DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED ORAL GS:
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15mg/kg, q24h for basic Wet Abdominal FIP
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15mg/kg, q24h if there is pleural effusion or fluid in the chest cavity
DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED INJECTABLE GS:
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8mg/kg, q24h for basic Wet Abdominal FIP
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8mg/kg, q24h if there is pleural effusion or fluid in the chest cavity
DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED ORAL GS:
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15mg/kg, q24h
for Dry FIP
DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED INJECTABLE GS:
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8mg/kg, q24h
for Dry FIP
DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED ORAL GS:
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20mg/kg, q24h for FIP with ocular or neurological symptoms
DOSAGE FOR COMPOUNDED INJECTABLE GS:
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10mg/kg, q24h for FIP with ocular or neurological symptoms
Oral Fasting Protocol:
When treating with oral GS, remove cat’s food and fast overnight (leave water available)
Give full dose of tablets or capsules first thing in the morning
Wait one hour then feed full meal
A small treat (such as Churu or pill pockets) can be used when giving meds
Draining Fluid:
NEVER DRAIN MORE THAN 30% OF TOTAL FLUID VOLUME FROM ABDOMEN
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Draining the abdominal fluid can be risky and can cause the cat to go into shock
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If fluid must be drained it should be no more than 30% and only if cat’s belly becomes so full that eating, bowel movements or breathing are affected
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Chest fluid can ABSOLUTELY and MUST be drained if kitty’s breathing is labored
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Chests fluid can be drained completely
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Some cats may need multiple chest drains before the GS is able to prevent further accumulation of fluid build-up
Steroid use during treatment:
DO NOT GIVE AN FIP CAT DEPO-MEDROL - THEY CAN CRASH WHEN IT WEARS OFF
MANY but NOT ALL cats will benefit from a course of short-acting steroids such as Prednisolone or Dexamethasone to help stabilize the cat while the GS gets to work
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Anti-inflammatory dosing is 1mg/kg TWICE A DAY for 5-7 days, then drop down to 1mg/kg ONCE A DAY and taper off
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Course should be for 2 weeks maximum including tapering
Issues with administering the treatment:
GS should be given within an hour of the chosen time daily
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If the cat is on ORAL GS and vomits within an hour of receiving the pills or capsules, a full dose should be re-administered
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If the cat is on ORAL GS and vomits more than an hour after receiving the pills or capsules, the dose does not need to be re-administered
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If the cat is on INJECTABLE GS and part of the dose leaks after injecting, re-administer 1/2 the total dose
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If the cat is on INJECTABLE GS and most of the dose leaks after injecting, re-administer the full dose
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Leaks of injectable GS should be cleaned off of the fur and skin with mild soap and water and rinsed well
Weighing the cat:
Regular weight checks are a key part of treatment
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It's very important to weigh the cat 2-3 times per week as the dose of GS is calculated taking the cat’s weight into consideration
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It’s a good idea to keep a log of the weights to track progress
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GS dose is NEVER adjusted down for weight loss - always calculate dose based on cat's HIGHEST weight since diagnosis
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We also never lower dosage during treatment
Bloodwork Schedule:
Blood work should be performed at or around days 30, 60 and 80 of treatment
This is done to see how the patient is doing on the inside as well as on the outside by observing clinical improvements
The first set of blood work done around day 30 may not show much if any improvement so don’t be alarmed if that’s the case
The day 60 labs tell us a lot more about how treatment is progressing
If results are not at desired levels by day 60, dosage might increased to help blood values reach the desired levels by day 84
During the 84-day observation period that follows treatment, blood work should be run every 4-6 weeks
Minimize Stress:
Avoiding all unnecessary stress is critical for an FIP kitty - please advise the below to your client
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No new pets
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Keep cat INDOORS whenever possible
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No vaccines (exceptions detailed below)
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No surgeries (except spay and neuter as per the below)
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No big lifestyle changes if possible
Vaccination:
There is no ONE answer regarding how to proceed with or without vaccines for an FIP kitty
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There are many factors which can increase the cat’s risk of contracting diseases, such as where you live, whether your client has a single cat or multi-cat home, whether they foster, whether the cat is strictly indoor or not, if the cat has already had any vaccines, if the cat has other health issues, etc.
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An FIP Warriors® veterinarian who has treated hundreds of FIP patients feels that the benefits of giving the FVRCP vaccines during treatment outweigh the risks but prefers to wait for a year after cure to give the rabies vaccine
Surgery:
If the cat undergoing treatment is not spayed or neutered yet, that surgery should be scheduled for between weeks 8-10 while on GS (after the 8 week blood work is reviewed)
If this timing for the spay or neuter is not possible, one can simply extend the GS treatment for 2 full weeks post-surgery
If the cat cannot be fixed during treatment, the recommendation is to wait until the observation period is over and cat is considered cured
Supportive Care:
Most cats starting FIP treatment will need the help of the below:
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
Making sure your cat is getting 200-250 calories per day is CRITICAL and some cats will need assisted or syringe feeding of high-calorie or recovery food might be necessary until cat is eating on his/her own again
Assisted Feeding Info
CERENIA/MAROPITANT or ONDANSETRON
Anti-nausea medications your vet can prescribe
MIRATAZ
A topical appetite stimulant that is applied to the inside of cat’s ear. Your vet can prescribe this as well.
VITAMIN B-12 INJECTIONS
Can be given weekly dosed at 0.25mL per shot
SUBCUTANEOUS FLUIDS
Can be given at the direction of your vet if the cat is dehydrated
DENAMARIN or HEPATO
Over the counter liver support supplements
PREDNISOLONE
A steroid that your vet can prescribe in a LOW DOSAGE to help calm the inflammation caused by FIP
Pred is usually only used for the first 2 weeks of treatment