Cat with Feline Leukaemia and FIV
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Dolores
Posted on: November 29, 2005

I just adopted a Fel Leuk/FIV cat. He has a chronic eye infection that I have been cleaning out. I was wondering what are the best herbs to give to this type of cat to keep his immune system strong and get rid of the eye infection. My vet did recommend l-lysine. Any suggestions?

As you probably realise, both FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) are serious illnesses. I would recommend that you work with a qualified herbalist in your area who has experience with these types of conditions in animals. Herbs such as Astragulus (Astragulus membranaceous) and Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) may be of some use, but they would only be a portion of a specific formula as recommended by a herbal practitioner. As for the eye infection, you could make a strong decocted tea of Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis) at two teaspoons root to one cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes. Let cool and strain well. Add fifteen drops of this tea to 30 ml sterile saline solution. Put two to three drops of this diluted mixture in the infected eye two to three times a day. And, as with all animals who are in need of strengthening and building up their immunity as well as their health in general, please look at preparing a good, homemade diet. Resources for these may be found in Richard Pitcairn’s book, "Natural Health for Dogs and Cats", "The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat" by Juliette de Bairacli Levy and "The Barf Diet" by Ian Billinghurst.

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