Beautiful young Beau, a Russian Blue cat was referred to our Internal Medicine team for investigations into marked lethargy, anorexia and rapid weight loss. These symptoms pointing to a deadly disease known as Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
Once FIP was confirmed, the team began lifesaving treatment with the revolutionary medication remdesivir.
Will Bayton, one of our Internal Medicine specialists said: “When Beau arrived he was extremely weak, he wasn’t eating and his blood tests showed many abnormalities including a significant anaemia. He was still very young and we were all concerned he might not actually survive given how rapidly he was deteriorating.”
Previously cats with FIP would almost always have died, but now with remdesivir about 80 per cent of FIP cases are responding and being cured.
Following his ground-breaking treatment Beau’s grateful owner said: “When Beau was referred to DWR Veterinary Specialists we thought he was going to die. He had stopped washing himself and really was awful. After you prescribed him remdesivir, the transformation was incredible. He is now the young cat he should be. I can’t describe the relief as we watched him get better and better.”
Will added: “This is an amazing step forward for cats in the UK and over the world. The remdesivir treatment can be given orally or via injection, and the cats need to be treated for a minimum of 12 weeks. Beau recovered well and it’s fantastic news that we can now offer this potentially lifesaving treatment to cats suffering from FIP.”
