Financial Assistance for FIP Treatment

Illiana

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Hello everyone,

I have a 9mth old kitten named Yen who was diagnosed monday with FIP. The vet told us that she only has a couple of weeks left, and told us to just bring her back when it "was time". I don't want to just wait for my kitten to die. We found an experimental treatment that has had good success rates, but is very expensive. If anyone could help, even just by spreading the word and sharing my link, it would be much appreciated. I created a GoFundMe for assistance. I don't expect contribution towards it from anyone, but if you could share and pass it along I would be greatly appreciative.

Thank you everyone.

Here is the link:

gf.me/u/yywmxy
 

GoldyCat

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Note that this reminder is posted in all threads asking for donations and is not directed at any specific person.

From the Mods:
To all members, a reminder that it is YOUR responsibility to check out these solicitors to the best of your ability. Ask for references, phone numbers, call around the area and find out if this is a legitimate cause or a scam. Thecatsite.com does not stand behind any solicitation of funds for any reason that appear in the forums unless explicitly authorized. Be very careful before you send any money: no matter how effective the plea is, check it out first before opening your wallet. For more information, see Pleas for Money.
 
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Illiana

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Anyone is welcome to ask me questions. If you have them please ask. I can share pictures as well if wanted.
 

GoldyCat

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What is the treatment you're looking at? Do you have links to any studies or information?
 
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Illiana

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Here are a few websites with articles on the treatment we are pursuing. We have begun treating her with this treatment already, and while her appetite and the fluid build up have not improved, only 2 days in atm, she seems to have a bit more energy. She doesn't hide the entire day anymore, we have seen her getting out and going to drink water now, which she didn't do for two days. But still no luck with food.

Anivive | Home

FIP treatment might soon be a reality

FIP drugs continue to show promise, while being sold on black market

FIP hope: Treating the untreatable | International Cat Care
 

Furballsmom

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Hello, you will need to consider handfeeding, whether with your finger, a popsicle stick or syringe, but she needs to get food into her. Don't leave it up to her, get some food onto her tongue, and often that will restart the interest in eating but keep handfeeding for as long as necessary.

Also, just in case there's something here if you haven't tried these;
(apologies for any broken links);
Financial Assistance – Day By Day Caregiver Support Inc.

Financial Aid for Pets

No Money For Vet Care? How To Find Help And Save Your Cat's Life

About Waggle | Vet Financial Assistance | Financial Aid For Pets

5 Ways to Pay for Vet Costs
 
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Illiana

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I will look into these thank you. Last night I was able to get more food into her than the previous days, along with pedialyte and a high calorie gel she licked off her paws. This morning she took a few bites of food on her own. I have never been so excited in my life to see a cat eat.
 

movinintime

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I hope others help Yen! Imagine if you were her? I can't even fathom what it would be like to have a 95% fatality rate w/ a disease that you KNOW you yourself have. :(

TY to Yen's mommy, for the updates via emails to me! I ONLY wish I was an eccentric/senile millionaire or Powerball winner. I'd give it all away to special needs/sick cats, so long as I can remain well enough to help these cats -- & as many as I could! Let's all play the Powerball! lol

I swear ppl think I'm insane but you know what... if I am & it helps 1 kitty at a time -- so be it. Call me whatever nutcase you want. These suffering cats don't care how crazy I am, so long as we all pitch in to help them!
 

movinintime

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Just b4 I lose i-net service wanted to say; PLEASE FEED HER WET FOOD NOT DRY! It'll make her feel so much better & keep her hydrated. I'm sure dehydration will worsen her quality of life. I'm no vet but try to use raw food as much as I can. Cans are 2nd best but kibble really is toxic in that its too junky, & for a comprimised baby, please give her the highest quality you can.

I use Vital Essential's raw freeze dried -- as no store here has frozen raw from them -- but if you're near a store in your town carrying it or can get it in -- then please look into it if poss. TY & I know I'm adamant re this but I think nutrition is cornerstone of a cat's health -- especially a sick one already.
 
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Illiana

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Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you greatly! Where the food was concerned I bought so many different kinds. I spent close to 80$ trying to find something she'd eat. Including fresh chicken and shrimp. I had to syringe feed her wet food until she finally ate on her own the dry food we left out for her. For her dehydration we gave her Pedialyte and it seemed to help, she guzzled it the first day.
 

movinintime

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TY for the updates on YEN! :)

God smiled on me too, as neighbor heard my probs & gave his password for free Wifi til we move in month or so -- or i hope less -- & I offered him rides as has no car. G/f is again in hosp. & up to when she'll be disharged so things are still hard here. But my feral is inside unlike last yr in AZ, so a win sorta at least for us & him.
 

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I Illiana , I have a question for you. Are you in the clinical trial with Yen, or if not, how did you happen upon this new drug? It's so wonderful to read your updates everyday on his GoFundMe page. Sounds like he's doing very well. I am curious also, WHY are the injections painful for him. Is this a thick medication or something. Does it go into the muscle rather than just under the skin. For us here at TCS who hear so often that a cat has FIP, this news of a possible cure is so thrilling and I want to be able to share it but need to now how people can get the treatment for their furbabies. I did read the links you provided above, but maybe missed something :dunno:?

He is so adorable and his updates are the cutest :wink:
 

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Let's ALL help YEN reach her goal to get healthy & better!!!:)
I would happily help her if I was able to do that.
I have recently spent many thousands euro to pursue a similar experimental treatment for a cat with FIP, a cat that wasn't even mine. He was a feral cat that I rescued from a life amid the garbage and took him to a shelter where he received the food he needed and all the vet visits and meds possible, including this experimental treatment that cost an eye, many thousands.
The treatment started just a few days I was put on Covid Payment, which was half of my regular salary. It went on 14 weeks. Well, it drained my account and savings!
And my wife knows little about this! :help:


I Illiana , I have a question for you. Are you in the clinical trial with Yen, or if not, how did you happen upon this new drug?
I can answer your question from my own experience. The drug isn't officially available. The one I used on the feral cat I told above is called GS-441524, and is only available on the black market. The vet couldn't hand it to me, but was able to address me to the person who could. Of course, the vet was following the progress of the treatment, but wasn't officially involved.

I am curious also, WHY are the injections painful for him. Is this a thick medication or something. Does it go into the muscle rather than just under the skin.
The drug I used is in a liquid form, as clear as water, but nearly as thick as oil. It has to be stored in a fridge, and this makes it thicker. This thickness requires a big needle, which contributes to the pain, then the liquid does sting. That's why it is painful for the cat.
It goes into the muscle, not under the skin.
The one I used had to be administered once a day, everyday at the same time. A fifteen minutes range was allowed for the injection. In the case the same time could not be observed, it was way better to anticipate it rather than delay it. So, say that every day you give the cat the injection at noon sharp. If on a day you know you can't give the cat the shot at noon, it is better to do it at 11:30am rather than at 12:30pm. But, as from the following day on, 11:30am will be your new injection time.
The cat I told about, who was 12 months old when he started the treatment, was a shelter resident, so there was a lady who was managing the thing, and she had to do that for 95 days in a row.

For us here at TCS who hear so often that a cat has FIP, this news of a possible cure is so thrilling and I want to be able to share it but need to now how people can get the treatment for their furbabies. I did read the links you provided above, but maybe missed something :dunno:?
Yes, it's a promising drug, but it doesn't always work that fine...
 
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Illiana

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I Illiana , what Antonio65 Antonio65 said is correct. The drug itself is not readily available for use and is acquired on the black market. There is a group on facebook called FIP Warriors, which is how I was able to get in contact with people who could help me. It is very expensive. And also as Antonio said the medication is very thick, and it requires a larger needle in order to be able to draw the medication out of the bottle. When we inject the medication, we are able to go to a bit smaller of a needle, but the smaller you go, the longer it will take for the medication to inject. The medication itself is administered subcutaneously, and not into the muscle, but it seems like it must sting a lot. Yen is unfortunately beginning to get injection sores and that is also painful for her. The medication is administered once a day, for an 84 day period. We are currently on day 13. The medication is about 115$ a bottle, there are a couple cheaper brands, but I did not want to risk quality. You get about 3 doses per bottle. As Yen gains weight the amount of her dose will go up, thus decreasing the amount of doses I will be able to get from a bottle.
 

Antonio65

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The medication itself is administered subcutaneously, and not into the muscle, but it seems like it must sting a lot.
Is your drug the same that I used on my feral cat? I was explicitly told to do that in the muscle.

Yen is unfortunately beginning to get injection sores and that is also painful for her.
In my case the cat had an x-ray in his hind leg and some inflamed spots were found, but they would dissolve in time.

The medication is administered once a day, for an 84 day period. We are currently on day 13.
I knew the same length of time, but given the good results, the vet advised us to extend the treatment about two weeks. Actually we stopped when the last bottle ended.

The medication is about 115$ a bottle, there are a couple cheaper brands, but I did not want to risk quality. You get about 3 doses per bottle. As Yen gains weight the amount of her dose will go up, thus decreasing the amount of doses I will be able to get from a bottle.
Yes, it depends on the cat's weight. Each bottle was sold as 5.2 ml, but actually it was 4.4 ml, so the amount of doses from each bottle were fewer than expected and forced me to buy more bottles.
Each bottle was €140, which translates in $157.
As the cat was gaining weight we would need a couple more bottles.
 
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Illiana

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Is your drug the same that I used on my feral cat?
Yes the drug is the GS441524. We were told subcutaneous and not to put it into the muscle. We were also given a chart as to where to give the injections, which is in the front shoulder area, to the side and not over the spine. Did your cat have wet or dry FIP?
 
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