Feline Infectious Peritonitis

[Poupon]

Hello,

I am a long time foster volunteer with a no kill Humane Society. No kill, in our case, means unless the animal has a terminal illness (feline AIDS, feline Leukemia or FIP).

Two days ago we got a call about three kittens left in a cat carrier in a grocery store parking lot. I picked them up, and didn't look at them until I was back home in the room I use to isolate new arrivals. They looked skittish but beyond healthy - robust, in fact, and as if they'd just eaten, with kitteny pot bellies. That wasn't surprising, since the woman who picked them up from the parking lot provided a large bag of food and other supplies for them. I prepared a meal, more to give their new digs a homey feel than because I thought they were hungry. I was surprised by how good their appetite was, considering their round bellies. That is never a good sign, but their energy seemed good and their eyes were clear and attentive. I thought perhaps they have parasites, as it's been quite the summer for them, but I didn't think it was a major problem because they are growing normally - I was pleased to see how big they are, after taking care of pitifully tiny kittens for months.

That was to days ago. Now two have signs of an upper respiratory infection with clear discharge - indicating it is most likely of a viral cause. 80% of cases of URI are viral, so antibiotics are not indicated.

The third kitten has no sign of a URI but stays well hidden and has to be dragged out at feeding time, when I also do socializing. They appear to be indoor kittens - clean no fleas, and smooth food pads, but with either no handling by humans or mistreated. They are quite anxious and jumpy, as if they have post stress disorder, but I've gotten two to purr and approach me on their own.

This morning the female and the hider seemed a little worse. The hider showed up for breakfast but barely ate, even after I caught him, pet him until he seemed to feel safe and pet him while he ate. The female ate well, and seemed chipper and cheerful, despite obviously having a cold and not feeling well.

This evening, the Hider did not come out to eat. I had to drag him out from under the bed, but he gave me no chase - in fact, at first I feared he was dead, as he just lay still when I pulled the trundle bed out and exposed him. He sat limply on my lap while I pet him. I put him by the food and he took a few laps of kitten replacement milk, but mostly sat hunched over. I took him back in my lap and after a bit he began to purr for the first time since he arrived.

Suddenly it hit me why he might be so obviously sick, yet not show signs of URI, and why he eats little but is roly poly healthy looking.

FIP.

I checked him for dehydration but he seemed to almost have too much fluid - I could not pull enough skin up to check properly. Not a good sign.

I adopted a brother and sister from a shelter a decade ago, and they had this. The female was one of the first confirmed survivors of it, and the first known one in my area. She is now 11. I will never forget the water bed like feel of a kitten with FIP. I have a very bad feeling about these kittens and I will be surprised if these end up with a better diagnosis.

The president of our Humane Society is out of town, so I can neither reach him to discuss this nor take the kittens to be vetted until he gets back. All I can do is try to keep them comfortable and do my best to keep their spirits up. I do have Amoxycillian on hand, which I will start them on now, despite the viral appearing symptoms. Amoxi is often given when kittens appear unusually sick with this in case there is a secondary bacterial infection. I have no other pharmaceuticals but I'll give them some benebac and yogurt with a flora powder to help keep the amoxycillian from upsetting their stomachs. I also have Rescue Remedy, which we rehabbers all swear by for stress. In the slim event this is not FIP, hopefully those things will get them on the mend before our president gets back. I don't have much else at my disposal, in the way of meds, but perhaps there is something you all can suggest?

Other ideas?

Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the long post.

This is my first post.

Laurel