How to distinguish between feline infectious peritonitis and feline pregnancy

Distinguishing feline infectious peritonitis first requires confirmation of whether a cat is infected with coronavirus, which leads to the mutation of the virus. To diagnose, it is essential to determine whether the abdominal fluid extracted meets the criteria for feline infectious peritonitis and conduct blood biochemical tests and routine blood tests. This comprehensive evaluation determines whether the condition is feline infectious peritonitis. Methods for checking cat pregnancy mainly include visual inspection, palpation, ultrasound examination, X-ray examination, etc.

Dry Form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Symptoms

Symptoms of dry feline infectious peritonitis: The cat's eyes may show symptoms of choroiditis; granulomas may occur in various organs such as the kidney, spleen, and small intestine; the cat may have unexplained fever, and some cats may even show neurological symptoms such as seizures and limb incoordination.

Wet Form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Symptoms

In the later stages of infectious peritonitis, the cat may lose appetite, become weak and lethargic, have a swollen abdomen, experience rapid breathing due to excessive pleural fluid, and develop yellow skin and mucous membranes caused by jaundice. Even neurological disorders leading to paralysis may occur. If the cat loses appetite, it is recommended to feed via a nasogastric or esophageal feeding tube to prevent fatty liver and exacerbate the condition.

Pregnancy Symptoms

When a cat is initially pregnant, its appetite significantly increases, and it starts to urinate more frequently than before. The hair around the mammary glands begins to fall off. Secondly, the cat's nipples become pink, and the abdominal circumference slowly increases after pregnancy. At the fourth week of pregnancy, the cat's nipples become noticeably swollen, and the breasts become much harder than before. The cat's weight and abdominal circumference also increase accordingly.