UK Vet FIP Legal Treatment

Unregulated UK Veterinary markups on Bova UK’s FIP medications continue to force owners to dangerous blackmarket sources of FIP medications. These Veterinary markups are also responsible for cats being put to sleep when owners are made to believe they do not have enough funds. We have witnessed, in December 2022 alone, 10 Bova FIP pills charged at £865 and £426 by two separate practices. This must stop!

This cat was treated legally for an approx total cost of £3900 for Dry FIP.

This cat was treated legally for an approx total cost of £5000 for Wet FIP.

This cat received Ocular FIP treatment and the total cost was £5945. This included initial Vet visits and hospitalisation before the actual diagnosis was made, as well as Bova UK FIP treatment.

UK FIP Vet Protocol – November 2021

2024 Protocol Updates

https://icatcare.org/app/uploads/2024/05/FIP-VET-update-MAY-2024.pdf

Practicalities:
Bova UK’s Remdesivir is administered intravenously in Neurological, Ocular and hospitalised very sick cats (as per part two of the ISFM FIP podcast advice of December 2022 and following the official UK November 2021 protocol for doses and ways to administer ie slowly over 30 minutes etc.)

Bova UK GS-441524 pills (see above for the official UK November 2021 protocol for doses and ways to administer especially for Neuro FIP doses and the importance of these being a divided daily dose for full absorption for Neuro FIP cats).

NEVER UNDERDOSE!

Weigh weekly at minimum to stay on or above dose ie the total pill amount needs to be increased as weight is gained in order to achieve the prescribed dose.

These Bova GS-441524 pills:

must be given on an empty stomach ie no food preferably 2 hours before
can be given with a little Lick e Lix or other small amount of treat
can be crushed
mean no food should be given for at least 30 minutes after taking

It has been stated by UK FIP Vet Expert Dr Sam Taylor (Vet Neurology webinar, May 2022:) if in doubt increase the Bova UK antiviral dose.

A re-check of the diagnosis of FIP and or a secondary diagnosis must also be considered if response isn’t as expected.
(Dr Diane Addie, Catvirus.com)

Weighing

The FIP Advice Team

Bottles of Medication

Recommended Injection Sites

Podcasts

Part one of two.

A really interesting FIP podcast from some of the UK FIP Advice Vet Expert team discussing testing linked to contributing to a diagnosis of FIP.

Some really interesting views on Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) testing in particular and its relevance (or not) to diagnosing FIP. “FCoV antibody positive doesn’t mean anything.” “Faecal PCR positive… means FCoV in poo…not FIP.”

You can listen to this podcast by searching ISFM on any online podcast player where you will then see this specific FIP podcast amongst other themes.

“So I think we should be aiming to be as confident as possible even if we don’t nail the diagnosis.”

“We’re really aiming for being as confident as that (FIP) being a likely diagnosis as possible.”

“We also therefore don’t want to be spending a huge amount of money diagnostically and then not having funds available for treatment.”

Some really vital key messages from Professor Severine Tasker during a really interesting FIP podcast from some of the UK FIP Advice Vet Expert team.

The 2nd part of the ISFM FIP podcast was very interesting.

You can access it on any podcast player. Search for ISFM.

The importance of a divided dose of Bova UK’s FIP Vet medication for Neurological FIP cats was highlighted (as not enough is absorbed if given as a single daily dose.)

For those nearing end of treatment with regards to testing, Professor Gunn Moore highlights her expectation that all blood markers are normal and that includes the Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) test result. She does explain the ALT liver score may not be within normal range and that is ok.

The team also highlight that it is appropriate (unless Neuro, Ocular or hospitalised as so poorly) that cats can go straight onto Bova UK’s pills and bypass Bova’s Remdesivir IV or injections.

The experts’ final comments are regarding the importance of Vet monitoring throughout treatment, regardless of the cat owner’s chosen treatment route.