Wet FIP

▶ ︎ Early stage
Recommended dose: 6 mg/kg/day

Young cats (less than 2 years old) with periodic fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, growth retardation, dry hair and ineffective antibiotic treatment should raise suspicion of FIP. In some cases of FIP, diarrhea or constipation may also occur.

FIP usually leads to leukocytosis, increased neutrophil count, decreased lymphocytes, increased total serum protein, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia, A: G ≤ 0.6.

Wet FIP is characterized by abdominal or thoracic discharge. The increase in effusion volume is manifested by a gradual enlargement of the abdomen. When you tap the abdomen gently, you notice movement and overflow of fluid. Liquid in the chest (pleure) causes faster breathing. Pleural effusion can be aspirated especially if breathing is already very difficult. Abdominal fluid does not need to be aspirated if breathing is normal.

▶ ︎ Intermediate stage
Recommended dose: 7 mg/kg/day

The symptoms gradually worsen. Chronic non-regenerative anemia (HCT ≤ 24%), hyperbilirubinaemia may occur, urine is golden yellow to dark yellow in color; increased abdominal or pleural effusion may cause difficulty breathing. When a cat begins to breathe through the abdomen, an urgent visit to a veterinarian is recommended; appetite is further reduced, the cat receives only a small amount of food.

▶ ︎ Late stage
Recommended dose: 8 mg/kg/day

The virus destroys and worsens the function of immune cells and the condition of the cat deteriorates significantly. Infected cats may develop other symptoms, such as severe anemia (HCT ≤ 16%), when HCT ≤ 14%, early blood transfusion is recommended. The cat is no longer able to eat on its own, it shows a fickle gait, ataxia that can be caused by severe icteric and hemolytic anemia. The median survival of wet FIP is only 8 days, so early diagnosis is very important, treatment of wet FIP is relatively simple. With early treatment, clinical signs are reversible and quality of life can be completely restored to normal. However, in the late stages of wet FIP, irreversible damage can occur, such as multiple organ failure. Up to 50% cats at this stage may die within 1 to 7 days of starting treatment.

Dry FIP

▶ ︎ Early stage
Recommended dose: 8 mg/kg/day

Young cats (less than 2 years old) with periodic fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, growth retardation, dry hair and ineffective antibiotic treatment should raise suspicion of FIP. In some cases of FIP, diarrhea or constipation may also occur.

FIP usually leads to leukocytosis, increased neutrophil count, decreased lymphocytes, increased total serum protein, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia, A: G ≤ 0.6.

Dry FIP usually has a long subclinical period during which granulomas gradually form in various organs. Not only enlargement of the liver, kidneys and testicles, but also enlargement of the intestinal lymph nodes and extensive purulent peritonitis can occur. In addition, renal marrow changes are common in dry FIP.

▶ ︎ Intermediate stage
Recommended dose: 8-10 mg/kg/day

As the disease progresses, the above symptoms will gradually worsen. Chronic non-regenerative anemia (HCT-24%), jaundice, and urine is golden yellow to dark yellow in color.

Some dry FIPs can cause eye lesions, especially uveitis. The eyeballs become cloudy due to the outflow of liquid fibers and cellular components of the aqueous humor. The texture of the iris is no longer clear and sometimes a yellow-green precipitate forms. As the inflammatory product increases, floating white haze may appear in the vitreous, and yellowish-white granulomatous plaque nodules may appear in the blood vessels. When the virus attacks the optic nervous system, treatment will be more difficult.

▶ ︎ Intermediate stage – later stage
Recommended dose: 10-12 mg/kg/day

The virus destroys and worsens the function of immune cells and the condition of the cat deteriorates significantly. Infected cats may develop other symptoms, such as severe anemia (HCT ≤ 16%), when HCT ≤ 14%, early blood transfusion is recommended. In addition, an infected cat may experience neurological symptoms such as nystagmus, mild seizures, inability to jump to high places, hind limb weakness, bradykinesia, and postural instability. FIP can also cause aseptic meningitis when the virus penetrates the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system (CNS), and treatment will be much more difficult than expected.

▶ ︎ Late stage
Unfavorable prognosis.
Recommended dose: 12-15 mg/kg/day

In the late stages, stiffness, confusion, incontinence, convulsions, seizures, tremors, paralysis, disorientation and shock may occur. When these symptoms appear, cats are often already in an advanced stage of the disease, where the central nervous system is affected and the prognosis is uncertain. But there are a large number of cats that have managed the treatment.