Sebastian, an 8 month old, 3.3 kg, neutered male DSH kitten, presented on February 22, 2023 with lethargy, inappetence, temp of 39.2, wheezing and significant abdominal ascites. He had been adopted 1 month prior from a shelter. He had done well for 2 weeks and then became progressively lethargic along with weight loss. Lab results indicating low albumin, A/G ratio of 0.5 and high bilirubin contributed to the diagnosis. Abdominal fluid protein – 5.6 g/DL. FeLV/FIV neg.

Medications given – Sub q fluids, Cerenia, Clavaseptin, Onsior, Mirtazapine and B12.

 

On February 23, 2023 treatment with GS injections was initiated mid-day at 6 mg/kg BID. Sebastian was quite wobbly but the veterinarian advised this appeared to be from weakness so the normal dosage for wet FIP was begun. However by late evening, Sebastian was drooling heavily and having episodes where he would jump around and hide. He seemed agitated but would calm rapidly when his owner would sit beside him and talk to him. At 11 pm he had another episode, seemed very frightened, drooling, tail big and fluffy and arching his back. This lasted for several minutes and then he calmed. He seemed out of it during the height of the incidents but responsive immediately before and after. The treatment advisors told the owner that these episodes sounded like seizures and that Sebastian needed to be taken back to the emergency immediately.

 

An hour later Sebastian was seen by a veterinarian and given Valium. His second GS injection was given and the dosage was increased to 10 mg/kg. These injections were given BID for the next two days. Sebastian stayed in the hospital overnight and was discharged the next morning (Feb 24th) on phenobarbital, prednisolone at 1 mg/kg and diazepam for emergency. Sebastian rapidly improved and four days into treatment he was spunky, wandering the house, eating and interested in toys. Seizures had ceased. GS was now 10 mg/kg SID.

 

Five days into treatment, the owner reported that Sebastian’s balance was much improved, he could jump without falling and was carrying his tail in a high arc. Sebastian was grooming himself, gaining weight and much more energetic. 12 days into treatment the abdominal fluid was rapidly disappearing and Sebastian was playing with crazy kitten energy. At 26 days into treatment the phenobarbital and prednisolone started to be weaned and he was completely off them two weeks later.

 

A month into treatment, Sebastian was the picture of health, his fur was silky smooth and plush and he was a spunky kitten running laps around the house. The bloodwork showed the FIP markers had resolved very well already. On day 51 Sebastian was switched to GS tablets.

Day 60 – new bloodwork showed the FIP markers were looking excellent and the lymphocytes were slightly elevated showing a good immune response. The last few weeks of treatment were uneventful. Sebastian did very well with the oral GS, he was doing fantastic in every way, appetite and energy were great and his owner was so thankful for what she said was “truly a miracle drug.”

 

On day 84 (May 17, 2023), Sebastian stopped treatment. His 12 week labs were looking great and he was 4.6 kg.