There's an intranasal vaccine, but there's quite a bit of controversy about its effectiveness, so it's not recommended by a great many vets.Originally Posted by gardenandcats
Are there shots to prevent cats from getting this?
There's a vaccine available but it's only effective if the cat has tested negative for FECoV before it's inoculated with the vaccine. The effectiveness is also controversial. The vaccine is calculated to give 0-70% of protection against FIP... in other words, there's no way you completely can protect your cat from FIP except from keeping your home free from FECoV which isn't easy. In catteries it's according to some impossible, others claim it can be done if you work hard and keep rigorous hygiene.Originally Posted by gardenandcats
Are there shots to prevent cats from getting this?
Good post.Originally Posted by Sol
There's a vaccine available but it's only effective if the cat has tested negative for FECoV before it's inoculated with the vaccine. The effectiveness is also controversial. The vaccine is calculated to give 0-70% of protection against FIP... in other words, there's no way you completely can protect your cat from FIP except from keeping your home free from FECoV which isn't easy. In catteries it's according to some impossible, others claim it can be done if you work hard and keep rigorous hygiene.
My personal belief is that breeding healthy cats, feeding them well, keeping stressors at a minimum and keep normal hygiene is the way to go and no, I don't vaccinate my cats against FIP.
I'd definitely go to another vet.. especially if he's acting sick. I just lost my 7 month old kitten to what I'm thinking may be the wet form of FIP and it was AWFUL once it really 'hit' him. Trust me, if it is FIP, you don't want to wait and have him get to the point of suffering. Actually, regardless of what it is, you don't want to let him suffer.Originally Posted by sapling
One of our cats has been looking very sick - we took him to the vet and they did a ton of bloodwork, then got back to us today to say
- He has an elevated white blood cell count
- He is anemic
- He has elevated liver enzymes
They wouldn't get any more specific, only saying "He may have a virus, or some form of cancer, but there's nothing more we can do."
I find this a very unsatisfying answer - they can't even diagnose him?! So I did some internet research myself and came up with FIP, which is heartbreaking... what makes it seem to fit is his odd bodyshape - on his back and neck you can just feel ever single bone and ridge, but then he's got a pouchy underbelly. I didn't understand it, but now it sounds just like wet FIP.
He's lying on my bed curled up against my shoulder right now.
I hate to say the "F" word, but I'm sorry to say that it sounds as if your kitty may have the wet form of FIP, which is indeed fatal: there is no cure for it. I would get a second opinion from another vet - especially if you can't get something more constructive from your vet. But even if you do get a more accurate diagnosis, there is no actual positive diagnosis test available for FIP unless an autopsy is performed to determine FIP. The bloated belly is usually a pretty accurate indication that the cat does have the wet form of FIP. Did your vet drain any fluid from your kitty's belly to determine what's causing the bloating? I sure hope it's not FIP.Originally Posted by sapling
One of our cats has been looking very sick - we took him to the vet and they did a ton of bloodwork, then got back to us today to say
- He has an elevated white blood cell count
- He is anemic
- He has elevated liver enzymes
They wouldn't get any more specific, only saying "He may have a virus, or some form of cancer, but there's nothing more we can do."
I find this a very unsatisfying answer - they can't even diagnose him?! So I did some internet research myself and came up with FIP, which is heartbreaking... what makes it seem to fit is his odd bodyshape - on his back and neck you can just feel ever single bone and ridge, but then he's got a pouchy underbelly. I didn't understand it, but now it sounds just like wet FIP.
He's lying on my bed curled up against my shoulder right now.