What should I do if my cat was diagnosed with FIP?
If your cat was recently diagnosed with FIP, you are likely overwhelmed with information. Trying to navigate it all while your heart is breaking is no easy task. Use this list to help. Before you begin, you should know that the drug used to treat FIP, GS-441524, is non-regulated and non-FDA approved.
How many cats die each year from FIP?
Overall, Feline Infectious Peritonitis is thought to kill about 1% of cats worldwide. Once the disease progresses, there are 2 forms, wet FIP and dry FIP, which have different symptoms and different diagnostic challenges.
Where does feline infectious peritonitis ( FIP ) occur?
What is FIP? Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus. Most strains of feline coronavirus are found in the gastrointestinal tract and do not cause significant disease.
What does a positive ELISA test for FIP mean?
The ELISA, IFA, and virus-neutralization tests detect the presence of coronavirus antibodies in a cat, but these tests cannot differentiate between the various strains of feline coronavirus. A positive result means only that the cat has had a prior exposure to coronavirus, but not necessarily one that causes FIP.
What happens when your cat is diagnosed with FIP?
Receiving an FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) diagnosis is heart-wrenching. If your cat was recently diagnosed with FIP, you are likely overwhelmed with information. Trying to navigate it all while your heart is breaking is no easy task. Use this list to help.
How often does Feline enteric coronavirus ( FIP ) occur?
The majority of cats with feline enteric coronavirus (about 90% or more) remain healthy. The incidence of feline infectious peritonitis disease is low (only 5 to 10% of infected cats and less than 1% of cats admitted to veterinary hospitals). Are certain cat breeds more susceptible to FIP? Certain breeds of cats may be more likely to develop FIP.
Can a feline with FIP be contagious?
Feline infectious peritonitis is infectious, caused by a coronavirus, but the FIP-causing form of the virus appears not be too highly contagious. Peritonitis, or inflammation of the abdominal cavity, is only one feature of this systemic disease, which can cause ocular inflammation, neurological signs, liver problems, and fluid around the lungs.
How long can a cat live with dry FIP?
In mild cases of the dry form, it may be possible to prolong the survival period, but most cats with the wet form of the disease die within two months of the onset of signs. Fortunately, the disease is very uncommon.
