We recently had our stray kitty put to sleep. The vet said she
had FIP, and that she could never be healthy again. What is FIP and
why can’t infected cats get better?
Q: We recently had our stray kitty put to sleep. The vet said she had FIP, and that she could never be healthy again. What is FIP and why can’t infected cats get better?
A:
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is one of the real “bad guys” in the feline world. It’s a virus that’s very infectious, and often deadly. Your little stray was probably infected by a carrier, maybe a feral cat. Some kitties are able to mount an immune response and they never become ill. But others get very sick as the virus gains a foothold in their blood. These victims become progressively weaker with time. Once this occurs, there’s little chance for recovery.
FIP is tenacious and unresponsive to antibiotics and even most antiviral medicines. Since most of its victims become very sickly, many people choose humane euthanasia, as your family did. We’re so sorry for your loss. Perhaps someday, science will find a way to eliminate this disease. Work to develop an effective vaccine has been futile so far. But all of us hope that effective immunizations are developed someday so our cats can be safe from FIP.
Q:
Our old dog, Freddie, has developed a sagging face. His left eye is so droopy now and even his left ear is different. He seems to be perfectly fine otherwise. Did he have a stroke?
A:
Freddie’s symptoms sound as though he has a condition called facial paralysis. A group of nerves (called cranial nerves) at the base of the brain are important for the function of facial expression, eye movement and a lot more. Something has affected one of those, the facial nerve in this group. It may have been a stroke, although strokes aren’t common in dogs. Often, the culprit is a tumor which puts pressure on surrounding nerves as it enlarges. Even a benign tumor could cause Freddie’s symptoms. I’m glad to hear he feels good otherwise, but his problem needs prompt evaluation. You should take him to his veterinarian as soon as possible.
Q:
We just a got a puppy from a breeder in Louisiana. Marty is a pug with cute big eyes. But he doesn’t completely look like the dog in the picture we saw when we paid for him. One of his eyes seems to wander to the side a little. We called the breeder and haven’t heard from him for several days. This is supposedly a reputable breeder, but I’m starting to smell something here. Have we been duped?
A:
Could be. Purchasing any pet from an Internet advertisement is risky, because some people aren’t completely honest about what they sell. It sounds as though he has lateral strabismus, a wandering eye. And chances are he’s had this condition for some time. Marty needs a thorough evaluation to see how serious this is, and to see if he has other health problems. Strabismus can be serious, but his problem might be minor enough that he doesn’t need any medical treatment.
This episode perfectly illustrates the dangers of Internet pet sales. There are hundreds of stories similar to this one, where the buyer was misled. My recommendation? Never, never, never buy a pet over the Internet. Always get to know the seller personally and meet your new pet before you pay. There are too many dishonest sellers ready sell you a lemon, and the Internet makes it very easy to be unscrupulous.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Two weeks ago, Peg and I attended a concert at Gavilan College. “Bach to Blues” was a true mix of many different musical genres. There was blues, an incredible flamenco group and some very impressive classical piano performances.
One performer, Jeremy Spool, entertained the crowd with a beautiful performance on the piano. But it was his introduction that really caught our attention. The emcee told us that this talented 17-year-old wants to be a veterinarian. I spoke with Jeremy after his performance and his passion was obvious.
I hope he follows his dream. If his talent as a vet is even close to that of his musical prowess, he’ll make an incredible animal doctor. Great show, Jeremy!!
