Table 10-3.

TREATMENT FOR FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS

Mechanism of Action	Drug or Treatment*	Dosage
Immunomodulator and antiviral	Feline interferon-omega (Virbagen Omega)	1 million U/kg SC q48h until remission, then weekly
Immunomodulator	Human interferon-alpha (Roferon, Intron-A)	30 units PO q24h for 7 days on alternating weeks
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive	Prednisone	2–4 mg/kg, q24h, PO
Immunosuppressive†	Chlorambucil (Leukeran) or‡	20 mg/m2, every 2–3 wks, PO
	Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)	2–4 mg/kg, 4 days each week, PO, or 200–300 mg/m2, every 2–3 wks, PO
Platelet aggregation inhibitor	Aspirin	10 mg/kg, q72h, PO
	Ozagrel HCl	5 mg/kg, q12h, SC
Topical ophthalmic for uveitis	Prednisone acetate (1%)	2–3 drops/eye q6h
	Atropine (1%)	1–3 drops/eye up to q6h for mydriasis
Supportive treatment	Minimize “stress”	—
	Parenteral fluid therapy	As needed to maintain hydration
	Nutritional therapy via tube feeding	See Chapter 3
	Body cavity drainage (thoracentesis)	As needed to relieve dyspnea
	Blood transfusion	As needed for severe anemia
	Antibiotics for complicating infections	Dosage based on the drug

^*Cats most likely to respond are in good physical condition, are eating, and are free of neurologic signs, severe anemia, and feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus infections.

^†For conversion of body weight to body surface area (m²), refer to conversion tables in Chapter 26.

^‡Choose only one of these two alkylating agents, and combine with a corticosteroid.