Treating Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Dog Breeds

Feline infectious peritonitis is an incurable illness. The goals of treatment are to manage the affected cat’s comfort and try to ensure a pain-free quality of life for as long as possible.

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Introduction

Feline infectious peritonitis is an incurable illness. The goals of treatment are to manage the affected cat’s comfort and try to ensure a pain-free quality of life for as long as possible.

Treatment Options

Fortunately, the feline coronavirus can be killed by household disinfectants, such as a bleach-water combination in a 1:32 part dilution. Multi-cat environments should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Once a cat develops observable signs of FIP – either the wet or the dry form – it is virtually certain that he will die from the disease. The wet form is “worse,” in the sense that affected cats may only have a month or two left to live once they are diagnosed. Cats with the dry form of FIP may have another year or so with a good quality of life.

The comfort and quality of life of affected animals may be enhanced by certain medications and supplements, such as prednisone, cyclophosphamide, interferon, low-dose aspirin and vitamin C. Good nutritional and environmental support is also essential to support cats with FIP.

Prognosis

The prognosis for cats with clinical symptoms of FIP is poor. Cats with the wet form typically have a more guarded prognosis than do those with the dry form, but both types are ultimately fatal.

Diagnosis and Tests