L-lysine

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  • #52763
    tzeetzee’s mama
    Participant

    So I finally found us some L-lysine tablets and have started Tzeetzee on them a couple of days ago. I talked to my vet about it and she said that vets in our country, including her, don’t really have experience with this supplement. She couldn’t tell me much, except that it would probably do her good, and that I should start out with 250mgs daily instead of 500 being that Tzeetzee is a rather small cat.

    My question is – for how long should I give these tablets to her? Would it be ok to just give them from now on always, or do I give them to her for let’s say a month, have a break, and then continue for a month, and so on? I tried finding info online but everyone has different opinions. What are your experiences?

    Also, a question about a weird eating habit Tzeetzee is starting to develop since I have started her on the L-lysine… What I do is crush half a tablet and sprinkle it on some chicken bits (which she loves eating more than anything) and slightly rub it in, and when I offer it to her she’s completely uninterested. But if I offer the chicken one little piece at a time, she gobbles it all up like a champ… What’s up with that? Could it be that she’s smelling the L-lysine and/or sensing a different texture? Which I would find strange since it has no scent whatsoever and is almost invisible when rubbed in. Hm…

    #747516
    Chaos
    Participant

    An extended use of l-lysine shouldnt be harmful, seeing as how it is a supplement designed to help a cat’s immune system. My Luna is always so sick I am trying to get her back on it. I think she got 1mL twice a day (it was a syrup) but she loved it so much.

    As for the pill, try to get something very smelly and flavorful. Like, a little bit of tuna or something. If that doesn’t work you will have to force the pill. You will have to cup your hand across her head putting your index finger and your thumb at either hinge of her jaw and lift it upwards so she is looking up. Then with the other hand, open her mouth, toss the pill down her throat, close her mouth and keep it shut. Then rub her throat until she swallows and licks her lips. When a cat is grabbed on either side of their head, they are almost powerless to move it. Just make sure she doesn’t hide the pill under her tongue.

    I’d say, next time go for the syrup. It is usually cod flavored and cats adapt to it very well. Plus it is easier to give it to them. I would say if you are having trouble, mash it up really fine, mix it up in a lot of smelly stinky fish flavored food pate, and if she won’t take it just start spoon feeding her the mush. Keep putting it in her mouth and on her tongue and hopefully it is just tasty enough to eat up. If that doesn’t work you will have to resort to the above method.

    L-lysine is found in a lot of cat foods so I wouldn’t worry too much about extended use. I gave Luna l-lysine for 3 months straight and no problems. Good luck!

    #747517
    Chaos
    Participant

    Whoops double post.

    #747518
    tzeetzee’s mama
    Participant

    Thanks Chaos for your advice. Yes, I also have her on Royal Canin Indoor Adult kibble, which in the ingredient list has L-lysine, so I’m guessing that coupled with the 250mgs daily should be fine… I’ll keep up with it.

    As for the food, she’s fine with eating her chicken with added L-lysine, but not if she gets it served on a plate, oh no, missy now likes to be handed a piece at a time. Guess it’s just a diva moment or something 🙂

    But it’s good to know there are syrups available, next time I order I’ll try to find that.

    Btw the kitty in your avatar is so adorable it’s ridiculous!!

    #747519
    GD
    Participant

    We’ve given Glen lysine for a year now. I’d started him on it due to his eye infections and the vet said to continue to give it to him daily. He’s doing great and haven’t had eye trouble for close to a year now.

    #747520
    GD
    Participant

    I believe SoxMom gives hers lysine every day, as well.

    #747521
    Buttons
    Moderator

    i give my buttons L lysine daily since he was 3 months old (he had bad eye problems due to feline herpes)

    he is on 500mgs daily and i crush the tablet (its tasteless) and add it too his wet food. Buttons also gets Mega C-PLUS and D Mannose for his kidneys and urinary tract. there are no harmfull effects to long term use of L lysine its a natural occuring amino acid and the body only takes what it need and excrets the rest in the urine the D Mannose is the same it boost immune systems, is an amino acid and keeps kidneys and urinary tract clear of infections which can occur with cats that have a dryfood only diet.

    Royal canin may have L lysine (i think that is only a recent development though or maybe its only started coming into Ireland with the L lysine) but if you look at the ingredients it lists grains and cereals which are not good for you cat as cats cant properly digest charbohydrates and cats on longterm dry only diets can develope diabeties.

    i change Buttons to a high protein no grain/cereal wet food and he is doing great on it.

    with the L lysine for it to be effective you need to give daily there is no point only giving it when you see a sick cat. all i can say is i swear by the stuff its great but i would up the dosage to 500mgs if you do decided to switch to wet food.

    #747522
    tzeetzee’s mama
    Participant

    Thanks GD and Buttons, it’s so encouraging to hear good experiences with L-lysine. We’ll have her take it daily. We have started Tzeetzee on it because she has eye issues like your Glen and Buttons, and knowing how much the flare-ups scare and hurt her, my boyfriend and I are kinda paranoid, I keep rechecking her eyes a couple of times a day, and just yesterday my bf said he had a nightmare in which Tzeetzee had another flare-up :[ We’re keeping our fingers crossed we’ll have none of those any more.

    Tzeetzee is on a mixed diet of raw chicken and dry food, and loves drinking her water. Wet cat food here is for some reason a lot more expensive than raw chicken, and since we are both pretty much unemployed it’s all we can afford. I’m really hoping we aren’t doing her any harm with this diet, and can one day switch to the wet food.

    #747523
    Buttons
    Moderator

    well all i can say since we but buttons on the Llysine there has been no flare ups at all he no longer has any eye issues. as for the raw as long as you regularly worm him it should be fine.

    i know in buttons case he loves raw but we cant give him any raw food as he is FeLV positive and cats with FIV or FeLV should really be kept away from raw food incase of parasites that would otherwise be harmless after cooking.

    #747524
    tzeetzee’s mama
    Participant

    Yes, we do the deworming regularly, and other than her eye issues and a nasty URI she had as a wee kitten she’s perfectly healthy… Thank you, this gives me peace of mind.

    #747525
    Buttons
    Moderator

    no bother at all. oh just so you know if a UTI is ever an issue again give 5mls of apple cider vinegar it disolves the crystal build up in the urinary tract cause it increases the PH of the urine.

    it has been used in many emergency UTI situations and works with in an hour if the problem is a serious one ( nasty UTI’s in male cats can be fatal if left untreated) so always have some apple cider vinegar around the house

    #747526
    Chaos
    Participant

    That is my Cloud. He is now a four month old giant. And a total trouble maker. In the picture he was 3-4 weeks old. He was such a sweetie.

    Look for something called enysil-f or viralys cod oil. My Luna has chronic URIs and it helps her immune system and that is what I gave her when she was little to help her get better. As long as she takes it whatever you give her will be alright (: I just find the cod oil much easier.

    #806476

    welcome! what country are you from?

    #807293
    Melissa
    Participant

    Hi, my sunshine is 15 days old now. We found him exactly 2 weeks ago abandoned in the back yard. We’ve had great days and days where I worry about his eating and pooping. I have a great vets office that lets me bring him in multiple times a week for weight checks. Today I added some pedia light to the formula and he sucked it down and pooped right away so I’m a happy momma. With him being so small I’ve read not to give vitamins without vets reccomendation but is it benificial to give the l lysine? So far he hasn’t been tested for anything and is only on kmr. No eye problems just small discharge which vet says isn’t an issue it’s probably so result of opening his eyes and them adjusting or something. Should I give l lysine as a preventative and if so how early should I start. When he starts cat food I’m gonna put him on blue buffalo kitten. I’ve done research and for the cost that we feel comfortable paying it seems like the best. With feedin him that would it be necessary?

    #807296
    Buttons
    Moderator

    Hi Melissa 🙂 I’ve given kittens as young as 4 weeks L-lysine supplements but then it’s only been needed if a kitten shows any URI’s or is extremely underweight..

    It sounds like you have great acess to your vet and your feeding the correct food and doing a good job of keeping an eye out for any changes 🙂

    I would hold off on giving her
    L-lysine as she is still very Young and she isn’t showing any signs that would suggest she’s been exposed to the feline herpes virus.. It’s good that you know about it benefits now though incase of any further issues..

    #807298
    Melissa
    Participant

    Thanks for te advice. I’ll keep it in mind when we get tests done in a few weeks.

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