Diagnosing FIP
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that affects cats. It is caused by a type of virus called feline coronavirus (FCoV). FCoV is a common virus that infects many cats, but in most cases, it causes only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, in some cats, the virus mutates and causes FIP.
There are two forms of FIP: dry FIP and wet FIP. Wet FIP is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or chest of the affected cat. This fluid buildup is known as effusion.
Symptoms of wet FIP can include a distended abdomen, difficulty breathing, lethargy, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, and jaundice. These symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses, which can make a diagnosis of FIP difficult. A definitive diagnosis of FIP requires a combination of clinical signs, laboratory tests, and imaging studies, such as X-rays or ultrasound.
We can see ocular or neurological complications with either wet or dry FIP - however these are more likely to be seen with the dry form of FIP.
There are definitive markers in blood tests that can be very indicative of FIP, and we assess all blood work and tests done to help determine your cat's FIP diagnosis, and type, for dosing purposes.