Recently, we experienced a tragedy: Freya, one of our foster kittens, whom we transported to a new home in Germany two months ago, passed away. It was discovered too late that she had FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). Freya was only 11 months old, born from a cat rescued from a mining area. She was very affectionate and gentle and was supposed to live a long and happy life... We were so thrilled to have found her a wonderful family...
We are still reeling from shock but trying to learn lessons even from this terrible experience, so we're sharing information about FIP with you.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a dangerous viral disease caused by the so-called "feline coronavirus."
The "enteric" coronavirus primarily affects the intestines. The common intestinal virus is not capable of causing a deadly disease. Still, under certain circumstances (stress, genetic predisposition of some breeds), it can mutate and cause systemic vasculitis and the death of the animal.
Scientists have not yet determined how the relatively harmless coronavirus transforms into feline infectious peritonitis, which has a high fatality rate.
Until February 2019, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was considered an incurable disease, and veterinarians could only temporarily improve the quality of life of pets, euthanizing them in most cases. However, thanks to the discovery by Dr. Niels C Pedersen, it is now possible to treat cats with this terrible disease.
Research has been conducted, and as a result, the drug GS-441524 has shown its effectiveness in combating the mutated virus. Unfortunately, this drug is not yet licensed, so it is imported from China privately.
There are three forms of FIP: "wet" (effusive), "dry," and "neurological."
With the "wet" form (the most common), the following symptoms may occur:
- Ascites and/or effusion (swollen abdomen)
- Possible lethargy and anorexia, weight loss
- Possible mild fever
- In the case of pleural effusion, difficulty breathing
- Enlarged lymph nodes and liver
With the dry form, symptoms are very minimal, including:
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
Diagnosing FIP in such cases is possible only through clinical blood tests and ultrasound.