Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was once considered uniformly fatal, but antiviral drugs including GS-441524 now offer genuine cure rates above 85%, transforming the welfare outlook for affected cats.
The emergence of effective FIP treatments represents one of veterinary medicine's most remarkable recent welfare advances. Cats that previously faced certain death within weeks now have a genuine chance of complete recovery and normal life expectancy. However, welfare implications of treatment must also be considered — daily injections for 12 weeks cause repeated stress and discomfort. The financial barrier to treatment is significant and cats of owners who cannot afford treatment still face the old prognosis. Ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments is an emerging veterinary ethics challenge.