I received another thank you note from SOCK FIP regarding my recurring donation, so I visited their website to see if any new research was available from the UC Davis team. It appears that a closed clinical trial was conducted earlier in 2016 and a paper published about the findings. The PDF for the preliminary report is posted on SOCK FIP’s site date stamped 5/1/2016: http://www.sockfip.org/pdf/Preliminary_Report_5-1-2016.pdf

Within the report is a link to a published article regarding the emerging research. See PLOS.org for more detail. http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1005531

While the news appear mostly positive in tone, please realize that this was a very small study. The brief also states that the protease inhibitor being tested isn’t available outside of UC Davis’ clinical trials program–and to further that limitation, the word “expensive” jumps right out of the page.

Obviously more trials are needed to determine the efficacy of the trial drug, and if found successful, it will take time to be federally evaluated before released for public consumption.

Below is the edited text of the response to my charitable donation to SOCK FIP through my workplace matching donation program, i.e. Benevity.

Donation Date:  April 2016
Receipt for $20.00 donation to SOCK FIP
Received through BENEVITY

Dear Anna,

Thank you so much for your very special $20.00 donation to SOCK FIP received
through BENEVITY during April 2016, in memory of your kitten Drogo.  We are
very sorry to hear of your loss to FIP. 

Your gift makes a big difference and is greatly needed and appreciated to help fund
and find a cure for the most complex and heartbreaking of feline diseases.

UC Davis intends to remain on the leading edge in their quest to discover a treatment
and cure for FIP. Much progress is being made and we appreciate your help in keeping
the funds coming as the anti viral field trial continues to reveal new information. 
We are very grateful for your support for this important trial and for all UC Davis FIP
Research and their very talented team of researchers including Dr. Niels Pedersen,
Dr. Brian Murphy and Dr. Pesavento.

Together we will SOCK it to FIP!

With condolences and gratitude,

Carol Horace and The SOCK FIP team
Save Our Cats and Kittens from Feline Infectious Peritonitis
P.O. Box 602
Davis, CA. 95617

501(c)(3) 27-1523038
Please keep and print out this email as receipt for your donation to SOCK FIP.
If you require a USPS hard copy in the mail, please let us know and we will send
a paper copy to you in the mail.
Thank you!!!

I had a very rough night and I am convinced that we are prolonging Drogo’s life artificially. I dread waking up in the AM because I fear to see him pass in the night. The man and I had some half-sleep conversations of bringing this to the end; we just don’t see any more progress and we don’t his last days to be full of suffering and misery.

Dropped him in his crate, he went #1 in litter. Spent most of the day on the bed.

10a 10mL Hills a/d, 1mL prednisolone

Let him outside in the backyard, he explored the patio between rest breaks. He was definitely alert to the new environment but his energy didn’t allow him to explore his surrounds fully..

Made a few calls, Dr Cowser concurred that PTS was the humane option. We scheduled an appointment at Eldorado Animal Hospital due to distance and affordability.

Drogo was put to the final sleep on Monday afternoon. The procedure was quick and painless, perhaps too abrupt. Many tears were shed as even at the last minutes of his life, Drogo displayed vestiges of his old self, meowing incessantly for reassurance and rolling on his back to allow his tummy to be rubbed.

This was one of the most heartbreaking days of my/our lives.

Drogo exhibited some interest in going outside in the backyard in AM, but was still lethargic and walked with effort. Took a swat at the scratching post early AM but mostly crouched under cat tree or on dog bed.

He favored the Hills Prescription Diet Urgent Care a/d canned food so we have proceeded to feed him all day with it. The thick pate texture is also a plus since there’s little risk of aspirating. To get it into the syringe, we add a few drops of water. With the exception of the corn flour and guar gum, I am pleased with the ingredients of this canned food. It seems that Drogo also has no problems with it as he is receptive to being fed. On one occasion he nibbled it out of the dish, but we still have to syringe feed him since he is not eating enough.

Had a concern that for the afternoon feeding he wet the bed.

2a 10mL formula #2
9:30a 10mL Hills with prednisolone
3p 10mL Hills with orbax
6:30p 10mL Hills
9:30p 10mL Hills with mirtazapine

Observed another incontinence incident on bed. Must call vet ASAP.

Energy: low energy AM/PM, slept most of the day, very low energy PM
Movement: Mobile, requires effort, will move toward bed or cat tree
Tracking: Slow tracking, did not engage in play. Tracked cat teaser wand.
Appetite: Hills a/d diet, formula #2
Attitude: Passive, will lay down next to dogs, tail swishing when petted
Hygiene: Has exhibited some self-grooming, fur matted around ruff, urinary incontinence
Hydration: Derived from syringe feeding