Conjunctivitis
Sphynx kittens' eyes open much earlier than those of any other breed, so they are more susceptible to conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes).
The symptoms of this unpleasant disease are discharge from the eyes. In Canadian Sphynxes they can be in the form of transparent mucus or pus. With conjunctivitis, purulent crusts form around the eyes, causing the pet to begin rubbing its eyes with its paws. In rare cases, photophobia may occur during this illness.
To prevent this disease, the animal needs to wipe its eyes daily with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water at room temperature. It is recommended that kittens have their claws trimmed as often as possible.
Before starting treatment for conjunctivitis, you must thoroughly rinse your eyes and only then apply special drops.
For purulent inflammation of the eyes, instead of eye drops, it is better to use tetracycline ointment, which is placed behind the lower eyelid. If long-term treatment of sphinx eyes does not produce positive results, then veterinarians advise using hydrocortisone ointment.
Types of purulent discharge
If the owner of a furry cat notices purulent discharge from the eye of his pet, he first needs to determine its nature. This will further allow the veterinarian to make an accurate diagnosis and differentiate less dangerous diseases of the animal’s visual organs from more serious ones. The type of discharge will also help determine whether pathogenic microflora is involved in its appearance.
Discharges from the eyes of cats are as follows.
Mucopurulent. They arise due to damage to the eye by bacterial infections. The color of the purulent fluid varies from dark yellow to green. A characteristic sign is the presence of a smell of heat. Serous. The discharge has a watery consistency and is almost always transparent and straw-colored. Sometimes they may have a pinkish tint.
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Serous inflammation is often the initial stage of complex pathologies. Also, the appearance of serous discharge may indicate the presence of an allergic reaction or viral infection. The appearance of such discharge is associated with exposure to chemicals or cigarette smoke. Mucous. Light and viscous secretions of a protein structure, odorless.
Most often, mucous discharge indicates a chronic type of influence of various irritants or powerful allergens, pathological conditions of the cornea or tear ducts. If a cat has untreated eye injuries, then there is a high risk of developing purulent inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye.
Mastopathy
Mastopathy in Canadian Sphynxes occurs for a number of reasons: the animal’s skin has a special structure - it is folded, thickened and has many sebaceous glands. In addition to females, neutered cats are susceptible to the disease.
In rare cases, mastopathy in the Sphynx can turn into mastitis. Mastopathy is often associated with hormonal imbalance in the animal’s body, which is why it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian.
The symptoms of mastopathy and mastitis in the Sphynx are similar. With mastopathy, the mammary glands swell and harden, redness appears, and pain occurs on palpation. With mastitis, sphinxes have all of the above symptoms, but they are much more pronounced. With mastitis, the temperature almost always rises, and copious purulent discharge appears from the mammary glands.
As a therapeutic measure, the mammary glands of the Canadian Sphynx are rubbed with camphor oil daily.
To prevent mastopathy, veterinarians advise owners to feed their pet properly and never overfeed. It is recommended to provide the animal with proper care.
The key to the health of the Canadian Sphynx lies in a simple rule: the pet must lead an active lifestyle.
Rabies
Rabies is an acute viral disease that is transmitted through saliva during the bite of a sick animal. The incubation period during an animal's illness can last from 30 to 50 days, in rare cases from 10 to 90 - it all depends on the location of the bite and the amount of saliva that gets into the wound. The closer to the nerve endings the bite falls, the shorter the incubation period. The most dangerous wounds for sphinxes are those that are in close proximity to the animal’s head.
During rabies, a Sphynx exhibits the following symptoms:
- loss of appetite,
- profuse drooling,
- vomit,
- diarrhea,
- in rare cases, constipation.
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Throughout the entire period of illness, the pet becomes very aggressive. The Sphinx can attack not only animals, but also people and even its owner. It is very important to avoid cat bites as the disease is very dangerous for humans. During this period, coordination of movements is completely disrupted, they begin to hide in dark shelters so that no one will disturb them. The animal falls into a comatose state and then dies.
Unfortunately, today rabies in animals, like in humans, cannot be treated. For preventive purposes, veterinarians advise regular vaccinations from the age of three months. Rabies vaccinations are given only once a year.
Food allergies
Sooner or later, the Canadian Sphynx may develop a food allergy, which is accompanied by severe itching. When an animal is allergic, itchy skin, pimples, and red spots appear on the face, paws and neck. All these signs indicate serious disorders.
Due to the lack of fur, Sphynx cats are most prone to exhibiting a wide variety of allergic reactions. This is due to the fact that Sphynx cats receive a huge amount of not only proteins, but also food colorings and fillers from their food. Excess proteins, when processed by the immune system, can be recognized as foreign substances that must be destroyed.
It takes quite a long time for an animal to develop a food allergy. Many Sphynx cats can eat the same food, which only after a few years can cause a response in the body. Therefore, acne and itching in sphinxes may indicate a completely different disease, for example, sarcoptic mange or epizootology, for the treatment of which completely different drugs are intended. That is why it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian to determine the correct diagnosis and, therefore, treatment.
Rhinotracheitis
Rhinotracheitis is an acute viral disease that affects the eyes and respiratory system of a pet. Absolutely all breeds of cats are susceptible to this disease, regardless of age. Having recovered from rhinotracheitis, the animal gains immunity.
The very first symptom of rhinotracheitis is sneezing. Throughout the entire period of the disease, the Sphinx does not lose its appetite.
The incubation period for rhinotracheitis in Sphynx cats lasts from 1 to 8 days. If an animal sneezes frequently, it must be isolated from other pets, since the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets. During illness, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes begins to rapidly develop in animals, a severe runny nose appears and breathing becomes difficult.
As this very unpleasant disease progresses, Sphynx cats' condition quickly deteriorates. The temperature rises and there is even severe inflammation of the trachea, bronchi and lungs. As soon as you notice the first similar symptoms in your pet, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian who can correctly prescribe treatment for the animal.
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There is such a popular proverb “... take care of it like the apple of your eye,” but sometimes there are cases when everyone’s favorite Sphynx cat or cat of any other breed can lose sight.
Prevention measures
The best measures to prevent eye diseases are timely vaccinations and treatments against parasites, high-quality food and proper living conditions. Following these principles will help protect your Sphynx from many health problems.
When untidy tear tracks spoil the unearthly appearance of naked sphinxes, it quickly becomes noticeable. How far the disease will go and what consequences it will lead to depends on the speed of decision-making and the actions of the owner. Unfortunately, the pet itself cannot tell anything. He can only look trustingly at his owner and hope for his help.
Eye injuries in sphinxes
Eye injuries occupy one of the first places among diseases of sphinxes and other breeds of miracle cats. Often their causes are conflicts with other animals or excessive activity during play.
Among them are injuries from sharp objects (claws, teeth, sharp objects in everyday life and in nature) and blunt objects (blows, bruises).
Eye injuries from sharp objects are insidious in that there is a huge likelihood of infection entering the eye cavity. A serious inflammatory process may begin.
Symptoms: the animal constantly squints its eye or it is completely closed, serous, bloody and purulent discharge may be observed, the cat does not allow anyone to touch the eye, is passive, indifferent to food and favorite toys.
These symptoms indicate inflammatory eye diseases, which we will discuss below; read about treatment there.
Bruises (contusions) of the eye are less common, and they are even more insidious. As a rule, the danger lies not in the development of inflammation, but in damage inside the eyeball. These can be various hemorrhages, detachments and ruptures of the retina, after which the risk of loss of vision is also very high.
Accurate diagnosis is extremely important for treatment, so it is extremely important to contact a veterinary ophthalmologist in a timely manner.
In most cases, it occurs as a result of injury (from another animal, less often from sharp objects in everyday life), vitamin deficiencies and previous infectious diseases.
When infection penetrates through damage to the conjunctiva, the inflammatory process begins. Discharged pus indicates purulent conjunctivitis (in advanced cases), but in most cases, cats do not have purulent conjunctivitis, but catarrhal conjunctivitis (the discharge is not purulent, but transparent).
Catarrhal conjunctivitis is manifested by serous (transparent) discharge, lacrimation, redness and swelling of the conjunctiva of the eye; when trying to touch, the animal resists because it feels pain.
With a purulent process, the symptoms become more pronounced, the conjunctiva becomes covered with a white coating, and the discharge becomes purulent.
During treatment, anesthetic drops (novocaine solution) are used, the crusts around the eyes are soaked using a bandage soaked in warm boiled water or a 0.05% chlorhexidine solution, and then carefully removed. Eye ointments with antibiotics (for example, tetracycline) are placed in the conjunctival sac, and eye drops (chloramphenicol, sodium sulfacyl, also known as albucid) are instilled.
For purulent conjunctivitis, treatment is more complex: the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics orally and intramuscularly (injections).
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This disease in cats also occurs mainly after injuries, as well as other infections, and metabolic disorders. The inflammatory process is localized in the anterior transparent part of the cornea of the eye.
Outwardly, this can be manifested by obvious painful sensations (the animal can rub its sore eye with its paw), lacrimation, fear of direct sunlight, the eyelid is constantly squinted or completely closed, there is no appetite, the cat is passive.
The consequences of keratitis can be complete or partial loss of vision, clouding of the cornea (the appearance of a so-called cataract), and other inflammatory processes.
The veterinarian prescribes treatment depending on the diagnosed cause of inflammation. The cat is placed in a dimly lit room.
Cataract is a disease in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. In its normal state, light rays pass through it and hit the retina. A clouded lens does not allow them to pass through completely or partially, and the quality of vision is greatly deteriorated.
Externally, the disease is manifested by a change in eye color to white or light gray.
The reasons for the development of cataracts in Sphynx cats can be different; not only past infectious diseases and injuries, but also the natural aging process of the animal’s body can play a role in this process.
To learn how to slow down the aging process of your cat, ensure a comfortable existence for her in her older age, and support her body, read the article “How to make a cat a long-liver.”
The only treatment for cataracts is surgical – transplantation of the clouded lens. There are also therapeutic methods - special drops are used, however, they only slow down the progression of the disease.
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The sphinx's ears are sensitive locators. 5. The eyes of the sphinx are the mirror of the soul.
Ears are sensitive locators
Compared to the ears of other breeds, the Sphynx's ears look huge. For comparison:
Sphynx ear care.
Due to breed characteristics, the production of sulfur in sphinxes is increased, and the huge ears collect all the dust that gets in the way of a curious animal, accordingly, the accumulated sulfur and dust need to be removed more often than other cats. If sphinxes' ears are not cleaned, this can lead to diseases such as otitis media, etc. as a result, the animal may lose hearing.
Cleaning your ears is not as complicated a process as it might seem at first glance. Ideal for this procedure:
- ► Cotton pads, cotton swabs , / Do not use homemade swabs! Firstly, the cotton wool tends to slip off, and you can accidentally damage the cat’s shell with an improvised stick. And secondly, the “escaped” cotton wool can get stuck deep in the ear. Why do you need extra expenses at the vet?!/
- ► Use only special preventive veterinary lotions for cleaning ears ! Medicines for the treatment of cat ears are not suitable. dioxidine , etc., into the external auditory canal.
- ► Don’t be afraid to insert the stick deep ( ≈ 1cm), it’s unlikely that you can cause serious injuries with a cotton swab. But! At the same time, treating your pet’s ears should be done carefully, without fanaticism! Confident and knowledgeable.
Ear cleaning process
- Not all cats like to have their ears cleaned. Such picky people! Perhaps your bald head will squirm and twist. To show by all appearances that he does not need it. Thoughts about only one thing - somewhere to “flow away” from you? Therefore, you may need a towel to “twist” the coward (coward) and a couple of extra hands to fix the fidgety one. Place the cat on the table or lap, as is convenient for you, and go ahead - extract not very useful minerals from the ears of a screaming or purring bald head.
Your pet's ears should be examined regularly, both inside and out. Severe contamination, bloody or purulent discharge indicate that there are various inflammations in the cat’s ears. A sign of ear disease is a change in the animal's behavior. Experiencing pain and discomfort in the ear (or ears), the cat begins to shake its head and scratch them with its paws. As a rule, skin irritation—scratching—is detected behind the ears or at their base. Such manifestations may also indicate a food allergy in your pet. In any case, if you suspect that your pet is suffering from an ear disease, you should urgently contact a good veterinarian. Remember that advanced disease in a cat in most cases leads to hearing loss.
If an infection is still detected: Clean the animal’s ears using the product prescribed to you as follows: drop the drug into the external auditory canal in the required amount, without allowing the animal to shake its ears, immediately massage the base of the ear for several minutes, then allow the animal to shake its ears. Repeat this procedure several times until the fluid flowing from the ear is clear. Afterwards, you can use a napkin to gently, without pressing, clean the auricle of any remaining discharge on it. Thus, the ear canal is cleansed naturally.
