Table of contents:
- Renal or hepatic amyloidosis
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Arterial thromboembolism
2023 Author: Alex Livingston | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 11:39
The Ocicat is a generally healthy cat and has a rather long life expectancy, but it can still inherit some diseases that affect the breeds from which it was born. So let's try to thoroughly analyze the most common health problems they can run into.
Renal or hepatic amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a hereditary disorder that occurs when a substance called amyloid, an insoluble protein, is deposited in organs such as the kidneys or liver. This results in the formation of lesions and the malfunction of these organs, which eventually fail over time.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Pyruvate Kinase is an enzyme that regulates sugar metabolism. A pyruvate kinase deficiency in cats causes more or less severe anemia, as it leads to early destruction of red blood cells. The hereditary version of this disorder is caused by a recessive gene that is easily identified with a DNA test: it will determine whether a cat is healthy, a healthy carrier or a sick one.
It is a fairly common disease among Abyssinian cats and therefore also affects Ocicat, the result of a cross between Abyssinian and Siamese. The most frequent symptoms are: lethargy, anemia, diarrhea, paleness of the mucous membranes, loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart disease among cats and consists of a progressive thickening of the heart, caused in its hereditary form by a genetic anomaly. This problem over time creates serious difficulties for the animal's organism.
It is important but not always easy to notice the possible clinical signs of this disorder as soon as possible, which usually consist of lethargy, shortness of breath and loss of appetite. If your vet finds a heart murmur in your cat, a echocardiogram will be able to confirm whether or not it is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Arterial thromboembolism
Cats prone to heart problems can develop heart problems clots of blood, known as thrombi, which form in the left atrium of the heart and come to obstruct the peripheral arteries, blocking normal blood flow. When this happens, one or more of the animal's legs may become paralyzed or be cold or painful to the touch.
Thromboembolism is a fatal disorder and requires immediate action as well as long-term treatment. Cats that survive thromboembolism episodes can regain full use of their limbs. If your cat has been diagnosed with heart disease, it is likely that your vet will also prescribe drugs that reduce blood clots. If your cat suddenly has difficulty walking, don't waste time: take him to the vet right away!
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