A swollen belly or trouble breathing. Poor appetite and muscle loss. Lethargy and fever. A rough, staring coat.
There are two main forms of FIP: Wet (or effusive) form: Causes bloating and swelling in the abdomen (ascites) and may affect the heart and lungs. Cats with this form may pant and act sleepy or lethargic.
In cats that develop FIP, the first signs of illness may be very vague. Listlessness, lethargy, decreased or absent appetite, weight loss, and a fluctuating fever are commonly reported clinical signs. After a period of several days to a few weeks other symptoms typically begin to occur.
Well, you may notice their stomach becomes more swollen, bulging beyond the normal outline of their body. It may also be harder to touch. A cat's stomach should feel soft and tender, and if you are giving it a gentle rub, they shouldn't flinch or suddenly attempt to move away.
It can take time for cats to show signs of FIP, from a few weeks to months. The first signs of FIP can range from depression to changes in appetite to fever. There are two forms of FIP: wet and dry.
Clinical signs of FIP include: Decreased appetite to complete loss of appetite. Chronic weight loss or weight gain (seen more with dry FIP) A pot-bellied appearance (from wet FIP) due to fluid accumulation in the abdomen; typically the fluid is a straw-colored, thick, high-protein fluid.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a painful, incurable disease that's nearly always fatal.
Potential causes for a cat or kitten swollen belly include organ enlargement, fluid or a mass in their belly, intestinal parasites and weight gain. In some cases, your veterinarian might be able to identify the cause of your pet's swollen belly through a physical exam alone.
An increase in size of one or more abdominal organs can cause the abdomen to appear distended. Organ enlargement is often a sign of underlying illness such as infectious disease, inflammation, tumors (cancerous or non-cancerous) and other conditions.
If your cat has soft, round lumps under their skin, they might have lipomas (noncancerous fatty tumors). Although lipomas in cats are usually benign, they require proper diagnosis by a veterinarian. Today, our Gaithersburg team shares the signs of this condition and when to take your feline friend to the vet clinic.
Eye problems caused by feline FIP can include: Anterior uveitis – inflammation of the iris and ciliary body in the eye. Glaucoma – a condition in which fluid buildup puts pressure on the optic nerve. Retina problems – retinal detachment and/or retinal hemorrhage.
Supportive care will prolong life, and some cats with FIP can live in a state of chronic disease for weeks, months, or, rarely, a year or more.
Except in rare cases, wet FIP is fatal within about five weeks of diagnosis. The dry form is equally deadly but affected cats may survive for a few months.
This infection can affect the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. This form often causes the cat to have seizures and move in an abnormal or uncoordinated way. In some cases, cats will also have excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, and jaundice.
In the final stages of FIP, cats struggle to breathe and eat, often resulting in euthanasia. Other symptoms of FIP in cats include: Abdominal swelling, often described as a pot belly. Breathing difficulties (open-mouth panting, harsh breathing, extra effort needed to breathe, fast breathing)
Incubation and Onset of Feline Infectious Peritonitis
The natural incubation period is extremely variable, ranging from a few weeks to several years. Cats are at greatest risk for developing FIP within the first 6 to 18 months after initial infection with FCoV.
Primordial pouch, also called the cat belly pooch, is excess skin and fat that hangs low on the rear part of a cat's abdomen. This flap develops during adulthood and is more evident in certain breeds. This isn't really a condition, rather just a normal part of their body.
Abdominal fat pads often develop either at maturity or after a cat is spayed or neutered. Abdominal fat pads are harmless. Abdominal fat pads are common enough that they have earned a number of nicknames.
While the most obvious sign for abdominal distension is a visibly swollen belly area, noting all other signs may help to diagnose the underlying cause of the enlargement. Signs that commonly occur with abdominal distension include: Sudden or gradual visibly larger abdomen. Vomiting.
Offer FIP-positive cats their favorite food or treats to encourage them to eat. Try to minimize stressful situations, keep them indoors, warm and comfortable, with their litter box, fresh water, and food nearby. Veterinarians may prescribe medications but understand that these medications often only help temporarily.
Histopathology (the collection of tissue samples that are evaluated microscopically) remains the best way to diagnose FIP in the living cat. "Histopathology remains the best way to diagnose FIP in the living cat."
The current gold standard is remdesivir (IV), followed by SC injections and finally oral GS-441524 (the duration of the treatment is 12 weeks) to avoid relapses. However, adjustments in protocols are being made and treatment may need to be modified to the individual cat and client.
Regardless of which form they ultimately progress to develop, cats infected with FIPV usually first develop nonspecific signs of disease such as loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, and fever. It is also important to note that cases of the effusive form of FIP can evolve into the non-effusive form and vice-versa.