Cat’s Belly Is Swelling: How to Tell If It’s FIP

1 Distinguishing FIP From Other Causes of a Swollen Belly

One: Symptoms of FIP. A swollen belly (ascites) is usually caused by wet FIP, accompanied by reduced appetite, lethargy, and fever.

Early in the disease the abdominal girth increases only slightly and the cat still eats, runs, and plays normally. After 1–2 weeks the belly grows, with lethargy and appetite loss. By three months, the cat becomes emaciated, jaundiced, and may show organ failure or neurological signs. Pregnancy causes no such symptoms—appetite and energy stay normal. Liver and cardiac ascites can look similar to FIP and require professional diagnosis to tell apart.

Two: How FIP is diagnosed. If a cat shows related symptoms, take it to a veterinary hospital promptly for a blood count, biochemistry, ultrasound, SAA, and other tests.

1. Blood tests usually show anemia and elevated white cells; because the immune system collapses, white cells may plummet later in the disease.

2. Mid-disease liver dysfunction can appear, so biochemistry helps assess albumin and globulin.

3. FIP can enlarge lymph nodes, so ultrasound is needed; but wet FIP fills the abdomen with fluid, which may hide the nodes on ultrasound.

4. SAA mainly measures inflammation; FIP virus disrupts immunity and causes varying inflammation. If two or more of these four tests fit, suspect FIP strongly.

Three: How FIP is treated. A typical plan includes:

Anti-inflammatory therapy—wet FIP is generally not given IV fluids; you can feed amoxicillin powder such as Weipuda.

Blood transfusion (FIP often causes anemia), with blood typing first.

Antiviral therapy (GS-441524 or GC376). GS-441524 is cheaper and more effective, and is more accepted than 376.

Nutritional support: vitamin B complex and IGY antibody factor to boost immunity and antiviral ability and aid liver metabolism.

The above covers judging and medicating FIP. For other questions, consult an online vet anytime.