Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus
What are the symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitus Virsu or FIP?
Cats that have been initially exposed to the feline coronavirus usually show no obvious symptoms. Some cats may show mild upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. Other cats may experience a mild intestinal disease and show symptoms such as diarrhea. Only a small percentage of cats that are exposed to the feline coronavirus develop FIP-and this can occur weeks, months, or even years after initial exposure.
In cats that develop FIP, the symptoms can appear to be sudden since cats have tend to mask disease until they are in a crisis state. Once symptoms develop, often there is increasing severity over the course of several weeks. The first nonspecific symptoms can be loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, rough hair coat, and fever.
There are two major forms of FIP, the “wet” form or the “dry” form. Generally, cats will exhibit the signs of the dry form of FIP more slowly than the wet form.