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Jasper chose me as his owner four months ago. As soon as I walked into the pet store & looked into the cage of sleeping kittens, Jasper woke up, stretched & yawned, & began to rub his little head against the bars, purring his signature "motor purr". He was a beautiful grey & white tabby with the sweetest face I had ever seen. It was love & first sight & my boyfriend Steve & I took him home that afternoon. Jasper brought so much love & joy & laughter into our home & was a wonderful playmate for our other cat Oliver. We adored him.
Then, we began to notice that Jasper wasn't his usual playful, mischievous self. He had a mild fever & was also rapidly losing weight despite having a ravenous appetite. His belly had become extremely bloated to the extent that he had trouble walking & had to stop & crouch down after a few steps. We immediately suspected that he had worms & got him started on the drug Pyran in order to kill these parasites. After a few days, when no worms were being expelled, we decided to return to our vet.
As soon as I took Jasper out of his carrier & placed him on the exam table, the vet's face dropped. He began to palpate Jasper's distended abdomen & quietly told us that Jasper looked as if he was suffering from FIP. I began to cry as I realized that Jasper would never be coming home. The thick, sticky yellow fluid which the vet then extracted from Jasper's belly confirmed his diagnosis. Desperate, I asked if there was anything that could be done for this little cat who we loved so much. The answer was grim: at best, Jasper's life could be extended for another few weeks if we pumped him full of steroids & anti-inflammatories & had him undergo painful fluid extractions. We decided then that we would have Jasper put to sleep. The vet nodded & told us how sorry he was, but that we were doing the best thing we could do. I was sobbing when I said goodbye to Jasper & told him how sorry I was that we couldn't help him & that I loved him. I left the room while Steve stayed with Jasper & held him until he was gone.
I cannot wait for the day when this horrible, vicious disease can be cured.
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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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