I just finished reviewing the two FIP webinars. At the time they were created, there weren't good FIP diagnostic tests using fecal or blood samples. Unless I misunderstood the information, the treatments were not yet available in the US at that time either. 

Two of my former foster kittens were diagnosed with FIP after adoption. We raised money, secured the medication and both survived and are now thriving several years later. 

I suspect one of my current foster kittens has FIP. She is about four weeks old and the biggest symptom is anorexia. We have ruled out parasites.   We are also testing for Panleukopenia but she isn't presenting the way my previous panleukopenia positive kittens were. 

My personal private vet is very good at diagnosing  FIP. However, since this is a shelter kitten; I need to stay within their protocols. I just really want to get treatment started for her asap if she does have FIP. I would also like to make sure our fantastic shelter staff has the latest & greatest resources to help other FIP kittens that might come to them.

#AccesstoCare
#CaseManagement*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

------------------------------
rosalie hathcock
Board Member
Little Lives Animal Rescue
GA
------------------------------

Yes, there is a treatment now available to treat FIP.   While I don't have direct experience with it (...yet...we may have just brought in a litter of 7 that may have FIP), both my niece and one of our adopters have experience.  The response is remarkable.  Both saw significant improvement within days of giving their cats their first treatment.   Below is a link to the Cornell Feline Health Center that includes a recording of the newest webinar on FIP treatment. 

FIP treatment GS-441524 - now available in the U.S.

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/fip-treatment-gs-441524-now-available-us

The challenge is still the cost.  I think it is cheaper than what people were paying on the black market before GS-441524 became available.  But unfortunately it is still out of range for what the average pet owner may be willing to pay.  I'm hoping the price comes down.  In a brief search on line, it appears that there may be some companies that are offering the drug at a lower cost than what my niece is currently paying.  The one redeeming factor is that it appears to be effective  93-97% of the time.  

Gwen

------------------------------
Gwen Harding-Peets
Board Member, trapper, S/N certificate coordinator, adoption/foster coordinator
PANT
Dutchess County, NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-16-2024 04:23 PM
From: rosalie hathcock
Subject: Are there new FIP diagnostics available now?

I just finished reviewing the two FIP webinars. At the time they were created, there weren't good FIP diagnostic tests using fecal or blood samples. Unless I misunderstood the information, the treatments were not yet available in the US at that time either. 

Two of my former foster kittens were diagnosed with FIP after adoption. We raised money, secured the medication and both survived and are now thriving several years later. 

I suspect one of my current foster kittens has FIP. She is about four weeks old and the biggest symptom is anorexia. We have ruled out parasites.   We are also testing for Panleukopenia but she isn't presenting the way my previous panleukopenia positive kittens were. 

My personal private vet is very good at diagnosing  FIP. However, since this is a shelter kitten; I need to stay within their protocols. I just really want to get treatment started for her asap if she does have FIP. I would also like to make sure our fantastic shelter staff has the latest & greatest resources to help other FIP kittens that might come to them.

#AccesstoCare
#CaseManagement*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

------------------------------
rosalie hathcock
Board Member
Little Lives Animal Rescue
GA
------------------------------

Hi Rosalie,

As an FIP consultant/admin in the Southern Idaho region, we have seen some very big and very significant changes in the FIP world.  Unfortunately, diagnostics is not one of those.  Fecal analysis is still unreliable due to the high rate of natural FeCoV infections.  Bloodwork (CBC/Chem) seems to be a better troubleshooting method, usually ruling stuff "out" versus ruling FIP "in".  Many vets are expanding outside the standard practice of focusing on the A/G ratio, Globulin and TP.  Other values that are considered are %Neutrophils, %Lymphocytes, and Red Blood Cell counts (RBC, HCT, HGB), and Total Bilirubin (which I'm finding many vets don't include on their panels).  For those of us in shelter and rescue medicine, even having those panels run can be costly.  There are other recommended diagnostics like MRI, X-Ray, CT, and Ultrasound, that may help to identify other non-FIP issues, but we know that for the average person, and many rescue groups, these are not reasonable tests to perform considering the cost.  In cases of Wet FIP, the only accurate (but not guaranteed test) is the Rivalta test.  It's a simple test with a relatively non-evasive centesis procedure.

Regarding clinical symptoms, they look for anorexia, weight loss, poor coat condition, fluctuating high fever, lethargy, and any ocular or neurological signs or symptoms.

Honestly, the best method that we've found for helping arrive at an FIP diagnosis is to start treatment.  Most kitties will respond within 24 to 72 hours, and usually, that response is significant.  Now that most states can get the Stokes Pharmacy GS compound, I would hope that more vets will get on board with treatment.  But as Gwen mentions, it is still not an inexpensive treatment, and yes, many of the black market meds are thousands of dollars more.

Groups like FIP Warriors and FIP Global Cats are still helping people by way of consulting and when needed procuring injectable medicine for kitties who are not stable enough to take oral meds.  As a rescue, I would get involved with their local (to you) groups.  By doing this you can watch the trends of how kitties are diagnosed and/or treated.

On a personal note, 4 weeks is a little young to be seeing FIP, but by no means is it impossible.  When we see those little nuggets struggling to thrive, we usually go the therapeutic route with fluids, Vitamin B injections, probiotics and lots of Baby Thrive, A/D, or CN.  But do watch her, sometimes you can see this coming on long before it gets worse.  The best thing about the antivirals, it won't hurt her if it's not FIP, so really, not a lot to lose by trying.

I hope one day soon there will be better diagnostics for FIP allowing us to get kitties started on treatment much faster.

------------------------------
Monica Bennion
Clowder 9 Ranch
Buhl, ID
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-16-2024 04:23 PM
From: rosalie hathcock
Subject: Are there new FIP diagnostics available now?

I just finished reviewing the two FIP webinars. At the time they were created, there weren't good FIP diagnostic tests using fecal or blood samples. Unless I misunderstood the information, the treatments were not yet available in the US at that time either. 

Two of my former foster kittens were diagnosed with FIP after adoption. We raised money, secured the medication and both survived and are now thriving several years later. 

I suspect one of my current foster kittens has FIP. She is about four weeks old and the biggest symptom is anorexia. We have ruled out parasites.   We are also testing for Panleukopenia but she isn't presenting the way my previous panleukopenia positive kittens were. 

My personal private vet is very good at diagnosing  FIP. However, since this is a shelter kitten; I need to stay within their protocols. I just really want to get treatment started for her asap if she does have FIP. I would also like to make sure our fantastic shelter staff has the latest & greatest resources to help other FIP kittens that might come to them.

#AccesstoCare
#CaseManagement*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

------------------------------
rosalie hathcock
Board Member
Little Lives Animal Rescue
GA
------------------------------

We have a young cat in our care that we began administering the new FIP injections to and though she arrived to us lethargic, presenting many symptoms including her eyesight most likely failing, she is close to the end of her treatment and is playing and exhibiting normal cat behavior now! We are also pleased to report that her eyesight may have been affected somewhat, but she can definitely see!

------------------------------
Lydia Kenyon
Wildthunder W.A.R.S.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-16-2024 04:23 PM
From: rosalie hathcock
Subject: Are there new FIP diagnostics available now?

I just finished reviewing the two FIP webinars. At the time they were created, there weren't good FIP diagnostic tests using fecal or blood samples. Unless I misunderstood the information, the treatments were not yet available in the US at that time either. 

Two of my former foster kittens were diagnosed with FIP after adoption. We raised money, secured the medication and both survived and are now thriving several years later. 

I suspect one of my current foster kittens has FIP. She is about four weeks old and the biggest symptom is anorexia. We have ruled out parasites.   We are also testing for Panleukopenia but she isn't presenting the way my previous panleukopenia positive kittens were. 

My personal private vet is very good at diagnosing  FIP. However, since this is a shelter kitten; I need to stay within their protocols. I just really want to get treatment started for her asap if she does have FIP. I would also like to make sure our fantastic shelter staff has the latest & greatest resources to help other FIP kittens that might come to them.

#AccesstoCare
#CaseManagement*
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

------------------------------
rosalie hathcock
Board Member
Little Lives Animal Rescue
GA
------------------------------