Hello again! Was really excited to see the lysine part addressed. I feel like it was just the other day that I asked about this. :) Thank you for taking the time to answer questions in an easily understood, evidence-based way. Your videos are an excellent service and resource for pet lovers!
Hi!! Your suggestion was a great one so I just had to research/film/edit it next! It took a couple weeks, but here we are! If you have any other suggestions, feel free to throw them at me! I truly want to get the information that is wanted/needed out there. ☺️
Hello, i can only speak for my experience but Lysine worked incredibly well for my cat. He had conjunctivis due to FHV and Lysine at 500mg x2 per day had an incredible impact. I trust scientific studies but I am seeing countless people online saying that Lysine worked like a miracle for their cats.
The thing with these viruses is that they tend to be transient... So the reality is that they would have resolved anyway, and that the lysine didn't do anything. People just attribute the resolution to it because they feel that 'doing something' will make a difference.
Incorrect. We often use proven anti viral medications when the cat is struggling to clear the virus they have (ETA or if the cat is very ill). The difference is that these anti viral medications are proven to work.
@@VetMedCorner I really believe in scientific studies but I am also shocked by the number of people online who say that Lysine worked better than anything else for their cats who had recurring URI/FHV....
I love the information, but it doesn't help me. I have a small farm were cats are always left on my porch. I do have them fixed, but can't afford the vet bills to help them all when they get upper respiratory infections. I have 36 cats now and they just keep spreading the virus. Any suggestions on how to give so many medication? 10 cats have it now and being retire on a fixed income doesn't help. I have one cat that has cost me over $5000 for UTI he had PU surgery twice and large bladder stones removed, but I just can't afford much more. Please any advise would help. The last cat I took to my vet in January didn't survive on the antibiotics they subscribed for URI and I so miss my Wendy. 😢I love my cats and would spend ever cent I have to save them, but I don't have a cent anymore.
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the detail you've provided since it will help me with my kitty, who has FHV flare, that has him struggling the last couple of days. Yes, I'l be getting him to the vet (hopefully tomorrow since he hasn't really eaten or drank much the last couple of days).
Thank you so much for your video! We're caring for an 8-year old semi-reformed feral cat. It took him 4 years to tolerate us, another year before we could pet him. He's always been outside, so we bought him a heated cat house. He disappeared for two weeks then came back a week ago, sneezing, gunky eyes, significant weight loss (TNR in 2022 listed 10 lbs, he's now 8 lbs). He let us put him in a carrier and go to the vet who prescribed Erythromycin (eyes) and Doxycycline. He's since been quarantined in my computer room. He's adapted beyond belief. The sneezing has lessened and his eyes are clearer but he only eats a tablespoon of stinky food at a time 3-4 times a day. He does drink water and uses a litterbox. We're just worried since it's been a week, and he's still very docile... no exactly lethargic since he leaves his bed for pets, talks to me, and purrs. But he hasn't ventured beyond a small alcove. It's just weird that a feral cat is so calm being inside. Do some cats just take longer to recover? Thank you for any insight. We're retired, fixed income. It's $150 a visit to our only local vet. If we need to talk him back, we will! Hoping maybe he just needs more recovery time. Thank you again.
If you're unsure you should update your vet clinic and ask them when a recheck might be reasonable if your cat continues to display URI symptoms. I'm glad you found VMC - welcome!
Ugh, I had read awhile ago lysine wasn’t helpful and was possibly harmful so I stopped giving it to my kitten with a URI. Now my adult cat has very bad congestion and weepy eyes and it is probably herpes. I just took her to a new vet for a second opinion and they assured my lysine is safe and very effective. Assuming I know less than the vet, I bought a tub of lysine. I don’t understand how they aren’t all up to date on this very common issue
It's unlikely to cause harm, but it's most likely a waste of money/not helpful with the research that we currently have. I hope that your cat recovers quickly and smoothly 💜
Thank you so much for this video! I have a feral cat colony that took up residence here and I have more cats than I can afford to take to the vet, and my area does Nothing for these cats, so I have to do it alone and I picked up many helpful things in this video and others, bless you
Thank you so much for this incredibly kind comment. I am very dedicated to getting people access to free, best practices, research based info and the fact that you've told me it helps you makes all the work worthwhile. Thank you for helping to care for the ferals that you can.
Hi Dr Em, I really appreciate evidence. Based medicine, as a human physician, I’m off and struggling with individuals latching on to some sham treatment, and a lot of the videos on RU-vid, talk about lysine, and I was thinking to myself along with carnitine, how those are such gimmicky type of recommendations, because unless you have some underlying innate metabolic disorder which would lead to a deficiency in any of those particular, amino acid, how would adding more of that amino acid suddenly increase the rate of whatever biological process? It wouldn’t because the animals body is already metabolizing whatever amino acid at its max. Keep up the good work, and one thing that I wish was mentioned was when you were talking about vaccinations, I live in New York City, and I brought home a stray who I thought was a bit differently, but the vet didn’t think so, but I think he’s also freshly out of that school, in any case my resident cat ended up developing this really bad URI, but I’m not familiar with any vaccines for those two viruses you had mentioned and it’s definitely not any of the vaccines my resident cat or the stray was given are the vaccines which are only upon special request?
Welcome to VMC, doc! It also really bothers me how much misinformation is on social media, that was a huge reason why I pushed myself *way* out of my (quite introverted) comfort zone and started learning how to edit video and all the rest of it... The vaccine is the FVRCP combination vaccine that protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. This vaccine is generally considered to be part of the basic feline vaccines (alongside the rabies vaccine) so I would presume that your veterinarian does vaccinate (and give boosters) with FVRCP. If you ever have a topic that you'd be interested in having covered in a future video, don't hesitate to say so! I am always happy to add it to my list of future topics.
I heard another Vet say that Lysine was very helpful. I would want to know who paid for the study and was it somebody who was vaccinating and supporting the vaccines I just don’t trust a lot of studies that come out but that’s me but I’m I would keep doing lysine if it helps it’s not gonna hurt.
Oh my, I just kind of found this video and listened. My cat has had drainage from her eyes for years and all the vets that have seen her basically said oh it just happens with some cats and there's really nothing to do about it. Except on my last visit, the that that saw her said put her on l-lysine. So I've just finished a first tube of it. I think it might be a little bit better. I don't see as much drainage. But from watching your video now I'm thinking wow she's not even on the right medication for this. She is 16 years old now. And a wonderful kitty.
Really terrific information. It is interesting how Lysine has been studied and determined ineffective, yet you find it on the shelf's in abundance. I guess it is buyer beware. I had a Vet recommend echancia for my cat (glycine based only) and it seemed to reduce his flare. Have you heard of this remedy.
Thank you - I appreciate it! Yes, I'm aware of echinacea, but to the best of my knowledge we don't have any research demonstrating it's effectiveness in cats.
MY VET INJECTED 400ML OF IQ FLUIDS INTO MY CAT. please confirm this is way too much especially because he had pneumonia and this caused more pressure on his lungs AND more fluid absorption into his lungs.
Since we've had our 2 kittens a year ago we've been at the vet many times for respitory issues. It's so sad that one of them had a chronic stuffy nose and small eyes from a cold. We were advised to give lysine and they got rounds of anti viral. Nothing seems to work but they never told us if it should be herpes or something else. Gonna try to test them for all the other options you gave in this video!
There are times where a GP veterinarian has done what they are able to, so you may need to consult a veterinary ophthalmologist and a veterinary internal medicine specialist for the next steps of a diagnostic work up. I hope a successful treatment plan is able to be implemented for your two cats.
Boarding a cat , i was told to give my cat 1/8 of a teaspoon of lysine 14 days before boarding. My question is does the boarding place continue giving lysine or do i give my cat llysine when coming home from boarding for another 14 days
Thank you! We watched this while giving Little Miss Marmalade* her morning eye drops and weirdly even though she now knows a lot more about the science, it didn't make her suddenly love getting the eye drops--so strange! 😹 I do now actually remember watching this in the past and of course forgetting about it because my brain is a sieve, but it was the lysine that reminded me! I only know of it from human medicine (in Europe, maybe Canada too, you can buy ibuprofen+lysine that's marketed as faster acting and maybe it's placebo but I swear it works better). It's good to know there have been enough studies now in animals to show that it isn't necessary/helpful for URIs. Always nice to be able to stick with only what works...and cheaper, too! *She is one of the somewhat rare orange girl cats, hence the name! She's so pretty and soft, and once she's big enough for her enucleation and spay, she's gonna thrive in her forever home. She's sweet and beautiful and so soft, I can't wait to see her glow-up! 😻
I think that's an amazing name for her! I hope that she grows and heals well and I hope that her pain medication is keeping her comfortable throughout the process too. She's lucky to have you caring for her!
Hello lysine was recommended from my vet for feline herpes. 14 yrs old. What are side effects of lysine use? Anticipated and adverse. Ive been giving it, he doesn’t seem to like it. Does it need to be given with food?
Today because of 8 week old kittens scatching fleas even after baths i put small amounts of flea powder on all 3,,the calico which is runt of litter is now making a wheezing sound when i pet her,usually she makes the motor running sound as she loves to be brushed,,is it possible that she injested some powdwer and it has irritated her lungs or nasal cavity,,vet is closed until mon so im hoping it isnt serious,,these are feral kittens a mom left and we normally dont take ferals to emerg vets on weekends because of ridiculous cost,,would a nebulixor work or help..can you reccomned a good nebulizr for cats thats not loud
We were given elderberry syrup and L-lysine ( or however its spelled 😂) for a stray kitten and day two the severe symptoms lessoned. As well as breathing treatment of lavender twice a day. Of course I know there's no way of us knowing the onset of the virus with this kitten because it is a stray but all I can say is that is poor thing with severe. Wasn't really able to breathe swollen eyes sneezing runny snotty nose and looked and acted like death worn over. Now it is playing, eating, drinking and no longer has the runny nose . Like I said it's only been 3 days now today being the fourth I'm going to go ahead and continue treating as instructed.
It's upsetting to think my vet is misleading me though...vet treatment is extremely expensive, no one wants to be taken advantage of in this day and age. Very upset
Unfortunately, you've been given some bad advice. There's no reason to think the first two things you mentioned will help at all. As the video mentions, breathing treatments can be helpful. However, lavender is toxic for cats and is not recommended. Here's info from the CVMA about it: www.canadianveterinarians.net/related-resources/cats-and-essential-oils/ I hope that your cat continues to improve.
No, lysine is not effective at treating cancer. If your cat has leukemia then you should consult a veterinary oncologist for your best treatment options.
As cats can get SARS-CoV-2 it would be advisable that you talk with your physician and test yourself for that virus. Here's additional information about SARS-CoV-2 in pets: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mOMELOVPS3s.htmlsi=-i4AuH1i-JRwmPEq Remember that if using a rapid test they are more accurate when the back of the throat, cheeks and both nostrils are swabbed. Testing should also be done on every day of symptoms because initially lower levels of virus may not be enough to show a positive test result. I hope that you and your cat recover quickly and smoothly from whatever is going on and causing the symptoms.
I checked several times if I got SARS-CoV-2. The results were negative. My feline never steps out of home. I still suspect I got cat's flu.@@VetMedCorner
And it wasn’t incredibly informative video. Thank you so very very much for that. I have four kittens and a mother that have iron infections and they’re scheduled for the vet in two days. I am certainly hoping it is not the herpes.
I am not whispering. I am, however, soft spoken and always have been. Additionally, at the time this video was made I was still saving up for a somewhat decent microphone. In my current videos I am using a microphone and so you may find that better.
Excellent video. One awkward phrase jumped out at me regarding lysine. You say, "However, now we have a bunch more research into how effective lysine is, and the preponderance of the research does not support the use of lysine." Using the word "effective" in that sentence is the opposite of the point you're making. Editing the script a bit could give you something a little clearer. "However, now we have a bunch more research, and the preponderance of evidence does not support the use of lysine." I know that's super nit-picky, it's just something that caught my attention. You produced a seriously valuable video.
