02/18/2011: Diamond from Merrimac, Ma.: "Isn't borax used like as in ajax? also washing powder? I used the apple cider vinegar with a very sick kitten, she had upper respiratory problems, with diarrhea, vomiting leaky eyes, one eye was completely closed, I used a few drops of the cider for a week and every sign of illness is gone even the closed eye is completely open, my only worry now is her organs? plus she is no longer urinating or moving bowels?I am trying a mild herb which is my own daily fiber caps.

I just love this site it's awsome & very informative. Thank you."

EC: Read much more about borax here: http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/borax.html

09/25/2012: Tom from Forestville, Ny replies: "I never would have believed that something I use in salad and on french fries would have a medicinal purpose. Our little boy has had a ruff few days and scared us a couple of times. If this works , I would need to know who to thank."

04/05/2010: Jay from New York , Ny replies: "One answer to this is to get either empty gelatine capsules from a health food store. About an inch long. Or empty the capsules from something like acidophilus capsules and use the empty containers(Note: make sure that whatever was in the capsules beforehand is not toxic to your pet. Don't ever use or empty capsules that contained something of a drug or medical nature).

I found I could put almost half of a dropperful or 1/4 tsp of goldenseal, echinicea or ACV into the
long end of the capsule(if you pull it apart there's a short end and a long end-fill the long end and put the short end on as a cap). If, after filling the capsule you put the lid on, it is possible to,holding the capsule end to end between your thumb and index finger squeeze the filled capsule a little and it makes it 3/4" long not one inch. If your cat can swallow something of that size greased with a little butter,it's an excellent way to get ACV,echinicea, goldenseal down them without them tasting the bitter taste.

Note: some cats have a very small mouth and very small throat, or mucus, etc at the back of the throat so check the size of the capsule that it is not large enough to block the throat or can cause added difficulty. Look for a smaller capsule or don't use this approach if that is the case."

[YEA]  08/09/2008: Tia from Eugene, Oregon: "A long time ago, my parents stumbled across the medicinal properties of Goldenseal. Last year, during the rainy Oregon winter, a 1/2 feral litter of kittens started trying to find shelter on my porch. Not long after they started coming around, the mother left them (went into heat i assume) and came back with a hellish upper respiratory infection. She proceeded to spread it to the whole litter. I had no money to take them to a vet, and they were dying of it. I wasn't sure if the Goldenseal would be poisonous to them, but I figured they were so bad off, it was worth a try. I used the liquid extract, started small, maybe one dropperfull to two cans of wet food, and eventually raised it to 3 droppersfull (between 1 adult and 5 3-4 month old kittens). They improved from even the smaller amounts, and improved drastically from higher dosages. Although for those that couldn't smell the wet food, i had to mix a few drops in canned salmon or tuna juice to get them to eat it. It didn't harm them. I swear by the stuff now, and have used it on my own indoor cats (though I've never gotten them to take it without forcing them.) Everyone should be aware that goldenseal doesn't just work on humans."

04/04/2010: Jay from New York, Ny replies: "Goldenseal cannot be used for longterm use. It's fine for up to five days, no more than 7 days. If giving it again you have to wait a couple of weeks. Echinicea tincture might be a substitute during that time but, again, no more than 7 days for echinicea or it loses its effectiveness so you have to switch to something else. You can switch back after a couple of
weeks. It might not be necessary to even give this more than seven days, echinicea or goldenseal because it works quickly. There's even an echinicea/goldenseal tincture out but with that too, no more than seven days so it might be an idea to start with goldenseal or echinicea and if you have to give it longer than 7 days you can switch from one to the other."

[YEA]  03/07/2008: Sharron from Mukilteo, Wa: "My cat has a chronic repiratory condition. He got it as a kitten and never got over it. The main symptom is sneezing and lots of runny nose and eyes. His appetite his good and he is healthy other wise. I maintain it by adding Lysine to his food. If I don't it gets bad and he has to go in to the vet. Any recommendations for this Sharron."

04/11/2010: Jayjay from New York, Ny replies: "Re upper respiratory infections. There's a medication that is given for pets who have asthma, it will clear outthe nasal passages and mucus accumulations in the chest, bronchial tubes, etc in about four hours. The pet will then be able to cough up if there's anything that remains or starts to accumulate again but if the mucus is too much the pet can't. This medication helps to dispel the mucus and enable the pet to cough up also once it's manageable. One injection lasts 7 days, In combination with an injectable antibiotic that lasts two weeks it gets cats over cat flu and other respiratory problems fast. I can't name the name of products so just ask you vet if the congestion is really bad in chest or nasal passages for the injection for asthma that will clear it( It begins with a C). It will, at least, be able to give you a handle on it until you can get other things in place."

03/13/2012: Dmg from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania replies: "Just wanted to let people know that lysine is great but I found out it competes with theanine in the cat's body - which is an essential amino acid, without it they will die or get very sick - so make sure you don't give the lysine constantly.

I have found there is a pet safe (made for humans) liquid mineral supplement that really helped my rescue kittens get better quite amazingly when they got very sick. I like it too. The company starts with a ms and is in new mexico."

02/10/2013: Rescuer from Bend, Or replies: "I found the best treatment of a cat severely ill with feline respiratory disease was true colloidal silver and L-Lysine mixed with water I broke open a capsule mixed with a bit of water and administered with an eye dropper or if cat is still eating on their own--mix it in canned cat food or tuna--turkey baby food works well"

[YEA]  05/11/2013: Coko from West Sacramento, Ca: "I have an adoptive mommy who has done wild animal recue on multiple species for over 30 yrs. The go-to cure she uses for animals & humans is Marigold. It's a natural antibiotic that animals and humans cannot build a resistance to. The seeds are best, but the leaves & stems will work also. Boil 1/4 cup water and make a tea from the seeds or stems/leaves. Let it steep for a few minutes (it won't get super dark, just a light golden yellow color). Strain out the seeds/stems/leaves. I've dropped in on both my cat and dog's eyes when they get colds. I've used it on myself as well. Eye's clear up within 24 hrs or sooner. I've had them (cat & dog) drink it, and I drink it as well if I'm not feeling well.

I feed & water about 10 stray cats in the neighborhood and put marigold tea in their common water dish once in awhile. I will be trying the ACV in the water tomorrow b/c 2 of the strays sound like they're having respiratory issues. I'm glad I stumbled onto this site. I wanted to share w/everyone about the marigold seed tea."