FIP - Feline Infectious Peritonitis

I wanted to know if anyone else had any experiences with the disease Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). I got my first kitten in September 2013 and on Dec 18th she passed away in her sleep after being ill for a week. She had effusive FIP and the results came in on the 16th to confirm this. They drained her tummy the next day and injected interferon into her abdomen but as she had stopped eating she was too weak to come back from the anaesthetic properly. She was only 6 months old, a baby... Surely more should be done to prevent the spread of this disease, including making people aware of it- I am a pet sitter and had never heard of it- it never said anywhere that I should ask if the kittens are Corona Virus free. Perhaps if people were more aware of it they could take measures to limit the spread of the disease and breeding kittens in a virus ridden environment. What do people think about this all?

No one should have to go through loosing a kitten like we did, it was horrible watching as a once bouncy fluff ball became depressed and simply slept in her corner all day...

Something needs to be done!

RIP Pumpkin - Siberian Forest Cat

I'm very sorry for your loss, it's so hard to lose our loved ones.  FIP is a terrible disease, and I've known several people who had cats die of it.

There is no way to test for it.  Most cats have the corona virus in their bodies, its a common cold virus and a positive test for corona means basically nothing.  Iin rare instances, and in ways I think are not well understood, there can be  a mutation of the virus that results in FIP.

The wet or effusive type, which is most common compared to the dry version i north america is rapidly fatal and there is no effective treatment.  Draining the fluid build up can bring a very short relief, usually enough time to just say goodbye.

And there is no effective vaccine.  Technically speaking there is a vaccine but it basically doesn't work as the cornell link below states, "There is only one licensed FIP vaccine available; however, this vaccine has minimal if any effectiveness in preventing FIP, and it is not generally recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel."

And while it seems more prevalent in colonies and where you see groups of cats, its method of transmission is also poorly understood.

Here are links to 2 good articles on FIP.  If there is any good news, its that it's such a rare disease that yo will probably never see it again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_infectious_peritonitis

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/brochure_ftp.cfm

Stephen

edit: vaccine info

I am so very sorry for your loss.  I have been through FIP a few times over the years and it is never easy.  I had a litter of bottle fed kittens who contracted it, and boy was it hard when they started getting sick.  It is a nasty disease.  I wish the vaccine they had for it was more effective.  http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/brochure_ftp.cfm

Oh, I am so sorry for your loss.  FIP is such a sneaky disease.  As I understand it, almost all cats have the corona virus but in some, for reasons unknown, it mutates into FIP.  After mutation, I believe the disease can remain in the "dry form," for years.  But once it evolves into the "wet form," there is nothing that can be done except make the cat as comfortable as possible.

In addition, the symptoms can be hard to read because they could be from other diseases.  Unfortunately, they can only test for elevated titers (measuring the antibodies), although elevated titers can also mean the cat's immune system is reacting to any disease.  Testing the fluid is the only real way to determine if the cat has FIP, although of course by that time, it's too late.

It affects kittens and cats with weakened immune systems more often:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feline_infectious_peritonitis