How to judge if a cat with a big belly has feline infectious peritonitis

A cat with a big belly does not necessarily have feline infectious peritonitis. The clinical symptoms of feline infectious peritonitis lack obvious specificity, and most cases present with fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, etc., especially in non-exudative cases. Therefore, diagnosis requires laboratory tests, such as blood biochemistry, abdominal fluid biochemistry, PCR, and histopathology. If you suspect feline infectious peritonitis, take the cat to the hospital for confirmation as soon as possible to avoid delay in treatment.

Causes of a big belly

A cat with a big belly may have eaten too much food, causing the abdomen to protrude. You can use a cat teaser to encourage the cat to exercise and digest the food. Additionally, when a cat is about 1 month pregnant, its belly will protrude, and you can take the cat for a pregnancy checkup. It's also possible that the cat has abdominal fluid, which causes the belly to protrude and feels波动 during palpation. In this case, go to the hospital for treatment promptly.

Difference between abdominal fluid and feline infectious peritonitis

Abdominal fluid is a symptom of certain feline diseases and does not have specificity. Many diseases can cause abdominal fluid, such as bladder rupture, hypoalbuminemia, heart disease, etc. Abdominal fluid does not necessarily mean feline infectious peritonitis. Feline infectious peritonitis can be divided into dry and wet types, and not all cases have abdominal fluid. Diagnosis requires a comprehensive judgment based on tests such as the Liptay test and albumin-to-globulin ratio, and confirmation requires fluorescent antibody detection.

Treatment of gas in the stomach

Cats have delicate stomachs and digestive systems. Therefore, it is recommended to feed them light diets and natural foods. Also, avoid giving cats foods that are prone to fermentation and gas production. It is advised to use medications such as lactase, multi-enzyme tablets, lactobacillus tablets, veterinary Miracle Mile, Lactulose, and Enterolysis, etc., to help regulate the cat's digestive tract microflora.