My FIV cat is sneezing a lot despite L-lysine. What should I do?

Poor Shadow! I strongly recommend contacting your veterinarian for an exam, possible diagnostics (for example a fecal, blood work, and/or x-rays), and medication. My biggest concern is that since he is FIV positive that his immune system will have a harder time fighting off the infection so the quicker you can get him on some medications the better. Also you can also get him started on Viralys gel which will sometimes help to boost his immune system during these difficult times. I hope he starts to feel better! Please feel free to contact us again on the forum or set up a consultation if you have additional questions or want more information. Thank you.

Hello, I am sorry for your concerns about Bert. Since Bert just finished 2 rounds of antibiotics for a respiratory infection, & still has a nasal discharge, either the wrong antibiotics were prescribed, or this is a viral infection. You might discuss this with your veterinarian suggesting either culturing the discharge to see what antibiotics will clear the infection, or to try an antiviral medication, like famcyclovir. Sometimes, administration of intranasal saline ( 0.25-0.5 ml saline ) into each nostril has been helpful in breaking up the discharge. And finally, there has been some work done that shows cats with existing rhinitis have been helped when a commercially available FHV-1 & FCV intranasal vaccine is used. I would discuss each of these with your veterinarian at your earliest convenience. I hope Bert is well soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like Charlie may have an respiratory infection. I can give you some things you can try at home for him. First, you can try starting him on 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. If he's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing him into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections. I would recommend having Charlie seen by a vet as well. He may benefit from some additional medications to treat his symptoms, and the vet can prescribe them.

Frisbee's sneezing and watery eyes could be due to viral infections (such as calicivirus or herpesvirus - not contagious to humans), bacterial upper respiratory infections, or topical irritation/mild allergies. I'm glad to hear that he's still eating well and active! Fortunately, none of these possible issues are contagious to humans and viruses are most commonly specific to a single species. You can try an over the counter L-lysine amino acid supplement (Viralys is one example) to attempt to help with any shedding from some of the viruses mentioned. Ideally your vet should examine Frisbee to assure that he does not have a bacterial upper respiratory infection that may require antibiotics for treatment. Your vet may also discuss antihistamine options for Frisbee. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Many cats with either of these diseases can live long lives, as long as special care is taken to limit the chance of infections, which are difficult for them to fight. Keeping cats indoors is probably the #1 thing you can do to not only prevent these diseases but also keep your cats in the best health possible. You should know that there is a simple and inexpensive test that checks for both of these diseases, and it might ease your mind greatly to know whether or not your cats actually have one of them.

Poor Ravioli! The two most common reasons for sneezing are infection (most common) or allergies (less common). Here is a link about infection just in case: https://www.petcoach.co/article/sneezing-and-feline-upper-respiratory-disease/ Lysine supplements for cats can help. Ravioli may need to be examined by the veterinarian if he starts not eating well, not drinking well, acting lethargic, if his eyes start to have problems, if he has green or yellow discharge from eyes or nose or if he gets worse. I hope he starts feeling better and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Gremlin is a lucky kitty to be with you. Since he has FIV, he's got an increased risk of both infections, and of just generally being more prone to becoming inflamed. Make sure no one smokes cigarettes (or any other substances) in your home. Avoid aerosol sprays, etc, as these could be irritating to his airways, and with him coughing that is a real concern. You can try putting him on a probiotic, as this may help boost his immune system a bit. It is reasonable to continue to treat with antibiotics as needed. If chest X-rays have not ever been done, It may be worth considering. thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, I hope that helps you!