EDUCATION

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): an in-depth look.

endFIP attention please Please note: this section is intended for individuals who want to learn more and have a deeper understanding of feline coronavirus and FIP. Basic knowledge of veterinary/scientific terms is needed to fully comprehend this section which was created for information purposes ONLY.
If you are a pet parent with a sick cat, please consult a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.

The authors exclude all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising out of the use of this website or reliance upon its content and STRONGLY advises anybody with veterinary-related questions to consult a qualified veterinarian. No responsibility can be accepted.

Clinical signs

FIP is a vasculitis and there are two main forms of FIP: effusive (wet) and non-effusive (dry). While both types are fatal, the effusive form is more common (60 -70% of all cases are wet) and progresses more rapidly than the non-effusive form.

The earliest FIP occurs is at around 28 days post-infection, and there is usually a history of stress such as having been rehomed or spayed/neutered. Effusive or wet FIP is the acute form, occurring 4-6 weeks post-stress and non-effusive or dry FIP is the chronic form and can occur months to years after infection. In effusive FIP many blood vessels are damaged, and in non-effusive FIP the immune response has been partially successful, walling off the infected vessels with pyogranulomata which can become quite large (in abdominal palpation and gross postmortem they can be mistaken for tumors).

Effusive FIP
The hallmark clinical sign of effusive FIP is the accumulation of fluid within the abdomen or chest, which can cause breathing difficulties. Other symptoms include but not limited to: lack of appetite, fever, weight loss, jaundice, and diarrhea.

Non–effusive FIP
Dry FIP also presents with lack of appetite, fever, jaundice, diarrhea and weight loss but there will not be an accumulation of fluids. Typically a cat with dry FIP will show ocular or neurological signs. The cat may develop difficulty in standing up or walking, becoming functionally paralyzed over time and loss of vision is another possible outcome of the disease.

important
About 80% of cats diagnosed with non-effusive FIP turn out to have some other condition. Cats with non-effusive FIP are NOT clinically well!
Cats with non-effusive FIP do NOT have a normal temperature, normal appetite, they aren’t bright and responsive.

DISCLAIMER: The use of this website is at your own risk. This website is for information purposes ONLY, and it is NOT meant to replace a consultation with a fully qualified veterinary surgeon (veterinarian). It is NOT intended to be used to diagnose or treat any cat. The creators share their personal experiences, recommendations of treatments, foods, medications, supplements, and products for informative and educational purposes exclusively. The information in this site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Creators and contributors exclude all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage arising out of use of this site or reliance upon its contents. Furthermore, creators and contributors strongly advise all users to always seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian and to obtain professional advice on the correct regimen for your cat and his or her particular situation. NO responsibility can be accepted.