Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease caused by a virus, which attacks the blood vessels.
There are two forms:
Testing for FIP is difficult, and treatment it is usually unsuccessful. FIP is of the least understood cat diseases.
CAUSES:
A virus causes FIP. It spreads from cat to cat through constant contact.
Some factors that can cause FIP to develop include:
SIGNS:
Cats that develop FIP will first show the follow signs:
Then, they will show signs of Wet FIP or Dry FIP:
Wet Form:
Dry Form:
DIAGNOSIS:
Testing for and diagnosing FIP is difficult because many of thesigns show with other diseases. Some tests your veterinarian may performinclude:
TREATMENT:
There is no treatment for FIP. Supportive care (IV fluids, feeding tube, antibiotics etc.) provided by veterinary professionals may help the cat overcome the virus, but survival is highly unlikely. Euthanasia may be the most humane option.
Diagnosing FIP is only to rule out other diseases that are treatable.
PREVENTION:
There is a vaccine available, but the effectiveness of it is not confirmed. Discuss with your veterinarian ifthey recommend it for your cat.
You can take some simple steps to try to prevent FIP.
PROGNOSIS:
The prognosis for FIP is very grave, being fatal in most cases.
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