Course of GS441 Treatment

Dr Pedersen's case study determined that a successful course of treatment with GS441 is 12 weeks, administered daily.  Some owners have stopped treating once blood work and diagnostics returned to normal; however, the few cats who did relapse were among those who stopped prior to the 12 week protocol.  Because the course of treatment is both emotionally and financially taxing, most owners currently using GS opt to pursue the full 12 weeks, to ensure the highest probability of success.  Cats who undergo the full 12 weeks and remain symptom-free for 90 days following conclusion of treatment are officially cured of FIP.  

GS441 comes in both injectable form, and as of June 2019, a pill form.  Both are administered daily and the dose is based on the weight of the cat. 

For wet & dry FIP without neurological or ocular symptoms, the recommended dosage is 5mg (GS) x weight (kg) / GS concentration per 1mL = dose per 24 hr.   
Neurological and Ocular FIP cats require 7mg/kg MINIMUM, and can go as high as 10mg/kg for extreme ocular or neurological cases.

A dosing calculator can be found here.

It is important to note that the dosage should not be reduced during the course of treatment, regardless of how well the cat is responding.  Conversely, if the cat is not responding to the starting dosage, it is safe to increase. It is also crucial to check the cat's weight often, and adjust the daily dose accordingly. 

The only known side effect of GS441 is skin lesions or burns, due to the acidity of the solution (injectable form). For this reason, it is recommended to always clean the cat's skin after giving an injection.  Many owners also opt to give oral CBD oil or Hemp oil 30-60 minutes before injecting, to help minimize the stress.  Should you opt to do this, it is critical that the product be veterinary grade and the proper dose should be determined by a veterinarian. CBD and/or hemp oil can be fatal to a cat if not administered properly.  More commonly, Gabapentin, a mild pain medication can be given orally 60-90 minutes prior to the injection. The vast majority of cats using GS tolerate the injections just fine without the need for any pain medication or sedative. 

Shandong Longilat Biotechnology Co., Ltd was established in 2015. It is a high-tech professional and technological enterprise integrating R & D, production, and sales. 

Longilat 's main products are food additives, plant extracts, cosmetic raw materials, feed additives, animal extract, amino acids and vitamins. Most of our products are derived from natural plants. Marketing services are available in many countries around the world. 

Q: What is GS-441?
A: GS is short for GS-441524 which is an experimental anti-viral drug (nucleoside analog) that has cured cats with FIP in field .
It is currently available as an injection or an oral medication although the oral version is still not widely available yet. Please checking with Julia for the details!

Q: How long is the treatment?
A: Recommended treatment based on Niche Petcare is a minimum of 12 weeks of daily sub-cutaneous injections.
Bloodwork should be checked at the end of 12 weeks and cat's symptoms should be assessed to see if additional treatment is needed.

Q: What is the correct dose of GS to give my kitty?
A: Dosing is based on the weight of the cat. 
If you love math, the formula to calculate is:
5mg*(GS) x weight(kg) / GS concentration per 1mL**=dose per 24hr
*Neurological and Ocular FIP cats require 8mg/kg MINIMUM.
Can go as high as 10mg/kg for extreme ocular or neurological cases.
*GS concentration per 1ml = total GS in bottle (mg) / total solution volume (mL)

Q: What exactly are "neuro" or "ocular" cases?
A: "Neuro" cat means that FIP has crossed the blood brain barrier and symptoms include central nervous system issues. Ataxia (weakness in my back legs especially), inability to jump fully without hesitation, lack of coordination and seizures may occur. Ocular involvement, which is common with the neurological form since the eyes and brain are closely connected

Q: What are the details with the oral treatment?
A: Oral Pills:
Dosage is 1 pill equals 10mg .
Neuro dosage: Please contact us for dosage. We would have to calculate and itdepends on all different cases.
Price is $8 per pill.

Q: What size syringes and needles do I need?
A: Depending on what your cat's dose is, you can used either a 1 mL or a 3 mL syringe. Use a 20 gauge needle to draw up the GS into the syringe and then it's best to CHANGE the needle to a fresh one of the same size OR SLIGHTLY SMALLER (21 or 22 gauge) to inject. The GS liquid is somewhat thick and a larger needle allows it to be drawn up and injected faster. The LENGTH of needle can be anywhere from 1/2" to 1 1/2" in length. It's a bit of a personal preference. Some usethe longer needles to try and avoid any GS leaking out, some are more comfortable injecting with a shorter needle. You DEFINITELY want Luer-lock needles so they can be secured to the syringes and not pop off.
A NOTE ON NEEDLE GAUGE SIZES: The number used to describe the circumference or "width" of the needle opening gets larger as the size of the opening gets smaller. For example, an 18 gauge needle has a larger opening than a 21 gauge needle.

Q: How do I give the GS injections?

A: The injections are given sub-cutaneously or "sub-cu" which means just under the skin. Injections are to be given every 24 hours at as close to the same time everyday as is possible for at least 12 weeks. The needle should NOT poke into the muscle of the cat. The GS stings upon injection but the pain is over as soon as the injection is over. There are several helpful videos that our members have posted showing how they inject and also many on YouTube. It's best to have your vet do the first injection or two and to teach you how to do them. Kitties that are more difficult to restrain for the shots may require daily trips to the vet.

Q: What are the side effects of GS?
A: The only known side effects of GS are pain during injections and the possibility of skin lesions forming at the injection sites.

Q: My kitty is on GS and now has diarrhea. What should I do?
A: We recommend giving B-12, bland food and a probiotic. Pumpkin puree is also okay to give. Fortiflora or Proviable are two probiotics. If the cat seems to be getting dehydrated, giving sub-cutaneous fluids is okay

Q: Should I continue to use flea/tick treatment for my FIP kitty during treatment?
A: No. Do not use Revolution, Frontline or other chemical flea/tick treatments while on FIP treatment. The biggest part of treating for fleas is the environment. Vacuum daily (floors, closets, bedding, anything the cats come in contact with) and wash all bedding. You can flea comb your cat daily to remove fleas. You can make a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar (2:1) to apply on a cloth and wipe onto your cat daily so the fleas don't want to be on her. Revolution is one of the moresafe options, but I would hesitate to combine it with GS for fear of affecting the GS being able to have full effect.

Q: How long after completing FIP treatment should I wait to spay/neuter my cat?
A: 3 months.