The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)  have released the 2022 Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines. These landmark Guidelines are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and will provide veterinarians with the essential information necessary to provide a FIP diagnosis in cats. FIP is a viral disease that can affect any organ in the body and is caused by a feline coronavirus (FCoV).

“First recognized over 50 years ago, feline infectious peritonitis has been one of the most important infectious diseases and causes of death in cats, especially affecting young cats less than two years old,” said Vicki Thayer, DVM, DABVP (Feline), Task Force Co-chair. “Further, FIP can be challenging to diagnose in some cases and is often considered an enigma by the veterinary profession. Today, diagnosis relies upon evidence from signalment, history, physical examination findings, and diagnostic testing. The 2022 AAFP/EveryCat Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis Guidelines serve as a critical resource for veterinary practitioners diagnosing FIP in their cat patients.”

Given the fact that FIP is fatal when untreated and nearly every small animal veterinary practitioner will see FIP cases, the ability to obtain a correct diagnosis is critical. FIP can be challenging to diagnose due to the lack of clinical signs or laboratory changes, especially when no physical symptoms are present. These Guidelines will provide veterinarians with essential information to assist their ability to recognize cats presenting with FIP.

“These Guidelines were written with the intent of providing the most current knowledge available in one comprehensive format combined with extensive supplemental resources all in one location,” adds Susan Gogolski, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), Task Force Co-chair. “The Guidelines will be an invaluable resource to veterinary teams around the world as a clinician builds the index of suspicion of FIP brick by brick.”

The 2022  Guidelines were developed by a Task Force of experts in feline clinical medicine. Helpful tips, images and tables, and algorithms are included throughout the document. In addition, the Guidelines feature 16 valuable supplemental resources that appear online such as videos, figures, instructions, and a questionnaire. Download the FIP Diagnosis Guidelines at the AAFP website.