What are the complications of feline infectious peritonitis?

Feline infectious peritonitis is a relatively dangerous disease in cats, caused by infection with a mutated feline coronavirus. Depending on the severity of the disease, feline infectious peritonitis can lead to complications such as secondary bacterial infections, organ disease, abdominal fluid buildup compressing breathing, anemia, and neurological symptoms. Wet and dry forms of feline infectious peritonitis can respectively cause respiratory difficulties and neurological symptoms. Bacterial infections are generally caused by viral infections and can lead to upper respiratory tract diseases. Organ diseases such as liver damage, fatty liver, and pancreatitis are also caused by the worsening of feline infectious peritonitis. In addition, after a long period of illness, cats may develop anemia due to malnutrition and liver and kidney damage.

1. Secondary bacterial infections

After a cat is infected with the feline infectious peritonitis virus, if the symptoms are severe, it may develop a secondary bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. The cat will exhibit symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and rapid breathing.

1. Organ diseases

The main organ diseases associated with feline infectious peritonitis are liver damage and pancreatitis.

When a cat's liver is damaged, it is prone to jaundice, which is mainly caused by excessive production or impairment of excretion of bilirubin in the body. The cat's gums, skin, conjunctiva, mucous membranes, and urine will all turn yellow. In addition, because feline infectious peritonitis can cause lethargy and anorexia in cats, if the cat does not eat for a long time, it may develop fatty liver due to liver lipid deposition.

In addition to liver damage, feline infectious peritonitis can also cause pancreatitis. This type of pancreatitis is mainly secondary to hepatitis and manifests as severe vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, poor appetite, and abdominal pain.

1. Excessive abdominal fluid compressing breathing

The main symptom of abdominal fluid is seen in the wet form of feline infectious peritonitis. If the abdominal fluid is not promptly removed, it can severely compress the cat's abdominal and thoracic cavity, causing rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and difficulty breathing. In this case, small amounts of abdominal fluid should be gently aspirated, and specific medications for feline infectious peritonitis should be administered.

1. Anemia

Feline infectious peritonitis is a systemic disease. When a cat is ill, the virus damages the cat's normal bodily functions. The cat's food intake is insufficient, resulting in malnutrition. This long-term state of low protein can lead to a decline in the cat's compensatory functions. In addition, the damage to the liver and kidneys caused by feline infectious peritonitis also affects the cat's hematopoietic function, leading to insufficient blood supply, poor circulation, and moderate to severe anemia.

1. Neurological symptoms

Neurological symptoms mainly occur in the dry form of feline infectious peritonitis, manifesting as weakness in the hind legs, spasms, abnormal gait, and paralysis. These symptoms usually appear in the late stage of dry feline infectious peritonitis, indicating that the cat's condition is severe and treatment should be sought promptly.