Cat with FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Casper the persian cat was eating ok, but had fluid in the belly. Xrays and surgery revealed the problem to be a tumor in the intestine and feline infectious periotonitis or FIP. Surgery revealed fluid in the belly, and a tumor in the intestines. FIP is a virus that infects young cats or cats with poor immunity, especially in dense cat populations like catteries or feral cat colonies.

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Pets & Animals

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[amazingmutts]

My cat died of this a few years ago. I still miss him. But his passing encouraged me to learn more about how to keep my future animals safe and healthy. I had been feeding him Purina One and actually thought I has him on a good diet. Now I know better. Not saying that his food is what killed him, but I do think it's the reason his immune system was weak and why he contracted this disease.

[DrGregDVM]

@amazingmutts Sorry for your loss. Grocery store commercial foods are not the best. I like quality canned food and raw food for cats 

[dzang96]

@DrGregDVM

hmm since you say you like raw food for cats, does that include sashimi or sushi? (I don't know if vinegared rice is okay to give cats) but when I get a bombay cat after Vet school, I would like to try raw sushi grade fish since I love sushi so much. :D

[DrGregDVM]

@dzang96 Raw fish should not be the whole diet due to the thiaminase in raw fish. But I feed my cats tuna, salmon, chicken, pork, and beef....raw. After all my research I eat more raw food too!

[dzang96]

@DrGregDVM

yea I thought so too. I've read articles and I was surprised how harmful a fish can do to cats when I always thought they love it. I guess not giving them too much fish is the same as we humans should limit our intake on sweets no matter how much we love those. Is there like a set amount of fish to give a cat or it varies from breeds?

[DrGregDVM]

@dzang96 I would only feed raw fish a couple times a week max. Cooked fish can be fed more often

[DrGregDVM]

@SillyKittyBoy With severe symptoms and certain death within a short time, sometimes better to let them go. No one would want to be deathly sick daily for weeks or months and then pass away

[SillyKittyBoy]

Why wasn't the tumor removed wouldn't it help the life of the cat?

[tenten6134]

@DrGregDVM He was 6 months old from the spca, he was in a foster home until the day we got him since they were having a promotional cat weekend they were on sale because they had too many, so we got him, he was so perfect, and cuddly, never scratched or bit ever, he was awesome, then we had to put him down, after we took him to the vet.

[DrGregDVM]

@tenten6134 So sorry. Was she from a feral colony or shelter?

[tenten6134]

My kitten just died of this

[DrGregDVM]

@HaylzTheHedgehog So sorry to hear about Deacon and glad that he had such a compassionate owner and friend. That darn virus usually picks out kittens born to a colony or shelter and infects them. Thanks for sharing

[HaylzTheHedgehog]

I'm so sorry about Casper :( My kitty, Deacon, was put to sleep after being unwell for a week and then diagnosed with FIP. The vet was brilliant and made sure he was tested for EVERYTHING before handing him this terrible death sentence. I hear it's very rare in cats over 2 which was difficult to hear with Deacon being 2 years and 15 days old when he died. :( I miss Deacon every day, I made a video for him you can see on my channel.

[DrGregDVM]

@Timberlupine Because this cat had FIP and a tumor. Draining the abdomen would not prevent it from immediately filling again

[Timberlupine]

Why can't you put a drain in, to keep it from filling the cavity with fluid again?

[DrGregDVM]

@mzbattiste20 Unfortunately it sounds like she has it pretty bad and with the vomiting and weight loss the odds look bad that she will have quality of life. What did your vet say?

[mzbattiste20]

My cat was tested for H.I.P today and she lost alot of weight. She eats well but throws everything up & is now at 6lbs and is 3 yrs old. Can you please tell me if she has a chance to live cause i really don't want to put her down but i don't want her to suffer as well. It's really breaking my heart.

[DrGregDVM]

@TakkiToes I will check and see. There are three dr's at my our clinic and I will see how long he lived comfortably after his treatment

[TakkiToes]

Can you tell us if Casper survived for long after you drained the fluid off?

[dwewe622]

Cont'd .. I just wish the other vets weren't so slanderous regarding info shared as such. They make me feel like if I listen to advice posted freely this way I am not doing what is in this best interest for them and that's how the "kind" ones act. Thanks for not caring what they think and posting anyway. Also your videos are very "layman" which is also helpful.

[dwewe622]

Thanks so much for ALL your info. Most vets hold their info for the very expensive visits only. Your love for animals versus making money is very imperative and comforting in times when our desperate need for info when they are hurt.

[DrGregDVM]

@MsMezzaa Thanks for the kind words. I think some kittens are exposed to many viruses at once and FIP and FIV show up when some individuals get stressed from other causes. I am suspicious of feral cat colony kittens bringing those diseases in. Sorry for your loss. They are all special

[MsMezzaa]

im sorry to hear of the FIP diagnosis.

My 12 year old tabby had FIV for 8 years, then contracted FIP which eventually led to us putting him down. He was very healthy despite the FIV - he never had a single health hiccup until the fluid build up was evident. The day of diagnosis, we put him down. It wasn't worth the pain for him, he was in a bad place within 2 days.

I hope your kitty is doing well.

Bless

[DrGregDVM]

@DobermanTime Sorry about Brandee, they mean so much to us. Glad you had the six months with her. Thanks for watching! Check out my dogdishdiet website if you get the chance

[DobermanTime]

We had a Doberman Named Brandee Pass away a few months ago from Lymphoma. She has swollen Lymph Nodes on her neck, front of her chest, and behind her knees on her back legs. She too had lots of liquid in her abdomen. she survived on Predisone for an astounishing 6 months before it got too servere for her. Very sad.