have 10 other cats in the house too who would all be sharing water bowls with her.
Aside from the lysine, is there any other way to deal with a constant URI? Or is this poor girl just going to suffer from it constantly for the rest of her life?
I have several cats prone to URIs, most likely the result of herpes.
My newest kitten has had an almost constant URI since we got her about 2 months ago. She's been to the vet several times and is otherwise healthy, and the vet wants her immune system to fight this off on her own. He said he'll give her an antibiotic if it gets worse to get rid of any secondary bacterial infection.
In the meantime, it hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't really gotten better yet either. She never acts sick - she eats, drinks and plays normally, but she sneezes pretty often and has constant goopy discharge in her eyes (though her eyes have never sealed shut the way I've seen other kittens with bad URIs in the past). She also has a very slight clear nasal discharge that basically just looks like she has a slight wetness under her nose, but nothing worse.
I have Lysine treats for her and give them to her daily, but is there a better way to give her lysine? My vet loves these treats, and I suppose they're working since she isn't getting any worse, but they're also really expensive, so if there is a cheaper option that is a better way to give her the lysine I'm curious to know what it is! I know i've read stuff about putting it in water bowls, but where do I get the lysine and how much do I put in the water? I have 10 other cats in the house too who would all be sharing water bowls with her.
Aside from the lysine, is there any other way to deal with a constant URI? Or is this poor girl just going to suffer from it constantly for the rest of her life?