Shelters – General

FIP RESOURCES FOR SHELTERS

Unfortunately, as many as one out of twenty kittens and cats coming out of shelters can be affected by feline infectious peritonitis.  This problem is particularly bad during the annual “kitten season,” when the influx of feral kittens can create overcrowding and therefore stress on all animals. Studies have shown that stress can be a key factor in the onset of FIP. Most kittens and cats have already been exposed to the coronavirus, and if not are likely to be exposed when entering a shelter.  It is the coronavirus that can mutate into FIP.

The SOCK FIP and UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program websites are designed to provide information that can help shelters manage FIP and other infectious diseases.

ABOUT FIP

Feline infectious peritonitis is a complex disease.  To help cat lovers and caregivers understand feline infectious peritonitis, we posed the most commonly asked questions to Dr. Niels C. Pedersen, one of the world’s experts on the disease.  His answers can be found in a series of articles on the SOCK FIP website here.

Dr. Pedersen has also authored two recent articles on FIP (please be advised these articles may contain graphic images):

A Synopsis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Significance of Coronavirus Mutants in Feces and Diseased Tissues of Cats Suffering from Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Niels C. Pedersen, DVM, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus recently retired as director of the UC Davis Center for Companion Animal Health and the Veterinary Genetics Lab.

UC DAVIS KORET SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM – http://www.sheltermedicine.com

The mission of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program is:

To advance shelter medicine as a veterinary specialty through research, specialty training and education, and performance of veterinary service in animal shelters

To improve the quality of life of animals in shelters through improvements in veterinary preventive medicine and management of disease.

The Shelter Medicine Program offers a number of services and resources to shelter workers, including:

Diagnostic Services

The Shelter Medicine Program offers a number of services and resources to shelter workers including: A Resource Library, (https://sockfip.org/shelters-general/) information on Facility Design Assessment (https://www.sheltermedicine.com/services/facility-design/) and an Online Virtual Consultant (http://virtualconsultant.sheltermedicine.com/) developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine that enables animal shelters to assess their everyday practices. The UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program helps shelters protect animal health, support animal welfare and save animals’ lives.