FIP Treatment

Re: FIP Treatment

Melanie Taylor — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:07:58 GMT

Thanks for the welcome :) and all the answers so far. Theowners are sadly fuly aware of how grim this is and how it will end, but whilst kitten is happy and bright they want to keep trying. I think its fair enough to continue as he's so well in himself at the moment. He is a Bengal with 'attitude'.... the injections although with an insulin needle are being less and less welcome bless him. I'll prob drop to bi-weekly injections next week and see if the owners would rather do it at home. Thanks again.

Re: FIP Treatment

Melanie Taylor — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:07:58 GMT

Re: FIP Treatment

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:22:10 GMT

Hi Melanie, just to say that I see you joined yesterday, so welcome

Re: FIP Treatment

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:18:30 GMT

Interferon and preds fine-I agree high doses of preds If insured can give repeated courses of interferon-weeks course every month.I doubt if a protein would work orally,but the kitten shouldn't resent s/c injections with an insulin needle If analgesia and drainage necessary then time to euthanase (IMHO )

Wynne

Re: FIP Treatment

Rajat — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:54:09 GMT

Hi Melanie

Sorry for yr patient, this is an awful disease with an awful prognosis.

However patients can be made comfy with clinical signs abating in the short term using some meds.

Preds do help - seems to be with the vasculitis.

Interferon - the recent info would suggest no benefit but Ishidas study suggested some cured- this is controversial amongst specialists. However I have had cats with FIP (wet) live >6 months with interferon as part of their protocol and one cat with all clin signs of dry fIP lose its positive titre and normalise alpha 1 AGP after 4 months of interferon. I do prolong the injections to twice weekly after a few weeks and get the owners doing it at home. I dont think the oral route is going to work as well as SQ.

Pentoxifylline- seems to help again with the vasculitis and I'd use it in every cat with wet FIP.

Intrabdominal desamethasone and drainage to keep cat comfy is important as are analgesics if seems in pain. I tend to strong reccommend euthanasia to clients who are not commited or where the cat is not doing as well as expected (most respond initially)

Oh and keep the pred dose relatively high initially, ie 1-2mg/kg for 3-4 weeks then very slowly drop it. I wouldnt personally go below 1mg/kg as cats tolerate it so well and if you lose control regaining control with preds can be harder..just an opinion no hard facts other than experience to back that up.

Best of luck!

Raj

Re: FIP Treatment

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:40:28 GMT

I find Vitamin P injection works really well.

We had a BSH kitten with chronic diarrhoea. We did the Idexx profile and it was +ve for Coronavirus, Feline Enteritis, T foetus and Giardia!

Re: FIP Treatment

Rachael Winder — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:12:08 GMT

Of course we must realise that breeders have the healthiest animals ever! Ever met a WHWT breeder who has ever seen a Westie with atopy?! I've met one breeder who admitted FIP problem and responsibly completely gutted out her breeding colony- either pts or neutered and rehomed to homes informed of the situation. She has then gone on to start again, only to wind up with a horrendous FCV problem and bleeding gums all round courtesy of a carrier stud cat loaned to her by a friend! I actually do feel sorry for her.

Re: FIP Treatment

Bob Russell — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:50:04 GMT

It is generally very difficult to treat constructively. For the owners sake and the kittens it may be better to call a halt at a relatively early stage if you are confident in your diagnosis. I am not sure how big a threat they are to other cats but it should not be ignored. The heartache in prolonging the kittens life is often great for the owner. If anyone knows how to deal with it better I would love to know as these cases can be a misery to treat.

Sadly the breeders are all to often reluctant to admit they have a problem. We have a client who lost her Maine Coone from FIP. She has now bought a British Blue. I advised her to take pot-luck on a moggie but as often happens I was ignored! Her previous pedigree cat had calicivirus and FIP!!

For a laugh (not many of those with FIP) suggest the owner contacts the breeder. They will all deny they have a problem and will either question the vets competence (as with the give it synulox, it will be fine case on the forum recently) or the kitten must have caught it after it was sold! Once in a blue moon there will be a responsible breeder. In 20++ years I have met one and a wonderful person she was!

Re: FIP Treatment

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:10:34 GMT

It's probably a reaction to a FeLV vaccination, give it some antibiotics!

Seriously: there is anecdotal evidence for interferon working by the oral route at 50,000 units daily given indefinitely but IMO the interferon will not work orally it will be destroyed in the GI tract and suspect oral medication is only appropriate for oral condiitons. I would give 1 mega unit every other day S/C (can't see why the cat would object to that) for 14 days i.e 7 injections. Beyond that I suspect the cost will become prohibitive but I guess you could repeat it if there is a relapse after intial remission.