Identifying Common FIP Symptoms:
Dull coat
Diarrhea
Mild fever
Lack of energy or apathy
Anorexia or sudden weight loss
For cats that develop FIP disease, 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.
Symptoms of Wet FIP (Effusive Form):
The effusive form of FIP is more common. Effusive or 'Wet' form of FIP refers to the accumulation of fluid in body cavities; This form of FIP causes damage to the blood vessels, resulting in inflammation and fluid leaking from the blood into the abdomen and chest.
Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, leading to a swollen abdomen, or in the chest cavity, resulting in difficulty with breathing.
Calculating Dosages for Wet FIP:
Abdominal Effusion in Wet Form FIP:
Symptoms: Increased fluid in the abdomen area (causes a pot-bellied appearance).
Dosage: (5 mg/kg)
Thoracic Effusion in Wet Form FIP:
Symptoms: Fluids in chest (hard for the cat to breathe).
Dosage: (6 mg/kg)
Symptoms of Dry FIP (Non-Effusive Form):
Some cats develop 'dry' or non-effusive FIP where little to no fluid accumulates. The dry form often involves severe inflammation in one or more organs including the eyes, brain, liver, intestine, or other organs of the body, leading to a variety of clinical signs. Many cats with non-effusive FIP will have ocular (eye) symptoms as their only clinical sign. 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.
Calculating Dosages for Dry FIP:
Non-Effusive Form of Dry FIP:
Symptoms: Excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, jaundice and/or organ inflammation.
Dosage: (6 mg/kg)
Identifying Ocular Symptoms:
Symptoms: Bleeding in the eyes or any damage or abnormal change in the eye tissue.
Dosage: (8 mg/kg)
Recognizing Neurologic Symptoms:
Symptoms: Nervous tissue damage: Seizures or blindness, movement in an abnormal or uncoordinated way.
Dosage: (10 mg/kg)
Cats with effusive cases tend to die within up to 2 months (but usually shorter) of the onset of clinical signs, whereas cats with non-effusive cases have a more chronic disease course. In some non-effusive cases, effusive FIP will develop before death. Antivirals of nucleoside analogue, like GS treatment, were found to be highly effective in treating FIP. If administered timely and properly, yours cat's chances of making it will improve exponentially, as compared to not treating it at all.