FIP Supportive Care

FIP Advocates and Champions Canada is an organization dedicated to providing help, support and hope for those facing this diagnosis. Though once a completely fatal disease, there is now a highly effective treatment and cure!

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Early into FIP treatment, many kitties need a lot of supportive care. According to the International Cat Care guidelines, this may include, Subq or IV fluids, appetite stimulants, anti-nausea medication, anticonvulsants, nutritional support and pain management.

On this page you will find recommendations for the various kinds of supportive care your kitty may need.

It can be very stressful and exhausting to watch your kitty battling such a serious illness. A support system can make a big difference! Having community support from other cat owners who are treating their own kitties for FIP can be very helpful. FIP Advocates also offers individualized support! For 5+ years our team has supported thousands of cats and their owners throughout the treatment process. For those outside Canada, we are happy to connect with a support team through our global network.

For support please join:

FIP Advocates Support Group


Nutritional Support:

 **See attached pictures for popular and effective, high calorie foods to use for supportive feeding **
 
These foods can be syringe fed or given through an NG tube if your vet feels a feeding tube is necessary.
 
This is an excellent video showing how to syringe feed:
 
If your kitty is not drinking enough water or getting enough moisture from wet food, they can become dehydrated. In the beginning of treatment, they may need a little help with hydration.
 
Here are some suggestions for keeping your kitty hydrated:
 
• Add extra water to your kitty’s wet food and encourage them to eat wet food rather than kibble.
• Use a hydration aide such as Purina HydraCare.
• Ask your vet to prescribe subcutaneous fluids to administer at home.
 
IV fluid administration by your vet may be required for serious dehydration.
 
*We do not recommend syringing water directly as there is a risk of aspiration, which would likely necessitate a trip to the ER
 


Nausea & Inappetence:

Keeping your kitty’s energy intake up (approx. 200 calories per day) is crucial to the success of the FIP treatment. However many cats suffer from inappetence as they are not feeling well, and may suffer from nausea, acid reflux and even heartburn (especially with wet abdominal FIP).

Treatment for Nausea – CERENIA
 
Maropitant citrate ( Cerenia®) is an antiemetic used to treat vomiting, nausea and motion sickness cats.
 
• Maropitant citrate is given by mouth, in the form of a tablet or is injected under the skin as instructed by a veterinary professional.
 
This medication will take effect quickly, in about 1 to 2 hours, and improvement in clinical signs should follow.
Be cautious when administering this medication, as topical exposure could cause an allergic reaction in people. Wash with soap and water if this occurs.
 
 
Treatment for Nausea: PEPCID
 
Pepcid AC can be used instead of Cerenia for nausea when necessary. It is a safe alternative to use when necessary and is available over the counter.
 
Dosing: a 3 kg kitty would get 1/4 of a regular strength tablet every 12 hours.
Please consult with your veterinarian before introducing new medication
 
 
Treatment for Inappetance: MIRTAZAPINE
 
Mirtazapine (brand name: Mirataz®) is an antidepressant often used to treat weight loss and anorexia (loss of appetite), mainly in cats. Mirtazapine has been demonstrated to be an effective appetite stimulant and also has antiemetic (anti-vomiting) and anti-nausea effects. Mirtazapine is also suitable for transdermal administration. 
 
Both oral and transdermal mirtazapine are now commonly used in clinical practice. It has been approved for cats at a labeled dose of 2 mg q24h.
 
How do I give mirtazapine to my cat?
• Mirtazapine comes in pill and transdermal (ointment) forms, or your veterinarian may have the pills compounded into liquid form to make oral dosing easier.
• It is given orally (by mouth) or the ointment applied to the inside of the ear flap.
• The oral form may be given with or without food; however, if vomiting occurs when given on an empty stomach, give future doses with food.
• Wear gloves when administering the transdermal (ointment) form.
 
Benson, K.K., Zajic, L.B., Morgan, P.K., et al. Drug exposure and clinical effect of transdermal mirtazapine in healthy young cats: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg 2017; 19:998-1006.
Poole, M., Quimby, J.M., Hu, T., et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to evaluate the weight gain drug, mirtazapine transdermal ointment, in cats with unintended weight loss. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2018 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]


Use of Steroids:

In certain cases, short-term steroid administration, such as prednisolone or dexamethasone, can be an essential tool in reducing inflammation and stabilizing patients, particularly those with severe neurological symptoms. For cats with IMHA or other secondary conditions requiring steroid therapy, longer-term use and higher dosages may be necessary. 
 
As steroids have an immune suppressing effect, their use should be avoided when not required for stabilization. 
 
For cats with ocular FIP, topical steroids are often prescribed to manage uveitis. When FIP patients require anti-inflammatory treatment, NSAIDs can be considered as an alternative when appropriate.
 


Abdominal and Pleural Fluid:

Abdominal fluid is NOT recommended to be drained in most cases. An abdominocentesis is only indicated if it is interfering with the cat’s respiration. It is important to note that fluid drained from the abdomen will rapidly return. Taking a small sample of the fluid for testing is fine.
 
In contrast, pleural effusion (in the chest) should be drained by a thoracocentesis.
 
 
Cats with pleural effusion may require multiple fluid drainages during the initial two weeks of treatment. This is due to the time it takes for vasculitis to resolve and the antiviral medication to reach full effectiveness, rather than due to an adverse reaction to the treatment.
 

 

Questions? Contact Us

info@fipadvocates.com

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