URI & L-Lysine in Cats

Most feline upper respiratory infections, or URIs, are actually secondary infections following a virus or the "cat flu," according to Holisticat, a feline health website. If your pet has a virus such as herpes or calicivirus, a holistic approach to URI is to give the amino acid L-Lysine in a dosage of 500 mg daily for up to a week, then a 250 mg maintenance dose.

  1. URI Symptoms

    • Sneezing, nasal discharge, watery or reddened eyes and cough are all symptoms of feline URI, according to a fact sheet from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. Cats with these symptoms may have a reduced sense of smell and therefore less appetite. Some also develop mouth or eye ulcers, fever or a general sense of lethargy. Some affected cats salivate excessively.

    L-Lysine

    • Cats with flu-like symptoms should be treated with 250 mg of L-Lysine immediately, according to Holisticat. If the cat gets worse, the dosage can be increased to 500 mg, but only for a short time.

    Home Care

    • Pet owners can treat URIs at home by washing the cat's nostrils with a warm buffered saline solution, a mixture of warm water, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking soda. This can be applied with a cotton ball or an eyedropper. The cat's eyes can be cleaned with a warm compress if there is a discharge. Placing a humidifier in the room where the animal stays may help break up congestion.

    Precautions

    • Because L-Lysine competes with the amino acid arginine, which cats also need, the maintenance dose of 250 mg should not be exceeded during long-term use of L-Lysine. Take general precautions when treating an affected cat, such as frequent hand-washing after contact and washing the animal's bedding in hot water. Disinfecting the home will help reduce the impact of airborne droplets that carry the infection.

    Warning

    • Cats who recover from herpes and calicivirus may become carriers of the virus and "shed" the virus, especially during times of illness or stress, according to Holisticat. Monitor your pet's hydration and appetite levels while she is sick.