Sphinx diseases: symptoms and treatment of major diseases

Sphynx cats gained popularity at the end of the last century. They are chosen by those who dream of a special pet with an original appearance. Hairless, big-eyed, with large ears and numerous folds on the body, they look like aliens from another planet.

Representatives of this breed have a soft and calm character. Sphynxes are very affectionate, love their owners and find loneliness difficult. Sphinxes are suitable for both single people and families with children. They will be comfortable with an owner who spends a lot of time at home, is not too busy with work and is ready for constant communication with their pet. The Sphynx cat requires attention, but she herself will definitely repay it with affection and love.

Description of diseases and defects of the Don Sphynx

The Canadian, Don and St. Petersburg Sphynxes are the main representatives of the hairless breed.
Hairless cats from St. Petersburg are known as Peterbalds. Each type of such cats has its own breed characteristics. It is impossible to describe the Canadian Sphynx breed without describing the incredible number of folds; the more folds there are, the higher the animal is valued. Canadians have large numbers of them on their faces. There is so much bare skin that even if the animal stretches out to its full length, it will still remain unmelted to the end. To say that such a cat is completely hairless would be incorrect. The skin of sphinxes is covered with light fluff, which feels like suede or peach peel. Short hair can be on the paws, scrotum, and the outer part of the ears. On a thin, graceful and bald tail, a small tassel is allowed at the end.

The body is medium sized, muscular and very hot. The body has a wide chest, sometimes in the shape of a barrel.
The limbs are slender and muscular, the hind legs are longer than the front legs. The finger joints are clearly defined. The paw pads are thick and match the general coloring.
The cat's head is wedge-shaped with prominent cheekbones and a straight nose.
The neck is muscular and long.
There are small folds of skin on the head.
Important characteristics of cats are their eyes, which are shaped like lemons, and huge, erect ears, pointed or round in shape.
Canadians may have heterochromia in one or both eyes.
Despite the fact that their ancestors had mustaches, the sphinxes did not inherit them.
The largest sphinxes weigh no more than 5-6 kg.

Sphinxes can look a person in the eyes continuously for a long time. And it’s difficult for the owner to take his eyes off the pet’s huge, slightly slanted, attentive eyes. The expression is such that it may seem as if he is ready to jump.

A carp bite (shortened lower jaw) is a congenital disorder of the ossification of the jaw. Malocclusion occurs in all domestic animals, but is most common in the Don Sphynx.

A violation is considered to be a displacement of two rows of incisors that cannot align. The violation occurs due to the arrest of the animal's growth at the moment when the symphysis in the lower jaw of the incisive bone ossifies prematurely.

Sometimes such a defect is mild and does not bother the animal. Long fangs can injure the upper jaw, which quickly develops painful “pockets.”

Because of such “pockets,” the cat develops gingivitis. The short lower jaw of the Sphinx is formed due to underdevelopment of the tail vertebrae, stunted growth and dwarfism.

Sphynxes with this pathology are not suitable for reproduction.

Microphthalmos is abnormal development of the eye, decreased vision or blindness. With microphthalmia, the eyeball is reduced.

Microphthalmos is closely associated with other eye defects: cataracts and congenital keratitis. Many kittens are born with open eyes, tumors, an orbital cyst, and an incomplete palpebral fissure.

These defects are noticeable immediately after birth or after 7–10 days. Sometimes it is impossible to do without the intervention of plastic surgery.

But even surgery will not completely remove these defects.

Sphinx diseases and their treatment

Sphynx cats are prone to diseases associated with their unique skin and genetic characteristics. Most often, owners have to treat their pets’ acne, dermatological diseases associated with infection and improper care, allergies, urolithiasis, and intestinal dysfunction.

Skin

The delicate skin of Sphynx cats is not protected by fur, so dermatological diseases associated with allergies or infections are common.

Acne

Acne in sphinxes looks like black dots covering the chin, eyelids, root of the tail, and groin area. Acne appears when the sebaceous glands become overactive, causing the skin pores to become clogged with oily secretions.

Various factors provoke increased work of the glands:

hormonal changes;
metabolic disorder;
functional liver disorder;
poor hygiene.

The disease can be complicated by allergies, swelling, and redness. Pimples filled with pus appear on the body, which, when bursting, form weeping, painful ulcers.

Treatment of affected areas of the body is carried out 2-3 times a day. To remove excess sebaceous secretions, salicylic acid is used. To eliminate weeping ulcers, ointments with a drying, healing and bactericidal effect are used. It is recommended to give your cat a retinol injection.

For mild acne, Delex-Acne is suitable. If the disease is severe, then use “Zinerit”. Terramycin is the best bactericidal agent.

Attention! The Sphynx should be treated with extreme caution using veterinary healing agents “Bioseptonex” and “Septifort”. An allergy is possible, accompanied by blackening of the skin.

Do not crush pimples or rub medications into the body. Alcohol medications are applied in a targeted manner so as not to cause a burn.

Nodular cystic acne

It differs from ordinary acne in the appearance of deep cysts filled with pus, capable of merging and forming fistulas. The result of long-term pathology is scarring of the skin.

Cysts usually form on the tail and along the spinal column. Their accumulation leads to the formation of a crust of several layers of dead skin tissue and dried tissue fluid.

Cystic rash is treated with Zinerit, Minocycline (30 mg per day) or 1% liquid ointment and Clindamycin lotion with the antibiotic Doxycycline (50 mg per day).

Seasonal dermatitis

Most often observed during estrus and associated with allergies. Infection can penetrate into scratched skin wounds, resulting in the formation of eczema.

The mild form of the disease disappears on its own. In severe cases, a Dexafort injection is given once, and the skin is treated with Terramycin spray.

Ringworm or dermatophytosis

Most often, kittens become infected, as their immunity is not yet strong. In a sick sphinx, the skin intensively peels off.

Sphynx lichen is treated with antimicrobial drugs prescribed by a veterinarian.

Fungal infections

The Sphinx can catch trichophytosis and microsporia. The main symptom of fungal infection is a red, scaly or crusty patch on the skin that gradually enlarges.

Treat a fungal infection with antifungal medications. Intraconazole is suitable for cats.

Allergy

Cat saliva contains glycoprotein, a substance that causes skin allergies. The animal licks the body that is not protected by fur, leaving the allergen on it. Less commonly, allergies in the Sphinx are provoked by dust particles, pollen, and food.

Dermatitis caused by allergies is accompanied by:

redness of the skin;
peeling;
itching;
sores;
round eosinophilic spots on the abdomen and hind legs;
eosinophilic yellow-pink granulomas in the oral cavity and on the hind limbs.

If a cat sneezes, then the allergy is associated with dust in the room. If the skin is red and peeling, then you should look for the allergen among the feed. To prevent allergies, the home is regularly wet cleaned and the Sphynx is fed high-quality super-premium food.

Allergic dermatitis is treated with antihistamines. The dosage is prescribed by the veterinarian.

A rash on a cat’s body is not associated with allergies, but with vasculitis - inflammation of the capillaries. Provocateurs of vasculitis in the Sphinx are stress, infection, and medication.

Genetic

The following genetic pathologies are characteristic of sphinxes:

Microphthalmos is a reduced eyeball. The defect is accompanied by poor vision, cataracts, and inflammation of the cornea. Treatment is surgical.
Turning of the eyelids. The thick and dense eyelid of the sphinx digs into the eyeball with its edge, causing conjunctivitis and inflammation of the cornea. The defect is corrected surgically.
Nipple hyperplasia. It usually appears in cats older than one year, and can be congenital or associated with the use of hormonal drugs to suppress the animal’s sexual activity. The nipples swell, become dense, and a cyst forms inside. The cat cannot feed the kittens due to compression of the mammary ducts by the cyst. Diseased nipples are removed and the animal is sterilized.
The curvature of the tail is not dangerous, but only a genetic anomaly that disrupts the exterior. This type of sphinx does not participate in exhibitions and is not used for breeding.

Urolithiasis disease

Painful pathology, accompanied by the formation of kidney stones and their movement along the urinary ducts, is a consequence of:

poor quality nutrition, non-compliance with the diet recommended for sphinxes;
low motor activity of the cat;
obesity;
insufficient fluid intake;
drinking water with a high degree of hardness;
infectious lesions of the urethra.

Important! Most often, urolithiasis is diagnosed in castrated males.

To prevent the formation of kidney stones, the cat is given a prophylactic prescribed by a veterinarian every year.

Diarrhea

Motility of the intestinal tract of cats increases when substances that cause irritation of the mucous membrane are ingested, as well as during bacterial or viral infection. Also, an intestinal problem can arise due to an allergy to any product, due to a sudden change in diet.

The veterinarian prescribes treatment based on the cause of diarrhea and its severity. If the pathology is caused by an allergy, then inappropriate products are removed from the cat’s diet.

The basis of treatment is fasting. An adult Sphynx can fast for 1–2 days, a kitten can fast for no more than 12 hours. The pet must drink enough water. You can also use a solution of the drug "Regidron" (proportion 1:1). If the cat does not want to drink, then the liquid is poured into the mouth using a syringe.

You can treat the sphinx with “Smecta” for children (1/4 pack per day), with the drugs “Bifidum”, “Enterosgel” (one dose per day).

Attention! If the Sphynx's diarrhea is mild, then there is no need to use antibiotics or sorbent medications.

After therapeutic fasting, the cat is given light food in small portions. Broths, boiled chicken, boiled yolk, and rice porridge with water are recommended. If the Sphynx eats store-bought food, then they are given medicinal canned food, which can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy.

Feeding adult cats and kittens

Kittens' bodies grow until they are 10 months old, so they need nutritious food. Already from the first months of life, sphinxes are accustomed to solid food and given boiled veal. Pork is prohibited (by the way, as is lop ears), as it is fatty and can cause digestive problems.

At 4 months, small quantities of sea fish with the bones removed will be useful. From 6 weeks it is allowed to give yolk and cottage cheese. The owner himself chooses the number of feedings, but it is recommended to accustom the animal to a specific regimen.

The animal should have free access to food, they are not prone to overeating, but food helps them stay warm when freezing.

The basic rules for feeding Sphynx kittens, which they get used to and then eat like this for the rest of their lives, are:

The menu must include meat. The daily norm is 30% of the body weight of a kitten or adult cat. Healthy protein is also present in fish and cottage cheese. You need 200 g per day.
One third of your diet should consist of carbohydrates. These are a variety of porridges - buckwheat, rice, oatmeal. The Sphynx also needs fresh vegetables with the addition of 5 - 10 g of unrefined sunflower oil.
In winter, portions for your pet should be larger.
Sphynx cats have an accelerated metabolism, which requires a large amount of energy from food.
You can also feed your animal with ready-made food - but not below premium class. This food must be selected specifically for this breed.

The health of the growing body will depend on the correctness of the diet.

Myths about the Don Sphinxes

Body temperature is 40-42 degrees.

It seems this way because there is usually fur between the hand and the pet's skin. When it’s not there, the cat’s 38.5 seems like hell compared to our 36.6. To dispel the myth, it is enough to measure the temperature of a healthy pet.

Don Sphynxes do not cause allergies, because they have no hair.

The immune response is provoked by a foreign protein. It is found in all secretions - tears, sebum, sweat, urine. Each hair is covered with a protective film, which also contains it. Scattering throughout the house, the hairs get onto the skin, clothes, and into the respiratory tract of the allergic person.

There are no such problems with a hairless cat. If you bathe your pet regularly, your immune system can be kept under control. But experiments on health can only be done together with an allergist.

They are constantly cold, you need to bundle up and turn on the heater.

These are heat-loving cats, but they are not cold in an ordinary apartment. In the same way, fluffy Siberians and Persians like to sleep on a warm blanket or near a radiator. In the off-season, when the heating is turned off, in a corner apartment on the ground floor, it is better to dress a naked cat. Of course, if a small kitten is accustomed to thick sweaters, it will grow into an eternally cold sphinx.

They burn in the sun, they need to be smeared with creams, they should not be allowed to sleep on the windowsill in the summer.

Like other hairless cats, Don Sphynx cats sunbathe in the sun. Pigmented skin becomes darker, light areas may “burn” - turn red and become blistered. But this happens in the open air. Through the window, the pet will only get a little tan, which is even useful.

They love to swim and are not at all afraid of water.

Cats do not like to get their fur wet - the smell becomes stronger, it takes a long time to lick the coat, and in winter there is a risk of hypothermia. This is genetic memory. And although the Don Chaks are hairless, their instincts have not gone away. If a kitten is not accustomed to water procedures, an adult cat will not be happy with it either.

The mechanism of acne

The development of the pathological process is directly related to the disruption of metabolic processes in the skin, and specifically to perverted keratinization (a complex biochemical reaction with the formation of fat, amino acids and keratin, which give the dermis strength and elasticity) and improper functioning of the subcutaneous glands.

Normally, the dead upper stratum corneum of the epithelium is constantly sloughed off, giving way to a newer and younger one. With pathology, normal exfoliation does not occur, and old cells mix with new ones, creating mountains of scales glued together with sebaceous secretions.

Naturally, such a accumulation of cells will sooner or later lead to clogging of the pores, which is externally manifested by black subcutaneous dots. By the way, acne can also be white; this phenomenon is usually observed when the “plug” is located deep inside the pore and does not come into contact with air.

How to care for a Canadian kitten at home

It is recommended to purchase a Sphynx kitten at the age of 3 months.
The animal's insufficient age will create many problems. And by the age of 3 months, the baby is already toilet trained, eats on his own, and parting with the cat will not be painful for him.

The breeder must give recommendations on care and feeding rules. The new owner should maintain contact with the breeder in order to get professional advice if necessary and not seek rash advice from outsiders.

It is imperative to maintain the same nutrition by specifying the kitten’s habits and favorite foods. The same applies to the feeding regime. The main nuances of the establishment of Sphynx kittens are as follows:

6 meals a day until the age of 6 months;
3 feedings a day up to 9 months;
after 9 months of feeding 2 – 3 times a day;
mandatory training in bathing and other grooming procedures.

Caring for a Sphynx requires paying enough attention to its toilet.

A pet of this breed will never go into a dirty litter tray and will eventually choose another place in the house. It is useless to scold for this, since a dirty tray is the owner’s fault. The filler should not be allergenic. From the first days, the kitten needs to be shown the place of the tray, so that later he knows and understands it.

Causes of deprivation in sphinxes

Ringworm in Sphynx cats, like in other breeds, is infectious in nature. Infection occurs by contact of pathogen spores with the skin. These spores are common in the environment. You can suspect the disease if you know that the cat had contact with a suspicious unfamiliar animal or a walk without its owner.

Why can a friendly, cheerful cat get sick? There are several reasons:

deterioration of the environmental situation in general;
constant contact with household chemicals and cosmetics;
deterioration of immunity;
low-quality feed with artificial additives;
polluted air in big cities.

All this leads to irritation on the animal's skin. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to determine the pathogen itself, since it can be dust, pollen, or mold. An insect bite, such as a flea, can also cause an allergic reaction.

Hygiene

A special animal requires special care. The fact is that Sphynx cats suffer from excessive sweating. Every day you need to wipe their body with a damp cloth, carefully smoothing out every wrinkle. Wiping is necessary to avoid the smell of sweat and remove unpleasant sticky residue from the skin.

You should set aside time once a week to clean your ears. The eyes are wiped with a cotton pad moistened with boiled water or chamomile decoction to prevent eye infections. A separate cotton swab should be used for each ear, and a separate cotton pad for each eye.

Once a month, the cat’s teeth are brushed with a special paste and, if necessary, the claws are trimmed. They also bathe once a month using shampoos special for this breed. In extreme cases, you can use baby shampoo.

There are certain rules for water procedures:

Take warm water (36-38 degrees).
Slowly lower the animal into the water, carefully holding it and trying not to scare it.
Create a cozy atmosphere so that the cat is not afraid of bathing in the future (talk to him, fill the bath with foam, or offer some kind of treat when the cat is already in the water).
Lather the body and rinse with warm water, avoiding foam and water from getting on the face and ears.
Prepare a soft towel in advance, carefully dry the cat, keep it warm and protect it from drafts.

Skin diseases

Hairless cats, unlike other breeds, have the most vulnerable spot – their skin. Lesions are possible in both kittens and adult cats. Hormonal factors play a significant role, especially adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosteroids, and androgens. Bacterial and fungal pathogens often penetrate unprotected skin, and serious vascular damage is possible.

Acne

Rashes appear in young individuals of both sexes during rapid puberty. The localization of the rash most often occurs on the face, neck, back, tail, and stomach. Cream and blue cats are most often affected.

Acne is divided into 2 types:

comedones. Inflammation is mild. They are well treated with salicylic acid, “Zinerit”;
angular cystic rash. Severe form with the formation of deep infiltrates and cavities filled with pus. They often merge, break into fistulas, and heal with scars. Doxycycline and Minocycline are used for treatment.

Dermatitis

Occurs mainly seasonally. More often in Sphynx girls after estrus. Accompanied by itching, scratching, secondary infection, and the formation of large eczematoid areas.

Genetic problems

The genetic diseases of sphinxes are quite diverse. This is nipple hyperplasia, the provoking factor for the development of which is considered to be the abuse of hormonal drugs. If breeding is not planned, it is better to sterilize the animal rather than give drops during estrus that suppress sexual desire. They are, of course, effective, but in the end they can provoke this dangerous disease. The nipples become dense and change color to deep red. If left untreated, hyperplasia will cause cyst formation on the breast. Hairless cats from one year of age are at risk.

Microphthalmos is the cause of decreased visual acuity. Represents a reduction in the eyeball. The only possible treatment option is surgery.

Curvature of the spine in the caudal region is accompanied by a bend in the tip of the tail. Such pets are discarded: they are not allowed to breed and take part in exhibition events. Often such curvature is accompanied by other hereditary abnormalities.

Congenital entropion of the eyelids occurs due to the fact that the eyelids of representatives of the breed are very dense. Because of this, the eyelid bends inward, often the pathology is accompanied by conjunctivitis and purulent discharge.

Dangerous hereditary pathologies that can cause death include:

Myopathy. It first affects the neck muscles, then spreads throughout the body.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart pathology. Can cause sudden cardiac arrest.
Airway obstruction. Also a common hereditary fatal disease.

To reduce the risk of buying a sick kitten, it is important to familiarize yourself with detailed information about the health status of the parents. In official nurseries, this information is publicly available and is provided upon the first request of a potential buyer.

Symptoms of acne in cats

As mentioned above, the main visible manifestation of acne is blackheads or comedones. In case of microbial infection, the sites of inflammation will become more malignant in nature - the formation of pustular nodules the size of a millet grain.

In the absence of timely and high-quality treatment, the inflammatory process will expand both to the side and in depth, as a result of which other signs of skin diseases will be added to the main pathology: papules, pustules and even boils.

With more or less stable immunity and a benign course, there are 4 stages of acne development:

Hyperemia (redness) of the skin.
Subcutaneous inflammation in the form of a red dense hot tubercle.
Maturation of the follicle with the appearance of a white spot (pus) at the top of the nodule followed by breakthrough.
The final stage is healing: the wound gradually heals and dries out. Underneath the crust, the skin is being restored.

The following signs will help you recognize dermatitis in your pet:

appearance of ulcers on the skin,
rashes;
itching;
redness;

The animal begins to itch a lot, causing claw wounds to form on the skin. Often the disease is accompanied by abundant moisture in the armpits, which can cause the pet to smell unpleasant.

Urolithiasis in sphinxes

Dangerous diseases of the Canadian Sphynx include urolithiasis (UCD). The reasons are the animal's physical inactivity, obesity, poor diet, and insufficient fluid intake. Often, KSD is provoked by an infection in the urethra.

Neutered Sphynx cats are at risk. It is important to give your pet a preventive medication approved by your veterinarian every year.

Hairless cats are original pets. However, they develop strong immunity only with age, and many dangerous diseases are hereditary. Only an attentive owner is able to notice the first signs of illness and take the pet to the clinic in time.

Feeding adult cats and kittens

The animal should have free access to food, they are not prone to overeating, but food helps them stay warm when freezing.

The basic rules for feeding Sphynx kittens, which they get used to and then eat like this for the rest of their lives, are:

The menu must include meat. The daily norm is 30% of the body weight of a kitten or adult cat. Healthy protein is also present in fish and cottage cheese. You need 200 g per day.
One third of your diet should consist of carbohydrates. These are a variety of porridges - buckwheat, rice, oatmeal. The Sphynx also needs fresh vegetables with the addition of 5 - 10 g of unrefined sunflower oil.
In winter, portions for your pet should be larger.
Sphynx cats have an accelerated metabolism, which requires a large amount of energy from food.
You can also feed your animal with ready-made food - but not below premium class. This food must be selected specifically for this breed.

The health of the growing body will depend on the correctness of the diet.

Diagnosis of acne

It is important to understand that not all blackheads on a cat's skin are acne. Often, the inflammatory process can be confused with the same “flea houses” (eggs, nits) of ectoparasites (fleas, lice), deposited near the hair root almost on the surface of the skin; signs of lichen or demodicosis, insect bites, etc.

Therefore, before starting treatment for acne, cats must be scraped from the affected areas of the skin and sent to the laboratory for examination, where a laboratory assistant will use a microscope to conduct a differential diagnosis. It may be necessary to do a bacteriological culture to identify the microbial pathogen - this is practiced in the case of a purulent complication of acne.

Allergy

Glycoprotein (Feld1) is the main culprit in allergies. The glycoprotein appears in the saliva of the Don Sphynx, because... the allergen cannot develop on the fur. Allergies in an animal can only appear on the skin. Cats regularly lick their skin, leaving a lot of saliva on their bodies that provokes a hyperreaction. The Don Sphynx literally emits allergens that are contained in the animal’s saliva, dander, and urine.

Be sure to find out whether the allergy is actually caused by your pet. It can be caused by house dust, food, flower dust and many others. Remember, allergies are not a reason to give up pets.

Is it true that there are no allergies to Don Sphynxes?

Not really, since today there is not a single hypoallergenic cat breed. But! Allergies are usually not to cat fur, but to dander and saliva. Since Don Sphynxes are hairless, they produce a minimal amount of dander, and since these cats need to be bathed frequently, they produce much less allergens than ordinary cats. Therefore, some people with allergies do not have any symptoms of the disease, but in a small number of people, on the contrary, the allergies become stronger.

Article on the topic Don Sphynx

To be sure whether you are allergic not only to the breed, but also to a specific animal, you need to visit the breeder and talk to both the kitten’s parents and the kitten itself. Then you will know exactly how your body will react.

Treatment of blackheads

Treatment of lichen in a sphinx should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist, because incorrect actions by the owner can aggravate the situation. In addition, it is difficult to correctly diagnose yourself and it is not always possible to determine the disease from a “photograph”. Lichen therapy is carried out in 3 areas:

Antifungal systemic therapy. Drugs in this group are Ketoconazole, Intraconazole, Terbinafine, Fluconazole, Gresiofulvin. Each is used strictly according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor. Changing the dosage and time of taking medications can negatively affect the health of the animal: an overdose has a bad effect on the liver, and a lack of a substance contributes to the disease becoming chronic.
Local therapy. Works less efficiently than in humans. This treatment method is used as an additional method to avoid damage and contamination of the environment with spores. Treating the affected areas and washing the animal with the following medications helps:

lime sulfur solution;
miconazole solutions and shampoos;
terbinafine solutions;
clotrimazole sprays and creams;
chlorhexidine solution.

What is acne

Acne is translated from Greek as “point, blossoming, height.” This is a chronic non-contagious disease of the skin of animals and humans. It manifests itself in the form of rashes, pimples, which are crowned with a white or black tip-“head”.

Of the cat family, sphinxes and cats that do not have thick fur are more often than all other breeds susceptible to these unpleasant manifestations. In sphinxes, acne is localized mainly on the chin and on the dorsal (upper) surface of the tail, closer to its base. Less commonly affected are the back along the spine, abdomen, and neck.

Sphynx cats are mostly prone to comedones. The affected area looks like a scattering of black dots - some kind of dirty spots on the body of a hairless cat.

Acne does not pose a threat to the life and health of the Sphynx. This is more of a cosmetic flaw. However, for cats that are engaged in breeding and exhibition work, acne and blackheads become quite a serious aesthetic problem.

General health information

Sphinxes are by no means distinguished by poor health. Their immunity is consistent with other cat breeds. They are also susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. The differences relate to wool - due to its absence, the skin sweats more, like in humans, and dermatitis may appear. Sphynx cats do not have eyelashes, which leads to blepharitis and conjunctivitis. Due to inbreeding, the risk of congenital anomalies is high.

Character

Even though the Sphynx cat breed lacks one of the defining characteristics of a cat, fur, don't be confused. This hairless cat breed makes very sweet, affectionate and loyal pets. Sphynx cats love to be the center of attention and often demand it from a person or other animal. It is worth remembering that children may often be reluctant to adopt a hairless cat, feeling that they will not be able to socialize and cuddle with it as they do with most other breeds.

Smart and very energetic, Sphynx cats love to show off in front of their owners and are very friendly towards guests.

When it's time to sleep, they go in search of a warm, cozy place, most often under the covers.

They seek people's attention and follow them everywhere, wagging their tail with joy and purring from the pleasure of being close to a person. Despite their alien appearance, they are real cats who “have their own minds.” If you have lost your Sphynx, check the top of your home; you may find your pet looking down at you from somewhere. Hide and seek is their favorite game and you should participate in it.

Sphynxes are very good at using their bare paws with long fingers to grasp small objects. Sphinxes are extremely curious, they will squeeze anywhere and turn over everything in the world to satisfy their curiosity.

Sphynx cats have strong personalities and do not cope well if left alone at home all day. If your Sphynx is unhappy, then it will not be good for anyone.

Clinical picture

Let us immediately warn you that the specific symptoms of vasculitis in cats directly depend on the organ whose blood vessels are affected by the pathological process. But the general clinical signs are:

Purple-red spots on the skin.
Papules and pustules filled with clear fluid.
Painful, bald areas on the paws, ears, genitals and abdomen. In addition, deep ulcers often appear on all visible mucous membranes.
The skin on the paws may become “loose” and appear swollen.
Severe skin itching.
In severe cases, deep, necrotic ulcers appear on the skin, which are quickly contaminated with pyogenic microflora.
Poor appetite.
Depression.
Increased body temperature.

Reasons for appearance

Speaking about the reasons for the appearance of spots on the skin of a sphinx, first of all it is worth noting that they can be different. So, the following can lead to the development of pathology:

Dermatitis;
Vasculitis;
Fungal diseases.

Let's look at how rashes manifest themselves and how they are treated in one case or another.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a direct consequence of contact with one or another allergen and can be accompanied by the appearance on the animal’s skin:

Ulcers;
Eosinophilic plaques - oval red spots on the thighs and abdomen;
Eosinophilic granulomas - pinkish-yellow plaques in the mouth or on the thighs;

In addition, allergic manifestations may include common skin symptoms - redness, dandruff and itching. The animal scratches itchy places, as a result of which wounds and eczema appear on its body.

Dermatitis can be managed by eliminating contact with potential allergens. The cat should be put on a hypoallergenic diet (lamb and rice), and antihistamines and steroids should be used to alleviate its condition.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis of the skin is a pathology accompanied by inflammation of the vascular walls and developing against the background of:

Infections (mycoplasma, staphylococci, viruses, streptococci, fungi);
Use of certain medications (antibacterial drugs, vitamins included in group B, sulfonamides, dyes);
Stress associated with exhibitions, matings, transportation;
Increased hormonal levels;

Spots on the Sphynx's body associated with taking medications appear 7-20 days after taking the medication.

We recommend the article: What causes red spots to appear on a cat’s tongue?

Vasculitis that begins against the background of changes in hormonal levels or stressful situations occurs in several stages. Over the course of 2-5 days, rashes appear, and then within 1-2 weeks the skin manifestations disappear.

The manifestations of the disease largely depend on the gender and color of the animal - vasculitis in sphinxes in this case can occur in the following types:

Telangiectatic;
Livedo type;
Eczematoid;
Polymorphic;

The telangiectatic type is diagnosed, as a rule, in cats involved in breeding work. The pathology is accompanied by the appearance of spots on the skin of the sphinx of a pinkish or brownish-red hue, muted in the central part and more pronounced along the outer contour (as a rule, there are dark dots along the edges of the lesions). Rashes form on the sides, back, abdomen, paws and groin (occasionally on the head and ears) and, as the disease progresses, increase in size, merge and acquire indistinct and blurry outlines. The animal does not experience any unpleasant sensations.

Livedo type is diagnosed, as a rule, in cats of creamy blue and red shades, as well as harlequin color. The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a vascular network along the spine, in the area of the shoulder blades and the back of the head. After several days, bluish spots appear in place of the mesh, becoming covered with small nodules and hemorrhages as the pathology progresses. Some of the nodules necrotize over time, forming painful ulcerations. Healing occurs with the formation of blisters filled with exudate and covered with a dark crust.

The eczematoid type develops in both male and female cats, regardless of their color, and begins with the appearance of a small eczematoid spot on the hind legs or tail. The affected area swells and turns red, papules and crusts form. The animal experiences severe itching and licks the skin, injuring it and promoting secondary fungal and staphylococcal infection (in this case, the spots quickly spread upward along the limb, subsequently moving to the stomach).

The polymorphic type is manifested by rashes characteristic of the pathologies described above.

We recommend the article: What causes diarrhea in a cat?

Vasculitis therapy is aimed at strengthening the immune system, preventing stressful situations and reducing the severity of skin manifestations.

Fungal infections

Fungal infections (Microsporia and Trichophytosis) are manifested by the appearance of red spots on the Sphynx's body that increase over time, covered with crusts and scales. Treatment of pathology involves the use of internal and external antifungal agents, for example, Itraconazole.

How to care for a Canadian kitten at home

It is recommended to purchase a Sphynx kitten at the age of 3 months. The animal's insufficient age will create many problems.

And by the age of 3 months, the baby is already toilet trained, eats on his own, and parting with the cat will not be painful for him.

6 meals a day until the age of 6 months;
3 feedings a day up to 9 months;
after 9 months of feeding 2 – 3 times a day;
mandatory training in bathing and other grooming procedures.

Caring for a Sphynx requires paying enough attention to its toilet.

What it is?

Vasculitis is a process of inflammation and destruction of the endothelial (inner) layer of blood vessels. The pronounced skin lesions that arise in this case are not the disease itself, but only its symptom.

It is characterized by the appearance of crater-shaped ulcers, necrosis, pustules or papules, plaques and other skin lesions. Most often they occur on the paws, tail, ears, scrotum and oral mucosa. The “concentration” of lesions is higher, the more blood vessels there are in the tissues (which is why symptoms are more often visible on the mucous membranes). To make an accurate diagnosis, a biopsy is required.

Important! Possible causes of this disease are numerous, but most often it is: autoimmune pathology, infectious diseases, especially chronic, allergic reactions (to food, vaccinations, medications).

Other predisposing factors:

Tumors (usually malignant).
Chronic inflammatory diseases, especially arthritis and bursitis.
Kidney diseases.
Genetic predisposition (sphinxes).

Attention! Thus, hundreds of different factors can lead to vascular pathologies. So this is another good reminder to get regular veterinary checkups.

Panleukopenia Panleukopenia (distemper, feline infectious gastroenteritis, parvovirus enteritis) is an infectious, highly contagious, acute disease. The name of the disease comes from the term leukopenia, which means a decrease in the total number of leukocytes (white blood cells) in the blood of an animal. The causative agent is a DNA-containing virus of the parvovirus family (Parvoviridae), close to the causative agent of canine parvovirus enteritis. In the external environment, the virus is very stable and retains its virulence for more than a year. Most disinfectants are useless against it.

Infection occurs through direct contact with an infected animal, as well as through various objects contaminated with the virus (wall surfaces, floors, furniture, dishes, fabrics, bedding, etc.), by airborne droplets (aerogenously) as a result of inhaling the virus through the nose with air, Intrauterine infection of kittens from a sick mother is also possible. Blood-sucking insects and ticks also contribute to the spread of the disease. Cats that live permanently at home are also susceptible to infection, since the virus from the street can enter the room on the clothes and shoes of the cat owner. The likelihood of infection depends on the age of the animal: kittens from 2.5-3 months are most susceptible to this virus. and older cats of an age when the body's defenses weaken. The incubation period lasts from 2 to 14 days, but sometimes longer. Symptoms: The disease can manifest itself in hyperacute, acute and subacute forms. The hyperacute course of the disease is observed mainly in small kittens aged 1-3 months. The disease begins suddenly, the kittens refuse to eat and quickly become exhausted. The death of animals occurs within 1-2 days. The acute course of the disease is characterized by general depression of the animal, vomiting and an increase in body temperature to 40-41°C. Animals are very thirsty, but do not drink water. After 1-3 days, diarrhea appears, the feces are first watery-bilious, and later mucous mixed with blood and (or) fibrin. If the course of the disease is favorable, cats recover in 5-7 days. The subacute course of the disease is characterized by the same clinical signs as in the acute course, but they are less pronounced and develop gradually over 7-14 days. Sick animals look for secluded dark places, or if they have a fever, cool places, or sit over a bowl of water, but do not drink. Appetite completely disappears. With an unfavorable course of the disease, significant dehydration of the body occurs, electrolyte imbalance and a sharp decrease in leukocytes in the blood. Body temperature can drop to 37-38° C, which is a diagnostic sign of an unfavorable prognosis. General depression of cardiovascular activity, bradycardia and (or) arrhythmia are also noted. A secondary bacterial infection may occur. The disease develops very quickly, and if the sick animal is not provided with timely qualified assistance, it dies. Therefore, at the first signs of illness, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic for intensive care. In this situation, every minute matters. Prognosis In the hyperacute form it is usually lethal, in the acute uncomplicated form it is favorable, in panleukopenia complicated by secondary infections it is unfavorable or lethal. Mortality in the acute form is 25-75%. Mortality among kittens 2.5-3 months of age reaches 90%. Cats that survive the first 3 to 4 days of illness usually recover. Cats that have recovered from panleukopenia often remain hidden virus carriers. Sick animals and virus carriers release the virus into the external environment with feces, saliva, urine and discharge from the nose and eyes.

Calicivirosis Calicivirosis is a viral disease of cats that affects the respiratory tract. The causative agent of calcivirosis is an RNA virus of the calicivirus family (Caliciviridae). Vaccination is ineffective against some strains. The virus cannot exist for a long time outside the cat’s body, so the external environment, as a rule, is not a constant source of spread of the virus. The virus is relatively resistant to heat, changes in pH up to 4, ether and chloroform. Some strains are sensitive to high pH, but are destroyed by solutions of bleach and chloramine. In a dry environment, the virus persists for 2-3 days, and in a humid environment for 10 days. Infection occurs in different ways: through direct contact with a sick animal, aerogenously, through clothing and care items. Many cats are carriers of calcivirus infection (though they may not have previously had the disease) and can infect susceptible cats. Cats of all ages are susceptible to calcivirus infection, however, kittens aged 2 months to a year are more often affected. From the moment of infection to the appearance of the first clinical symptoms, 3-5 days usually pass. However, the incubation period can last up to three weeks.

Symptoms: Calcivirus is characterized by ulceration of the mucous membranes of the oral and nasal cavities. Copious discharge appears from the eyes and nasal cavity. Ulcers can occur on the tongue, hard palate, lips, nose, and sometimes around the claws. Ulcers and pain in the mouth make it difficult to eat food (the animal may be interested in food, but only drink water and liquid food). A characteristic sign of infection is excessive salivation. Sneezing is noted. An increase in temperature to 39.8–40.5 ° C develops as a complication of a secondary bacterial infection. A blood test reveals lymphopenia and a decrease in hemoglobin levels by 25-30%. Diagnosis of calcivirosis is difficult due to the similarity of clinical signs of respiratory diseases in cats. In affected kittens aged 1-6 months, the symptoms of the disease are often nonspecific and similar to the clinical signs of panleukopenia. Calicivirus can be complicated by a secondary bacterial infection, leading to pneumonia (pneumonia) and, rarely, arthritis. With arthritis, lameness is observed, which completely disappears after 24–48 hours. The average duration of the disease is 7-10 days. Within two weeks, the mucous membrane at the site of the ulcers regenerates. Mortality reaches 30% or more. Cats that have recovered from the disease may still be carriers of the virus. Virus-carrying cats excrete the pathogen with discharge from the oral and nasal cavities, with tear secretions, feces and urine and are infectious. Most cats shed the virus within 30 days of infection, 50% within 75 days. Most cats clear the virus within a few months. In some cats, the virus persists in the tissues of the pharynx and tonsils for life. Vaccinated virus-carrying cats can also continue to shed calicivirus into the external environment.

Rhinotracheitis Infectious rhinotracheitis in cats is an acute and chronic contagious disease characterized by damage to the upper respiratory tract and eyes. The causative agent is a virus from the Herpesviridae family. The virus is sensitive to ether and chloroform, and solutions of sodium hydroxide, formalin and phenol (1-2%) inactivate the pathogen in 10 minutes. Infection occurs mainly by contact and airborne droplets - through contact with sick animals or carriers, through the air, care items, clothing and shoes of people who have been in contact with sick animals. When animals are kept in groups (kennels and shelters), as well as during mass felinological events (exhibitions, breeding shows, etc.), epidemics are possible. When kept in isolation at home, the disease is relatively rare. The incubation period lasts 2-10 days. Symptoms: The disease occurs acutely, subacutely and chronically. In acute cases, body temperature rises to 40° C or more, conjunctivitis and rhinitis develop. In the first days of the disease, profuse serous-mucous discharge from the nose is noted. The mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, and larynx swell and swell. Shortness of breath develops (cats breathe with their mouths open), profuse salivation, hoarseness, and cough are noted. A white coating and necrotic crusts appear on the surface of the nose and on the mucous membrane, under which ulcers form. Eating food and water is difficult. In milder cases, the cat sneezes, there is eye damage with swelling of the conjunctiva and regular clear discharge. In older cats, the disease progresses more favorably and is usually accompanied by only one symptom – rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity). In some cases, the disease may be accompanied by damage to the digestive tract. At the same time, vomiting intensifies and diarrhea appears. If the disease drags on, intestinal atony develops and constipation appears. Rhinotracheitis can be complicated by bronchitis and pneumonia. With a prolonged course, the central nervous system is affected, which is expressed in trembling of the limbs and manege movements. Pregnant cats miscarry. Recovery occurs within 7-10 days from the onset of the disease, however, necrosis of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity can cause chronic rhinitis and sinusitis. Mortality, despite the severe course of the disease, is low; The exception is kittens or weakened animals. Mortality reaches 5-20%. Most cats that have suffered an acute form of the disease become virus carriers. Recovered cats can shed the virus for 9-19 months after recovery. The virus is released through discharge from the eyes, nose, milk, urine, feces, and semen. In stressful situations (illness, anesthesia, surgery, lactation), the cat’s immunity weakens and the virus begins to be released in saliva. Mild respiratory symptoms may develop.

Chlamydia Chlamydia is an acute or chronic disease characterized by conjunctivitis (discharge from the eyes), rhinitis (discharge from the nose) and damage to the genitourinary system. The causative agent of the disease, chlamydia, occupies an intermediate position between viruses and bacteria. Chlamydophila felis affects the mucous membranes of the eyes of cats, causing conjunctivitis. The infection may be accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract - rhinitis (runny nose), pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), and rarely - pneumonia. Chlamydophila felis also affects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and reproductive organs. Chlamydia is well preserved at low temperatures, but is sensitive to its increase. When heated to 70-80°C, they die after 10 minutes, are inactivated by a 0.5% solution of phenol, 2% solutions of chloramine and sodium hydroxide, 5% solution of Lysol in 2 hours. Infection occurs by airborne droplets and by contact (through the skin, mucous membranes), sexually, when using one tray and, possibly, through fleas and ticks. Recovered cats can remain latent carriers of the pathogen and excrete it in saliva, urine, feces and semen. The carriers of the infection in nature are small rodents: voles, rats, etc. Chlamydia can persist for a long time where there are several animals that transmit the infection to each other. The incubation period of the disease lasts 7-10 days. Symptoms depend on which organ is affected.

Visual organs: conjunctivitis, often unilateral, but can also be bilateral. Respiratory organs: rhinitis, the cat sneezes and coughs, bronchitis may develop. Breathing becomes frequent, heavy, hoarse. Gastrointestinal tract: In cats, infection is usually asymptomatic. Other animal species may have clinically evident gastroenteritis. Reproductive organs: infection of organs in cats occurs without clinical manifestations.

Often, adult cats easily tolerate the infection and only experience conjunctivitis. Infection in cats often occurs subclinically; the disease becomes clinically manifest only when complicated by other microorganisms. Generalized chlamydial infection or chlamydial pneumonia in cats is usually fatal. In kittens, the disease is often fatal. Cats can become persistent asymptomatic carriers. Both inactivated and attenuated live vaccines can reduce the severity of the disease. None of the vaccines will prevent the infection, but will soften the clinical manifestations to a mild course with rapid recovery. Through direct contact with a sick animal, feline conjunctivitis can be transmitted to humans. However, in humans, such conjunctivitis is usually mild and less durable than in cats.

Viral leukemia of cats Viral leukemia (leukemia) is a viral disease of cats, characterized mainly by damage to the hematopoietic system and malignant neoplasms of lymphoid and myeloid tissues (lymphosarcoma). The causative agent is an RNA-containing oncogenic virus of the Retroviridae family, genus Oncovirus C (Oncovirus C). Serologically and genetically, three types of the virus are distinguished - A, B and C, and only serotype A is specific for cats. Abroad, it is called FeLV (from the English feline leukemia virus). The pathogen exists in two forms - endogenous (non-pathogenic) and exogenous (pathogenic). The virus is unstable in the external environment and is not resistant to chemical disinfectants. Infection occurs mainly through contact and aerogenic routes, through indirect contact (through veterinary instruments, etc.), as well as in utero. A transmissible route (through blood-sucking insects and ticks) cannot be ruled out. The incubation period for VLK ranges from several months to 4 years. Once in the body, the virus begins to multiply in the tonsils of the pharynx, and subsequently spreads to other lymphoid tissues, especially the bone marrow, where the formation of tumor tissue (lymphosarcoma) occurs under the influence of the virus. As a result, a large number of immature leukocytes appear in the blood of sick animals (leukocytosis). The VLK virus is found in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and digestive organs of a sick cat, in milk, saliva, urine and feces, which becomes an important factor in the transmission of the infectious agent.

Symptoms: Feline viral leukemia occurs mainly in chronic and latent forms. Sick animals often experience anemia, decreased appetite, depression, cardiac dysfunction and gradual exhaustion, as well as various reproductive dysfunctions (miscarriages, resorption of fetuses, birth of still or non-viable kittens (fading kitten syndrome)). Hydrothorax, ascites, enlargement of the spleen and kidneys develop. The acute course of the disease is often accompanied by fever. The blood picture shows leukocytosis, a significant shift in the leukocyte count to the left, a decrease in the number of red blood cells and a gradual decrease in hematocrit. Due to the fact that the clinical stage of VLK is characterized by the development of various forms of malignant neoplasms of lymphoid and myeloid tissues, including predominantly lymphosarcoma, the symptoms of the disease are determined by their localization. The FeLV virus suppresses the immune system and promotes the development of other diseases that can be the direct cause of the death of the animal. Sick cats are especially susceptible to other viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The latent (latent) form is not accompanied by the development of clinical signs of the disease and does not manifest itself for a long time (from several months to several years), but exposure to stress factors can sharply intensify the development of the disease. Cats develop a viral form of cancer, most often in the form of lymphosarcoma. Metastases to the eye, brain, skin, kidneys and other organs are possible, causing a variety of symptoms. Another type of malignant degeneration of the disease is leukemia. It is characterized by a sharp and uncontrolled increase in white blood cells. The disease may be accompanied by anemia and various types of blood cell disorders. Leukemia in cats is much less common than lymphosarcoma. The prognosis for infection with the VLV virus is usually unfavorable. Cancer caused by the VLV virus is incurable. Most infected cats die within 3-4 years of infection. Immunity in VLK has not been studied enough. The available FeLV vaccine is not as effective as against rabies, but is necessary to protect healthy cats from leukemia. Many cats over 4-5 years of age who have had contact with the pathogen can develop fairly stable immunity. There is no data on the danger of the FeLV virus for humans. However, in laboratory conditions the virus multiplies in human cells. Theoretically, children and people with immunodeficiency are prone to the disease. Therefore, they, like pregnant women, should avoid contact with virus-positive cats.

Feline infectious peritonitis, FIP Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP, or FIP from feline infectious peritonitis) is a severe infectious disease that most often ends in death. The causative agent of FIP is an RNA coronavirus (FCoV), or more precisely, its strain FIPV is the feline infectious peritonitis virus. Another strain of coronavirus, FECV (feline enteric coronavirus), causes coronavirus enteritis. Coronavirus is shaped like a crown, hence the name. FECV and FIPV are closely related strains of the same virus. FECV can mutate into FIPV, i.e. The occurrence of FIP is preceded by infection with the FECV virus and its subsequent mutation into FIPV). This virus is quite persistent and can remain active indoors for weeks or even months. But it is easily destroyed under the influence of ordinary disinfectants and detergents. The FECV coronavirus is transmitted primarily through feces and the oral route (through litter trays and shared bowls). The spread of the virus by airborne droplets is considered unlikely. There is also evidence of transplacental transmission of infection from mother to kittens. Kittens, young animals under 2 years of age and old cats are most susceptible to the disease due to weakened immunity. The incubation period is 2-3 weeks. FIPV multiplies in blood cells, not intestinal cells, and is not excreted in feces or saliva. Those. FIPV is not contagious (but is much more dangerous). Symptoms of FECV infection: FECV primarily affects the cells in the lining of the cat's small intestine and causes diarrhea (diarrhea). First, the virus enters the nasopharynx, hence the cough, snot, and hoarse voice. But all this may not happen. Then diarrhea begins, often with mucus and blood. Diarrhea lasts several days - about a week. Then everything goes away, no symptoms are observed, but the coronavirus is still present in the intestinal mucosa. The stool of such cats is not stable - diarrhea can spontaneously appear and disappear. The vast majority of cats eliminate the coronavirus: most of them within a month, others take 9-12 months. 13% of infected cats become lifelong carriers of FCoV. These cats constantly shed coronavirus in their feces, most of them have no clinical symptoms, but some develop chronic diarrhea. In 5-10% (according to various sources) of infected cats, the FECV virus mutates into FIPV, and the cat develops FIP. The mutation can occur due to stress, adverse environmental influences and other factors that weaken the cat’s immune system - vaccinations, previous diseases, surgical operations. Symptoms of FIPV infection: The FIPV virus attacks macrophages (white blood cells), destroying them and thereby opening the way for infection in the tissues. The virus binds to antibodies, forming immune complexes that accumulate in the walls of small blood vessels, causing immune-mediated vasculitis. The disease then affects various tissues and organs. There are two forms of FIP – dry and wet (exudative). The initial symptoms of both dry and exudative FIP are quite nonspecific and are often ignored under normal conditions. The cat may periodically have a fever, lack of appetite, and sometimes have mild diarrhea, vomiting, anemia, dehydration, weight loss, and respiratory distress. FIP is called the “great imitator” because the disease can manifest itself in so many different ways. It can masquerade as a disease of the brain, spine, digestive system, eyes, cancer or cardiovascular disease. In the dry form, granulomatous lesions of various organs develop, and clinical symptoms reflect these disorders. The liver, lungs and kidneys are often affected, and the eyes (bilateral granulomatous uveitis, often accompanied by chorioretinitis) and the central nervous system may also be affected. Damage to the central nervous system results in a variety of neurological symptoms, including incoordination, increased muscle tone, paralysis, nystagmus, seizures and behavioral changes. Complications such as focal meningitis and encephalomyelitis are sometimes observed. Exudative (wet) FIP is the most severe clinical form, which quickly leads to death. It is characterized by effusion into the abdominal cavity. Along with this, in 20% of cases there are effusions into the pleural cavity and pericardium; the main clinical symptom in such cases is difficulty breathing. Weight loss, anemia, fever, vomiting, diarrhea are observed, and pericarditis and liver failure may develop. Jaundice may occur, especially in later stages of the disease. Damage to the eyes and central nervous system is observed in 10% of cases of effusion peritonitis. Death occurs within 1-2 months.