I purchased my cat from a pet shop and he recently became sick and had a swollen belly. The vet thinks my cat has FIP. I found out another of the cats purchased by another customer from the same shop also had the same symptoms. What is FIP and can it be cured?

FIP, or feline infectious peritonitis, is a viral infection that affects cats with compromised immune systems, either the very young or very elderly. The body is infiltrated with pyogranuloma, a collection of a type of white blood cell, which are inflammatory and cause significant swelling of any affected organs. As a result, many organs can end up failing because they can’t function properly.

FIP develops from an adverse reaction to the feline enteric coronavirus, which is shed by infected animals in their feces and spreads to other cats through the mouth and nose. When a cat is infected, the virus may be destroyed by the immune system or it may mutate, allowing it to take advantage of the host’s body and live undetected. This leads to pyogranulomas. Some cats infected with the virus present non-threatening flu-like symptoms and some develop FIP. Humans cannot be infected with FIP from cats. Common clinical symptoms of FIP are fluctuating fever, loss of appetite, lethargy and weight loss. In some forms there can be a collection of yellowish fluid in the abdominal cavity and the patient may appear to have a “pot belly”. In the dry form, there is no collection of fluid. FIP may show in a variety of ways with a variety of symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult.

Currently, there is no specific test for FIP. Initially it was thought that the difference between developing FIP and the flu-like symptoms was dependent on the type of feline enteric coronavirus the cat contracted. However, we now know the mutation takes place after the cat is infected and varies depending on the animal’s immune system. FIP is a clinical diagnosis, meaing rather than confirming infection with a simple test that is negative or positive, the veterinarian must look at the whole picture and take into account many factors, including symptoms, history and blood tests. If the veterinarian believes the cat may have FIP, it should be treated accordingly against its clinical symptoms, provided with supportive care and monitored daily.

Because the virus may mutate differently in each animal, there is no specific treatment that can kill cure the disease. The best treatment is to rule out any other possible diseases and offer supportive therapy, which can include fluids, antiviral drugs and vitamin and mineral supplements, to help the body’s immune system fight the virus.

Need advice from METRO’s pet experts? Send questions to metrobeijing@chinadaily.com.cn or our http://weibo.com/1938342620. Answers supplied by the International Center for Veterinary Services on (+8610) 8456-1939.