Feline infectious peritonitis drugs developed for cats are now being investigated for dogs with similar conditions, reflecting broader progress in small animal medicine.
The transformation of FIP from a death sentence to a treatable disease represents one of the most dramatic welfare improvements in companion animal medicine in decades. Before effective antivirals, cats with FIP faced weeks or months of progressive deterioration including fluid accumulation, neurological decline and profound suffering. Owners now have the option to treat rather than immediately euthanise, provided treatment is accessible. The remaining welfare challenge is that treatment cost creates inequity - some animals suffer and die from a curable disease purely due to financial barriers.