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HOW DOES STRESS PLAY A ROLE IN FIP OCCURENCES? |
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Anything that stresses cats can depress immunity and also increase the likelihood that FIPV will establish itself in the body. Stress may also allow an FIPV that is being successfully contained to become active. The effect is even more powerful if the stress occurs at or shortly after the time the cat is exposed to the virus. Stressors can include overcrowding, weaning, spaying or neutering, other infections, being placed in a new and strange household, adding new cats to a household, shipping cats to new owners or other catteries, or stresses of pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Disease caused by feline herpes virus and other common upper respiratory pathogens are good indicators of cattery or shelter stresses.
If a cattery or shelter is having a lot of problems with these upper respiratory infections, it is likely that they will also have problems with FIP (especially if the genetics are unfavorable as well). For instance, one shelter had a huge FIP problem in the kittens they were adopting out. It was kitten season and the facility was overcrowded with cats and they had to stay for longer periods awaiting adoption. There was also a lot of upper respiratory disease. After researchers at UC Davis recommended limiting their intake of cats, overcrowding was eliminated and cats were adopted after shorter stays. The FIP problem decreased as did the respiratory infections.
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Newsflash
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WINNing the FIP Fight: Veterinarians Reveal the Latest at Winn Feline Symposium |
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) might be the most dreaded diagnosis for cats. That's because it usually happens to babies, little kittens. FIP - up 'till now - has always been considered a fatal disease. Finally, it seems, there may be hope - at least for some cats with FIP.
To announce new directions in FIP research, and actual successes, world renown researchers Dr. Niels Pederson, director for the Center of Companion Animal Health at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis and Dr. Al Legendre, professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville headline the 2011 Winn Feline Foundation Symposium, WINNing the FIP Fight, June 23, 6:45 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Reston Town Center (1800 Presidents Street), Reston, VA. The seminar event, includes Q & A time, and dinner for $45. Proceeds benefit the Winn Feline Foundation Bria Fund, which provides funding for FIP research.
To read the complete article, please go to Steve Dale's Pet World website here.
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LEGACY OF COMPASSION: SALLY MORGAN-WELCH AND HER FAMILY FOUNDATION ENGAGE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST FIP |
Sally Morgan-Welch noticed that her rescued cat Jakey was lethargic and losing weight. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)—a nearly always fatal systemic viral disease caused by a mutation in the coronavirus—was suspected. But it wasn’t until he continued his rapid descent and had to be euthanized that the veterinarians were able to determine without a doubt that Jakey had been suffering from the disease.
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