Misdiagnosis of FIP in old cats is best explained by simple odds. For instance, FIP was found to be the most common single cause of spinal disease in cats younger than two years of age in one study, while cancer was the most common single disorder in the 2-8-year age range [4].
Definitively diagnosing FIP antemortem can be extremely challenging in many clinical cases. FIP is often misdiagnosed [29]. Many times, its general clinical signs (eg, chronic fever, weight loss, anorexia, malaise) are nonspecific.
Many important differential diagnoses should be considered in cats suspected of having FIP, such as toxoplasmosis, mycobacterial infection and lymphocytic cholangitis. These, and others, are described in Table 1, together with consideration of features distinguishing those diseases from FIP.
Histopathology (the collection of tissue samples that are evaluated microscopically) remains the best way to diagnose FIP in the living cat. "Histopathology remains the best way to diagnose FIP in the living cat."
The main clinical signs of neurological FIP are fever, inappetence, weight loss, and incoordination (most intense in posterior). Some cats may also develop seizures and varying degrees of dementia. Ocular disease often accompanies neurological FIP due to the intimate relationship of eyes and brain.
It can take time for cats to show signs of FIP, from a few weeks to months. The first signs of FIP can range from depression to changes in appetite to fever. There are two forms of FIP: wet and dry.
Except in rare cases, wet FIP is fatal within about five weeks of diagnosis. The dry form is equally deadly but affected cats may survive for a few months.
Complete blood (cell) count (CBC) and serum biochemical profile abnormalities of cats infected with FIP include normocytic, normochromic, non-regenerative anemia; neutrophilic leukocytosis with lymphopenia; eosinopenia and monocytosis; hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia with decreased albumin/globulin (A:G) ratio; ...
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a painful, incurable disease that's nearly always fatal.
In the final stages of FIP, cats struggle to breathe and eat, often resulting in euthanasia. Other symptoms of FIP in cats include: Abdominal swelling, often described as a pot belly. Breathing difficulties (open-mouth panting, harsh breathing, extra effort needed to breathe, fast breathing)
Eye problems caused by feline FIP can include: Anterior uveitis – inflammation of the iris and ciliary body in the eye. Glaucoma – a condition in which fluid buildup puts pressure on the optic nerve. Retina problems – retinal detachment and/or retinal hemorrhage.
More advanced FIP tests include antibody tests, which measure the presence of coronavirus antibodies or virus detection assays. However, these tests aren't 100% accurate and can't tell the difference between benign feline coronavirus (FCoV) and the deadly Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV) mutation.
The entire home should be carefully vacuumed to remove any traces of old cat litter (and fecal contamination) from the environment. Any traces of the virus should dissipate in about one to two months, and after that time, a new cat may re-enter the home as soon as the family is emotionally ready.
A swollen belly or trouble breathing. Poor appetite and muscle loss. Lethargy and fever. A rough, staring coat.
What cats are most often affected with FIP? Although FIP can occur in cats of any age, it is most often seen in young cats. Around 80% of cases diagnosed are in cats less than 2 years old, and many cases are seen in kittens around 4-12 months old.
It is not recommended to euthanize a cat, even with FIP, as long as it looks and acts fairly normal. Miracles do happen, but they can't happen unless they are provided time to happen. However, some owners choose to end suffering at an earlier stage, given the grave prognosis.
This infection can affect the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. This form often causes the cat to have seizures and move in an abnormal or uncoordinated way. In some cases, cats will also have excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, and jaundice.
Clinical signs of FIP include: Decreased appetite to complete loss of appetite. Chronic weight loss or weight gain (seen more with dry FIP) A pot-bellied appearance (from wet FIP) due to fluid accumulation in the abdomen; typically the fluid is a straw-colored, thick, high-protein fluid.
Supportive care will prolong life, and some cats with FIP can live in a state of chronic disease for weeks, months, or, rarely, a year or more.
FIP is a viral disease caused by a mutated form of the feline coronavirus. Feline coronavirus is very common in the cat population, infecting 80 to 90 percent of cats at some point in their lives.
How much does it cost? Although FIP is now curable, the treatment is not inexpensive. Costs will depend on your cat's weight and other symptoms. Typically, costs vary from typically around $1,000 to $3,000 for the duration of treatment.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficency Virus (FIV), and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) are three serious viruses that affect domestic cats. Only Feline Leukemia has an effective vaccination available. The vaccination is approximately 80% effective in preventing infection with FeLV.
FIP is a disease that most frequently appears in young cats less than 2 years old but can occur in cats of any age.
Cats with the dry form may stay alive for months or more. Some spontaneous remissions can occur, but usually all cats ultimately succumb to FIP.
The most recent promising treatment for cats with FIP is the use of the nucleoside analogue GS-441524 [24,25,28], which is the active form of the prodrug remdesivir [29]. Currently, remdesivir is only conditionally licensed to treat human patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms [30,31,32].