Interferon Omega For Cats
Pinch some of the skin of your cat s back.
Interferon omega for cats. Interferon cytokines can be divided into two types. Feline interferon which is commercially available as virbagen omega is a treatment used for feline infectious peritonitis fip. Interferon alpha is a drug that may be used in cats to manage conditions such as the felv infectious peritonitis or fvh. Type i interferon includes alpha beta and omega while type ii interferon includes the gamma protein.
This is usually due to a disease which has compromised the immune system often a virus. Interferons are substances that are formed in the body when the immune system detects the presence of viruses. Precautions and side effects. It was first studied for use in parvovirus in dogs.
In cats interferon is mainly used to improve strengthen and restore immune function. Certain cats treated with interferon become more active eat better and live longer. It might also improve your cat s red and white blood cells counts. Interferon is also used on an investigational basis in the treatment of various cancers and viral infections in dogs and cats.
Since 2004 uk approved for treatment of cats infected with felv and or fiv in the non terminal clinical stages from the ages of 9 weeks. Give the cat interferon injections for 5 days. Since 2002 uk approved for treatment of canine parvovirus infection. Despite a lack of controlled studies confirming its efficacy recombinant feline interferon omega rfeifn ω is used in the treatment of feline upper respiratory tract disease furtd which is usually caused by feline calicivirus fcv or feline herpesvirus 1 fhv 1.
Recombinant feline interferon omega is a licensed veterinary product virbagen omega. Efficacy is questionable at best and is considered controversial for treatment of certain viral diseases such as fip in cats. They are given a dosage of 1mu per 1 kilogram 2 2 lb of body weight that is to be administered once each day for 5 days. Interferon is most commonly given to cats as an injection under their skin.
It is licensed across europe for the treatment of cats with feline leukaemia virus felv infection and or fiv infection in the non terminal stages of disease and for canine parvoviral disease. Feline recombinant omega interferon virbagen omega has been under evaluation since 1998. It doesn t work in every cat treated with the drug but there s always a chance it could work with your pet. In some fiv positive cats interferon might reduce the virus ability to replicate.