Should I give my cat L-Lysine for immune support or is it useless?

I would have to respectfully disagree with that statement. I have used Lysine for years and many cats have improved with it. The limitations are that it probably only works for Herpes infection (not other upper respiratory viruses in cats, and we don't often do testing to know for sure that it is Herpes virus causing the clinical signs), and it only works to slow down the replication of the virus (not eliminate the infection). I have attached 2 handouts below which discuss using Lysine in feline Herpes virus. (The first one discusses how Lysine works.) https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1327 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=613 I hope that answers your question and was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

You can give Charlie an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight.

Yes, this blend of lysine, taurine and b/c vitamins may well be of benefit in promoting his natural immunity and unless he is sensitive to any of the ingredients (very rare) there should be no adverse effects! A probiotic such as fortiflora can also be helpful in restoring natural balance and can have benefits beyond the bowel!

The lysine may help, it definitely won't hurt. It is an overall immune system booster so either way (allergies or herpes) it could help. We have no information on CBD oil use in cats for either allergies or herpes. My guess is that it won't have any affect. I know it's the new fad but it does not cure or help with all ailments.

It is if there is a potential for viral involvement! It certainly won’t hurt at least. Most upper respiratory infections may need an oral antibiotics as well. You can try a 1/2 teaspoon of children’s Benadryl as well twice a day which may help. If he isn’t improving, lethargic, or loses his appetite, I would have your vet take a look at him. I hope this helps!

I would recommend checking with his vet for confirmation that he needs the lysine supplement at all. However, I'm not aware of any drug interactions. There are lysine treats that he might like, I'm not sure what the powder tastes like.

The jury is still undecided if Vitamin C really helps pets or not. Cats synthesize their own vitamin C naturally. Likely the best measures you can take are to support over-all health. Make sure they are eating a high quality cat food. Deworm them if possible. Many cats respond well to Lysine for herpes infections. Adults take 500mg twice daily. This can be found in a fish flavored powder, gel and treat form. Also giving them an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for cats will help with natural inflammation control. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.