Treatment With Oral GS-441524
Debra Roberts
Pills are an option ONLY if your cat is NOT having gastrointestinal (G.I.) issues such as vomiting, soft stools, diarrhea, or inappetence--and once your cat is in stable condition. Injections are more reliable because, in most cases, the cat receives the entire dose delivery. Pills rely on the G.I. system for absorption. Because FIP causes inflammation of the intestinal tract, absorbing oral medications isn't always possible. If the cat vomits, doesn't eat well, or has diarrhea, there's always a risk that the G.I. system won't absorb the pills, resulting in the equivalence of a missed dose. Some cats are initially critical, unable to swallow or eat, and might even require a feeding tube.
Pills or capsules are recommended only after your cat has shown significant improvement from the effects of the FIP. Injections can be intimidating; some owners are needle-phobic or need a second set of hands to administer injections. Your treatment advisors and community can help you overcome injection anxiety and gain the confidence to give successful injections. The Help For FIP® support group contains owners sharing tips and tricks. You'll succeed with the proper guidance and diligence.
Another consideration is that oral formulations are significantly more expensive than injections, especially for larger cats and cats with Ocular and Neurological FIP.
When giving your cat oral G.S., they must fast for one hour before AND after administration. Water during fasting is fine. Tablets and capsules can't be crushed or opened and mixed into food. For proper delivery and absorption, they must be given whole or split in half if adjusting for dosage. **Pills can only be crushed if administered down a feeding tube.
You may coat each pill or capsule with a small soft treat like Churu. I take a small chicken cube (partially boiled and slightly pink), cut an "X" in it, and tuck the pill inside. Cats will generally eat it whole. Please see the videos below for further pilling instructions:
Video One: (https://rb.gy/nb7pc)
Video Two: (https://rb.gy/xyitn)
If the cat vomits within one hour of taking the pills, another dose should be given. Thirty minutes should be ample time to absorb the G.S., but the safest timeframe for them to resume eating is one hour after pilling.
Tablets are available in various sizes and doses, the same as injectables, and according to weight and type of FIP. A 1kg pill = 6mg of GS. Cats receive 1kg of oral G.S. for each 1kg body weight for Wet and Dry FIP. The dose is doubled for Ocular and Neurological FIP to cross the blood-brain barrier. Pleural FIP falls in between at 1.5 times the Wet/Dry amount. These are the baseline doses, which can increase according to the lab values and the overall response.