Feline Infectious Peritonitis
What Is Feline Infectious Peritonitis?
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a virus which is a variant of the Corona virus. Unfortunately there is no proven effective vaccine to immunize cats from its deadly outbreak. This virus is so elusive that the only way to accurately diagnose the disease is after the cat's death. Sadly, there also is no cure for this disease.
The reason the virus is so difficult to diagnose is that it comes from a group of over forty viruses, in the Corona family. The tests that we have available to us today can only detect that the cat is infected with a Corona virus, but it cannot differentiate which one is actually infecting the cat. Since most cats who test positive for a Corona virus actually survives, it makes it difficult with certainty which cat has FIP, until it dies. This makes diagnosing Feline Infectious Peritonitis almost impossible without an autopsy.
The actual Feline Infectious Peritonitis disease is always fatal to cats. It is estimated that most household cats have actually been exposed at one time or another to the Corona virus. These cats will most times carry on with their lives just fine, with no outward signs of being infected, nor do they appear sick. For some unknown reason, in a small percentage of infected cats, the Corona virus will mutate into the Feline Infectious Peritonitis virus. This autoimmune disease then proves to be fatal.
The majority of the cats who do contract Feline Infectious Peritonitis are either very young, or they are quite old. Either way, death is eminent. There are certain procedures which can prolong the life of the cat for a short while, and even make the cat more comfortable for a short time, but the eventual result is always the same.
There are two different known types of FIP, the wet and the dry types. The wet type of FIP is where fluid begins to accumulate in the different organs of the cat's body. This fluid causes swelling of the chest and abdomen. After the fluid has gathered sufficiently enough to cause the swelling, it begins to constrict breathing for the cat. The cat will also begin to have a fever, experience loss of appetite and show signs of jaundice.
The other form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis will cause almost the identical signs as the wet, but without the build up of fluid. Feline Infectious Peritonitis can also affect the central nervous system and the eyes of the cat.
Undoubtedly the worst part of Feline Infectious Peritonitis is that the cat's immune system will actually work against itself in an attempt to overcome the disease. Since Feline Infectious Peritonitis is an immune system based disease, it quickly speeds up the disease process.
Hopefully, you will never have to suffer through the pain and eventual death of your kitty due to Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
Jean Morgan is a writer of articles concerning pet health and the owner ofNatures Healthy Pet
i need sound advice about euthanizing cats?
we took home my grandmother male cats one and a half years ago while he was around 5 months old. we already have two male cats at that time. the name is Orange. He's the kind of cat that likes to get attention and seem pretty dissapointed if we didn't give him attention.
he took on the departure from my grandma pretty bad actually, with him being sick and had some kidney failure, luckily, he survived.
fast forward now, one of male cats died, but we brought in a pregnant queen. that gave birth to five kitten.
i guess Orange didn't like the fact that there are some new kitten at home because the attention shifted a little bit. i guess that's what he felt so.
he started to get sick and has fever. he was prescribed with antibiotic.
however, a week later he has swollen abdomen then have jaundice.
noticing that he has some behavioural change and the urine is so yellow, we took him to the vet again. the vet says he might have FIP (feline infectious peritonitis).
we didn't do any other test besides looking at the swollen abdomen. the vet didn't say anything about it either.
from my reading, this disease is fatal. the vet also didn't gave us a clear estimation about what will happen- but she says, it depends on the cat itself, and if the abdomen is too swell, the fluid might to be drained out. we were given antibiotic, and liver tonic for the jaundice.
now my cat has water injected to it everyday.
he doesn't seem to be so weak, but obviously he's not active, and just resting in the cage. he has loss appetite though but still groom his body.
we don't really mind about the cost of treatment but because we read it's fatal, we're thinking, are we doing the right thing by keeping him like this. he doesn't look that ill so we don't know.
obviously we don't want to put or dearest cat to sleep just because 'statistic says that the cats won't recover'. i think you know what i mean.
Get the answers...
cat with FIP -- alternative medical treatment ideas?
I have 3 kittens with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).
I am looking into alternative treatments. I am NOT interested in conventional veterinary (lack of) treatments soooo..if you have heard of alternative medicine treatments for FIP, pls tell me what they are and where you heard of them, and if possible, websites for ALTERNATIVE treatments for FIP.
Also, I am aware of a homeopathy alternative for FIP
http://www.hpathy.com/veterinary/Villiers-feline-infectious-peritonitis.asp
*but* I am not into homeopathy. I want herbs/supplements that have a direct effect. I don't believe in Bach Flower remedies either.
I have learned that some alt. med. treatments for humans are poisonous to cats, like garlic and olives, so pls tell me exactly the source of where you got your idea for alternative FIP treatment.
Right now I am trying the ideas discussed in the above website--that an imbalance in the immune system can be corrected and will cure FIP.
Right now I am going to try IP6, beta glucans, colostrum and maybe New Chapter Host Defense (mushroom immune booster).
i am very interested in the theory of immune system imbalance.
If you have other ideas pls explain their underpinnings and give me links for more info.
thanks.
I am asking for infor--obviously from someone who might just know SOMETHING. Not like calyx below who knows absolutely nothing about the disease, yet wants to put inher 2 cents.
pls, if you know something, let me know. It doesn't have to be an expert opinion but JEEEEEZZZZ at least know the least little bit about what you are commenting on.
Get the answers...
Does anyone have experience with FIP(Feline Infectious Peritonitis)? I need first hand accounts..?
Recently I rescued 3 kittens which I have been fostering. One developed diarrhea and the vet, rescue and I did all we could for him but unfortunately he had to be put to sleep at 7 weeks old because there was nothing that could be done and he was suffering. They do not know what caused this, they suspect a liver shunt. However I am wondering if FIP could be the culprit. The symptoms match.. lethargy, loss of appetite diarrhea and he did get a swollen abdomen which could be consistent with wet FIP.
I am so worried for the other 2 kittens, the surviving male has started to lose his appetite now as well, and has lost weight in the last 2 days. He is just not as energetic as usual either, and I am just going crazy because it will break my heart into a million pieces if I lose this little guy. So I need to hear anyone elses experiences with FIP to compare and see if that could be the cause. I know there is no treatment and death is sure.. so I really want to hear from people who have been through this to see if what is happening to my kittens could be caused by FIP. So far cross my fingers the female is fine and is showing no signs of any change..
Also I don't care what you believe in but if you can send a prayer or a kind thought his way because he means the world to me and if he dies too I'll be broken for a long time.. So any help or ideas or advice would be appreciated I am speaking to the rescue tonight about this so he will be seeing a vet very soon just to make sure.. I just don't want to see him like his brother and I can't bear the thought..
Get the answers...
Does anybody know anything about Feline corona virus?
Our cat was just diagnosed with feline corona virus and we're trying to figure out what percentage of cats actually get feline infectious peritonitis. Can anybody provide any information about this?
Get the answers...
I want to know more about Feline Infectious Peritonitis?
Almost a year ago my family & I lost our kitten Teddy to FIP, the effusive kind. It was really traumatic, not only for us but for our other animals too. He was also diagnosed with Bartonella. We were so enraged with the vet that we never really asked what it was or how it happened. Our vet never contacted us to give us his blood work, so we assumed his blood was fine & took him to see an eye doctor since his eye was a huge indicator that something was wrong. I want to know what our vet never told us, can anyone ease my mind?
Here's a little video I made for him as well, as the time goes on, I find myself in this constant battle trying to remember the short time we had with him =/.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTFRteClYuo
Of course I can tell you. It all started with his eye. August of 2007, every time I took a picture with him, if the flash was accidentally on, it'd appear green coated. I never though anything of it until in September his eye went completely red. He saw the vet, they said they thought he had an eye infection, sent us off. 2 weeks later it got worse, back to the vet, they did blood work, sent us off. Then we heard nothing from them so took it upon ourselves to see an eye doctor. $2,000 later they sent us home saying his blood shows signs of FIP & to see our regular vet. So we go back the same night, they tell us they have his old blood work, which mind you, said the same as the new blood work. They said there was no way to know which strain it was but he could live on steroids. My family doesn't think thats a way to live so we went home & he started losing weight in November, his belly swelled, then eventually he wouldn't eat, then he couldn't breath, then mid-December he couldn't walk
The same day we realized he couldn't walk was the day he passed away. He went happily, really, he had a little cream, he laid with his big brother & he was kneading while my moms toes pet his little body, the disease really stunted his growth. He just stopped breathing. Effusive means their abdomen swells with water & it's horrible to say but essentially, they drown. It was hard, but I'm so happy we didn't put him through needles every day & just let him live his life out with dignity. I hope your baby will be okay, stay strong <3.
Get the answers...
|
Next page: A Sick Cat
Bookmark/Share This Page:
|
|
||
Feline Infectious Peritonitis News
A deadly, complex disease - The Nation
 The Nation | A deadly, complex disease The Nation According to the necropsy (autopsy in humans), she died of feline infectious peritonitis (Fip). The explanation I gave readers of Fip is, my vet friends tell me, not so accurate. My only excuse is that my source books are five years old, ... |
There's More To Life Than Hairballs - Petside
 Petside | There's More To Life Than Hairballs Petside Optional or "non-core" vaccines available for cats include Chlamydophila felis (a respiratory pathogen, formerly called Chlamydia), the feline leukemia virus (FeLV), the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus ... |
