📋📊📉 Over several posts today we will highlight important recent research about FIP testing and the value of specific tests. 🧫🧪 👨⚕️👩⚕️ A single test for FIP does not exist but a positive FCoV PCR on an effusion is confirmation of FIP (so a reliable test does exist for Wet FIP but too often it takes too long to get the result in a very ill cat who is rapidly deteriorating.)😿 🩸There are specific blood markers that should be tested for and it is these, combined with the cat's clinical presentation and history, that allow suspicion for FIP to be raised.🧐 📲💻 More details can be found here https://fipcatsuk.com/diagnosis-testing/ 🌍 The UK, amongst many other countries now, is in the fortunate position of being able to also use legal FIP Vet medication to prove FIP diagnosis - this is always preferred to leaving the sick cat to deteriorate, or worse, die, whilst waiting on test results!
Our second of several posts today about FIP testing and the value of specific tests. 🧫🧪📋📊 📲💻 Helpful relevant links related to this post: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/vetdiagnostics/researchprojects/fip/ https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/bohvm/vetdiagnostics/ ** Recap from our previous post: 👨⚕️👩⚕️ A single test for FIP does not exist but a positive FCoV PCR on an effusion is confirmation of FIP (so a reliable test does exist for Wet FIP but too often it takes too long to get the result in a very ill cat who is rapidly deteriorating.)😿 🩸There are specific blood markers that should be tested for and it is these, combined with the cat's clinical presentation and history, that allow suspicion for FIP to be raised.🧐 📲💻 More details can be found here https://fipcatsuk.com/diagnosis-testing/ 🌍 The UK, amongst many other countries now, is in the fortunate position of being able to also use legal FIP Vet medication to prove FIP diagnosis - this is always preferred to leaving the sick cat to deteriorate, or worse, die, whilst waiting on test results! **
Our final post today is specifically about the testing offered by the University of Glasgow's Vet Diagnostic Services' 'FIP profile.' It is a comprehensive testing profile and costs £51 plus VAT currently. 🧪📋
As our second annual "February FIP Cats' Awareness Month" draws to a close we summarise key information about UK FIP treatment. 🐾 Legal, Vet medication is easily accessible. It takes the form of Remdesivir and GS-441524 (originally as pills, and then additionally as oral drops as an option most recently.) 🐾🐾 Medication prices are the lowest they have ever been from pharmaceuticals to Vets. Veterinary markups are slowly improving - some practices have been leading the way now for a long time with very little markup applied! 😻 Large corporates are still generally marking up to prices similar to those seen in the first days of the legal medication (back in 2021) despite the reduction in costs to Vets from pharmaceuticals (in March 2023.) 😾 🐈 The FIP cat's immune system is central to development of FIP in the first place. The immune system is not repaired by FIP treatment. It should be considered more closely by professionals in terms of working to strengthen it (with PI from Vetimmune) for the FIP cat post-FIP treatment to ensure a future healthy, happy life! 🐈⬛ Supplements specifically for the FIP cat's liver and kidneys should be considered by all owners on the basis of recent research highlighting the potential negative impact FIP medications can have on these organs. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 It has been a long journey to where the UK is now regarding FIP diagnosis and treatment! 🧪📈 Testing and diagnosis is as easy as it has ever been - Vets should use the Glasgow University FIP Profile along with their professional workup of the cat's presentation, history and risk factors to increase suspicion for FIP. ⏳️ Time is of the essence. Treatment should be started rather than waiting for test results trying to pursue a 100% diagnosis - this is no longer needed (as it was prior to legal medication availability to confirm cause of death.) 🙄 Black market promoting groups continue to misinform and cause mass confusion in desperate owners in their hour of need. Total transparency backed by honest, academic research is not their top priority! 👨⚕️There is professional support from dedicated professionals like Vet Mark at FIP Support UK. 🔑 The UK FIP journey is not over - Molnupiravir holds the key to saving many more cats from FIP either as a single antiviral or used in combination with the current Vet medications when resistance occurs. 🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛ LIFE EXISTS AFTER FIP! HUNDREDS OF CATS ACROSS THE UK AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SURVIVED FIP USING LEGAL VET MEDICATION. 🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛ 🐾🐾🐾🐾 Tomorrow we will share one final FIP fact and answer any questions.