Typically, cats with FIP show significant improvement after about a week of receiving GS-441524 treatment, and by two weeks, their spirits, appetite, and overall condition should have returned to normal. However, even if the cat appears to be well after two weeks, internal health indicators may not have fully recovered, which is not visible from the outside and requires testing to determine.
So, when should cats with FIP be re-evaluated, and what should you look out for?
If the treatment is effective (improved spirit and appetite), it is generally recommended to schedule the first follow-up one month after treatment begins. Some veterinarians may ask pet owners to come for a follow-up after one or two weeks of treatment, but this is not particularly meaningful, as it is unlikely that the cat’s health indicators will have significantly improved in such a short time; some may even decrease. As long as the cat is showing noticeable improvement in spirit, appetite, and condition, it is normal for health indicators to fluctuate or even decrease within the first month of treatment, indicating gradual recovery. By the end of the first month, the albumin-to-globulin ratio and other data should peak, and with continued medication, these indicators should slowly improve. It is advisable to check once a month, with the final check scheduled for one week before stopping the injections.
The initial follow-up should include a complete blood count, biochemistry (a half set may be considered for economic reasons), and serum amyloid A. If affordable, an ultrasound or X-ray can also be done to observe whether there is a reduction in effusion for wet FIP, or if there is a decrease in lymph node size or improvement in visceral organ lesions for dry FIP.
For the second follow-up, you can decide based on the situation; if a particular indicator was satisfactory during the first follow-up, it may not be necessary to test it again.
Another point to note is that it is generally advised not to switch hospitals for follow-ups, as different hospitals may have variations in their equipment, which can lead to discrepancies in data (especially in ultrasound results), affecting subsequent treatment guidance.
Additionally, let’s discuss the follow-up before stopping the treatment.
The standard treatment period for FIP is 12 weeks. Some pet owners report that their cats still have an albumin-to-globulin ratio below 0.8, or even around 0.6, by the end of the 12-week treatment, which makes them hesitant to stop the injections for fear of relapse.
However, some cats naturally have a lower albumin-to-globulin ratio. As long as the ratio is within the normal range at the time of follow-up, there is no need to be overly concerned about achieving a ratio above 0.8. At this point, pet owners should reflect on whether they have been administering injections and medication on time and in the correct dosage every day. If the treatment has been strictly followed, it is generally safe to stop the injections. However, if there have been deviations (such as underdosing or exceeding 24 hours between injections), the owner should decide whether to extend the treatment period based on the circumstances.
If there have been no problems during the treatment period and the cat has been consistently supplemented with nutrition to increase protein, yet the indicators still do not improve, it may be worth consulting with a veterinarian, as other health issues in cats can also cause elevated globulin levels.
In summary, follow-ups during the treatment process for FIP are essential. Only when a cat’s external condition and internal health indicators are both normal can the cat be considered healthy.