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This is a viral infection spread only amongst cats.
Usually seen in outdoor cats, or in a multi-cat household.
The virus is spread usually in the stool of infected
cats. There are generally two strains of FIP virus
- one strain that is relatively harmless, and the other
harmful strain which is considered terminal. It
remains poorly understood whether the harmless strain
is contacted by a cat, and then develops into the harmful
strain if allowed by the cats immune system, or if the
two viruses are completely unrelated to one another
except by classification.
Diagnosis of this disease is then difficult, as blood
tests for the virus, will show positive for either virus.
Differentiating between which virus the cat has, is
therefore quite difficult. Often times a sample
of the cat's tissues are necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
The disease caused by the FIP virus occurs in two forms;
the wet form and the dry form. The wet form is
associated with fluid accumulating in the cat's body
cavities usually creating symptoms relative to where
the fluid is accumulating. This is the least common
form presented.
Most commonly seen is the dry form of the disease characterized
by formation of masses or growths either within an organ(s)
or outside of the organs themselves. Symptoms result
as a failure of the organ system affected (kidney, liver,
intestinal tract etc.), or simply a wasting away of
the cat, characterized by weight loss, weakness, and
lack of appetite.
Treatment of an affected cat is supportive only.
There is no specific anti-FIP medication available,
and eventually the disease will result in death of the
affected cat.
Prevention by avoidance and isolation from affected
cats is best. The vaccine
available is controversial in its effectiveness against
the virus. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations
for your cat.
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