Scottish Fold cats have fans all over the world: their small, downturned ears leave no one indifferent. But, unfortunately, it is precisely because of this feature that Scottish Folds are susceptible to osteochondrodysplasia. We will find out what this disease is, how it manifests itself, and we will also look at how to care for a sick cat, what to feed and how to treat it.
Description of the disease
Osteochondrodysplasia in cats (OCD or osteochondrodystrophy) is a genetic malformation of bones and cartilage that leads to slower growth and deformation.
Interesting! Translated from Greek, “osteo” means “bone,” and “dysplasia” means “developmental disorder.”
Osteochondrodysplasia most often affects Scottish Folds, since the disease is directly related to the gene for fold ears. Scots' downturned ears remain this way due to insufficient cartilage formation and disruption of its formation. The lop ear gene is responsible not only for ear deformation, but also for disruption of cartilage formation throughout the body.
Chondrodysplasia usually affects cats' limbs, thoracic, lumbar and caudal vertebrae. This disease can also manifest itself in the form of achondroplasia. With this disease, the cat’s paws cannot grow to normal size, so the pet develops dwarfism.
Osteochondrodysplasia is not life-threatening in most cases, but it can significantly reduce the quality and duration of life.
Paw pads
The small pads are unusually sensitive and contain a large number of nerve endings. Thanks to the sensitivity of the pads, cats feel the texture of surfaces and feel vibrations, which allows them to estimate the distance to prey.
The paw pads are resistant to adverse environmental conditions, but they are very sensitive to low and high temperatures. Soft pads are quickly damaged when in contact with the surface of hot asphalt or icy sidewalks.
The front legs and paws of cats are weaker, but larger than the hind legs. These animals can climb up very well, clinging and holding on with their claws, but their claws do not help them with their descent. Cats often cannot descend on their own from great heights; they have to jump and, thanks to the pads, the blow is softened when landing. They seem to land gracefully and easily without feeling any pain.
The pigmentation of the pads matches the coat color. Colored cats often have black spots on their pads; gray cats have grayish pads; black cats have black pads; white and red cats have pink pads.
Causes
Osteochondrodysplasia in cats is inherited. Its manifestation is not related to the gender of the animal.
OCD is considered a disease of Scottish Fold cats, because they are the owners of a mutant gene for fold ears. To avoid the appearance of offspring with osteochondrodysplasia, breeders always cross fold-eared cats with straight-eared cats. In this case, the risk of a dangerous gene appearing is minimal. However, in rare cases, even crossing a straight with a fold may result in a kitten with osteochondrodysplasia. That is why in some countries it is prohibited to breed Scottish Fold cats.
In Scottish Folds, the disease varies in severity. The most common disorders are the development of the bone skeleton, but in the most severe situations, deformation of the limbs can develop.
Clinical symptoms
Unfortunately, owners notice signs of osteochondrodysplasia in their pet only when they become pronounced. Main clinical symptoms of the disease:
- lameness;
- head too big;
- crooked teeth;
- stiff gait;
- jaw protruding forward;
- excessively short and flattened nose;
- the appearance of growths on the paws;
- refusal to move and jump;
- the tail is too short and inactive;
- pain during movement;
- twisted and shortened limbs;
- walking on bent legs.
- The base of the tail is too thin.
Important! Osteochondrodysplasia of Scottish Fold cats most often appears at the age of 1.5–2 months. If the gait of a small Scottish Fold is stiff and the tail is motionless, then the kitten is not recommended for purchase.
Symptoms
During an oncological process in the body, the animal is often irritated. If the bump on the head of a cat or kitten is benign, then it is soft to the touch, rolls under the skin, and does not hurt or bother you when pressed. Internal malignant growths often appear as capsules that can be normal temperature or hot. A lump on the withers, on the side of the neck or on the mucous membrane in the throat from degenerated cells quickly increases in size. In addition, an adult cat or kitten develops the following symptoms:
- weakness;
- irritability or lethargy;
- digestive problems;
- refusal to eat;
- sudden weight loss;
- dyspepsia.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosis of osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish cats is carried out on the basis of a visual examination, as well as a study of the animal’s pedigree. In addition, to make a final diagnosis, the veterinarian will prescribe the following tests:
- General and biochemical blood test.
- General and biochemical urine analysis.
- X-ray examination of the limbs, spine and tail.
In the image of a cat with osteochondrodysplasia, you can see the deformation of the skeleton, and in the area of the limbs you can detect growths around the joints, while the gaps between them are very narrow. In severe cases of the disease, cartilage tissue is absent, and the vertebrae in the lumbar and caudal regions grow together.
Furuncle
This is not just an abscess - inflammation of the epithelium, but a disease (in acute or mild form) caused by decreased immunity and focal damage to the hair follicle. It is purulent and necrotic in nature, caused by white or aureus staphylococcus, and begins with a red tubercle:
Gradually, the sore increases, fills with pus, becomes painful, body temperature rises, apathy and loss of appetite are possible. The lesions affect some or all parts of the body, or isolated ones.
Under the skin, the pus is located, as it were, in a “vessel” that restrains the boundaries of inflammation, and after “ripening” one (or several) gray dots will be visible from above - the rod.
Do not squeeze out the boil! Otherwise, the pus will spill over the adjacent tissues.
The veterinary clinic will do everything you need, and in the case of a chronic form, they will prescribe antibiotics.
Keep a sick animal especially clean by placing disposable diapers on top of the bedding every day. Don't bathe! Trim the fur from the site of inflammation, apply ichthyol ointment or Vishnevsky, wipe with alcohol while changing the compress, give an anesthetic. In case of spontaneous opening of the sore, clean it as much as possible from pus (do not press!) and reapply a bandage with ointment, changing it every 4-6 hours until the wound is completely cleansed.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no treatment that would permanently rid a Scottish Fold cat of osteochondrodysplasia. Typically, sick animals are given supportive care to improve their quality of life.
At the initial stage of osteochondrodysplasia, Scottish Folds are usually treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ainil, Ketoline, Meloxivet) and chondroprotectors (usually chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine). Such medications stop the destruction of cartilage tissue and increase the amount of joint fluid.
Also, as support for sick pets, manual therapy in combination with massage is prescribed. These procedures improve blood circulation in the animal’s limbs and also help preserve the structure of cartilage tissue. True, they should only be performed by a highly qualified specialist.
In the most severe cases, it may even lead to surgical intervention. Typically, Scottish Fold cats with osteochondrodysplasia undergo the following operations, which give good results:
- Osteotomy. Helps eliminate deformation and improve the performance of the musculoskeletal system, remove growths on bone tissue. For osteotomy, one has to resort to artificially breaking the bones and then connecting them in the required form.
- Arthrodesis. The joint is fixed in an optimal position, after which it gradually ossifies. Mobility in the joint is lost forever, but the support ability of the limb is preserved. Arthrodesis is usually performed if the cat is unable to move or put weight on the affected limb due to severe pain.
Interesting! In Japan and Europe, radiation therapy is used to treat cats with osteochondrodysplasia. It helps reduce pain and slow down the destruction of joints. This method is very effective, but due to the too high cost and lack of necessary equipment in Russian veterinary clinics, it is not yet available.
If a tumor has opened. Interview with a leading oncologist
One of the most common questions that pet owners ask oncologists on our clinic’s forum is the question of what to do if a cat’s tumor is discovered. It is impossible to cover all aspects of this problem in detail in a forum format, so we decided to discuss them with the leading oncologist of the Biocontrol clinic, Candidate of Biological Sciences Alexander Alexandrovich Shimshirt.
— The tumor has opened. What does this mean for a dog and what for a cat?
- If we are talking about a tumor that has opened, it doesn’t matter whether it’s in a cat or a dog - it’s almost always not good. But this is doubly bad for a cat, because cats are very clean animals. By nature, they do not like to leave their scent in the external environment.
When a cat develops a tumor, the animal instinctively tries to get rid of this smell by licking itself. Cats have a rough tongue and, accordingly, when the animal begins to perform the standard hygienic procedure of licking, it further injures the tumor. So in a cat the consequences of opening a tumor will develop faster and will be more uncomfortable than in a dog.
— What tumors behave like this, that is, they open up?
— For the most part, if we are talking about cats, these are tumors of the mammary glands. In dogs these are skin tumors. Tumors that are actively opening include tumors of the oral cavity and mucous membranes. Tumors can open in the oral cavity when they are actively growing or due to mechanical trauma when eating food.
- Is it all cancer?
- Most often it is just cancer: epithelial tumors, tumors of the skin, mucous membranes. If mammary gland tumors are large, they begin to adhere to the skin; therefore, either inflammation occurs, or the tumor is mechanically injured by the animal and licks into an ulcer. Or, against the background of actively occurring necrosis processes, a surface defect is formed, which, due to contact with the external environment and the surrounding microflora, begins to become even more inflamed.
— Can any benign neoplasms behave like this?
- Most often not. Because the presence of an ulcer is a sign of either rapid growth or inflammation. And rapid growth and inflammation are signs uncharacteristic of benign tumors.
Another point is that some skin tumors can open and they are considered malignant from the point of view that, having opened, they can, due to the inflammatory component, produce a large amount of inflammation with the elimination of tumor cells in the surrounding tissues, and if the doctor’s attitude is inadequate when removing the tumor relapse may occur in this area. Therefore, they are malignant due to the ability to recur. At the same time, metastasis in a number of skin tumors that have opened, for example, in basal cell carcinoma, which occurs in both cats and dogs, occurs quite slowly and rarely. Therefore, the revealed tumor of the revealed tumor is discord. There are situations when the formation can exist for a long time, for example, a tumor of the hair follicle (sebaceous gland). Then it becomes inflamed, then it opens and the contents of the tumor come out. Then the surface is again covered with scar tissue and then waits until the formation again increases in size and becomes inflamed again.
But in general, it is believed that the fact of inflammation and the presence of ulcers is already a negative sign that requires emergency action: going to the doctor, prescribing antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and in most cases, surgical excision in the near future. Because the presence of an ulcer is a manifestation of inflammation; inflammation is a factor in subsequent rapid growth and, as a rule, ulceration, and most often malignant tumors that can metastasize are ulcerated.
— Is it correct to say that opening a tumor is primarily a sign that the owner has neglected his animal? Why did he bring his pet to such a state?
— The question is very difficult. After all, the owners are not doctors and perceive some things in an ordinary format. Well, bump and bump, it doesn’t grow and doesn’t grow. And if the animal also has a lot of hair, then the bump is difficult to notice. Especially in cats, which sometimes do not like active bodily contact and do not often allow their owners to actively examine and feel them. Moreover, tumors of the mammary glands located on the abdomen are most often opened. The animal instinctively protects its stomach, this is how nature instituted it, so that the animal can preserve its life, its internal organs. Therefore, an examination of the abdominal wall by the owner is, let’s say, an unpleasant procedure for a cat.
With a dog, everything is simpler, because dogs are more focused on tactile contact with the owner, they are more willing to allow themselves to be examined. But, of course, a lot depends on the owner. There are very attentive people who find neoplasms of minimal size in their pets, which are difficult for even a doctor to find during an initial examination. Therefore, there is, of course, some truth in the fact that this inattention to the animal exists. But I would not say this categorically.
— When the tumor opens, what to do about it?
— First of all, if it is not possible to show your pet to a doctor, you need to carry out the usual standard hygienic treatment of the tumor. If there is fur in this area, you should try to shave or clip it. Then evaluate the nature of the expiration. If this discharge is bloody, and the blood clots after some time on the surface, then this is active bleeding - you need to see a doctor urgently. If this is bloody discharge, then you have the opportunity to choose a convenient time to see a doctor. But, of course, without delaying the visit for long.
The owner's arsenal should include standard antiseptic solutions that are used to treat the skin. For mucous membranes it is better to use solutions of chlorhexidine 0.05%, miramistin, furatsilin. After treatment, it is advisable to put on a protective bandage, a bandage and a protective collar for the animal, especially if the animal tries to lick the wound.
— So you have now listed the preparatory measures in order to deliver the animal to the clinic? Why can’t you help an animal at home yourself, without going to a doctor? The fact is that there are a lot of topics and forums on the Internet where people advise each other how to treat these tumors: Vishnevsky ointment, various lotions and poultices, and so on.
— If we are talking about a tumor and not an abscess, then the use of ointments that have a warming effect can lead to the inflammation becoming even greater. There will be more blood flow, the tumor will grow faster and, of course, in an indirect way, but a more active spread of the malignant process may occur. With an actively growing tumor, such a sad scenario is possible. Therefore, self-medication usually ends in serious problems.
If we are talking about a malignant process, then it is necessary to consult a veterinarian and, best of all, with a certain specialization. This should be either a surgeon or an oncologist, that is, a specialist who can adequately advise how to behave in this situation. The doctor will be able to perform surgical treatment, recommend surgery and some additional therapy: antibiotic therapy, for example, until the issue of surgical removal of the opened lesion is resolved in the animal. Because for the most part, revealed tumors require surgical removal, and as soon as possible.
— What are the features of operations to remove such tumors?
“First of all, such formations should not be enucleated, that is, only the tumor itself should not be removed. According to the rules of oncological surgery, they must be removed, taking into account the surrounding tissues, taking into account their anatomical location, taking into account the blood and lymph circulation in this area. This means that it is better to contact a qualified oncologist or surgeon to ensure that this formation is excised correctly and to reduce the likelihood of relapse and further spread of the tumor.
Surgical intervention for tumors in animals is not considered in terms of simple surgical excision alone. Such important points are assessed as, firstly, whether this excision will improve the quality of life of the animal, and secondly, whether the animal will continue to live adequately, whether it will be mobile after the operation and how long the rehabilitation period will be. All these points are taken into account by the oncologist surgeon. If he considers the intervention appropriate, if there is a possibility that this intervention will be successful, it is carried out. If this intervention is crippling, if it does not improve the quality of life of the animal, or if the prognosis is unfavorable, then there is no question of surgery.
— What to do if it is not advisable to perform the operation or it is simply too late? For example, due to age, general condition of the patient, presence of metastases?
— If, based on objective data, a decision is made that it is impossible to improve the patient’s quality of life with surgical intervention, then palliative therapy is possible. Most often, it involves the choice of local treatments, antibiotic therapy, and a course of anti-inflammatory drugs. Regular monitoring of the animal's condition is also important. No one gives up on such patients. If they cannot be helped surgically, then it is possible to at least alleviate their condition. Clinical cases are very different.
— Recovery of the animal after surgery. How is this period going?
— It all depends on the volume of the operation. If we are talking about the removal of large tumors, then sometimes plastic surgery is required, and it even happens that this reconstructive surgery takes place in several stages. Of course, the recovery period can be long.
— And another question, most likely rhetorical. What to do to never encounter such a situation as opening a tumor?
— Speaking rhetorically, I must say that, unfortunately, over time no one becomes younger and healthier. And neoplasms, as a rule, do not tend to decrease, but tend to increase. Therefore, all pets, and especially older dogs and cats, require regular examination in the format of medical examination.
Any neoplasm, especially in an older animal, must be treated carefully. It is imperative to find out what the nature of the formation is in order to develop an approach and tactics on how to deal with it in a particular scenario. The earlier a problem is detected, the higher the likelihood of its solution. This will not only save the life and health of the pet, but will also save time and money for its owner.
How to feed sick animals
To improve the quality of life of a Scottish Fold cat with OCD, owners should make their pet’s diet as balanced as possible. It should also contain additives that would help prevent fractures and reduce the rate of cartilage destruction. A Scottish fold cat with osteochondrodysplasia can be fed both natural food and ready-made food, but veterinarians still prefer the first option.
When choosing commercial food, owners need to pay attention to ensure that it is enriched with calcium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, and vitamins E and B. You can also purchase food for your pets that was specially designed for cats with sore joints. Manufacturers additionally introduce glucosamine and chondroitin into them, which, when used in combination, enhance each other’s effects.
When eating a natural diet, it is imperative to include raw meat, sinew and cartilage in the Scots diet.
Important! There is a misconception that Scottish Folds with OCD need to be given jellied meat. However, when boiled, the required amount of nutrients does not remain in the meat and cartilage. In addition, some of them are poorly absorbed by the cat’s body after prolonged cooking.
Owners of sick cats need to remember that such animals are prone to obesity due to a sedentary lifestyle. That is why you will have to constantly monitor the calorie content of the food your pet eats, as well as your pet’s weight, and weigh it regularly. If your cat is overweight, you need to work with your veterinarian to choose a diet for her, because obesity is dangerous not only for the musculoskeletal system, but also for the cardiovascular system.
Life expectancy of cats with OCD
Of course, all owners of Scottish fold cats with osteochondrodysplasia are concerned about the life expectancy of a pet with such a disease. Fortunately, the disease does not directly affect life expectancy. When the first symptoms of OCD appear, owners should take their cat to the doctor as soon as possible. After all, timely treatment can slow down the progression of the disease and improve the pet’s quality of life.
Some veterinarians suggest that owners euthanize a sick pet or amputate the affected limb. However, with good care, supportive care and patience on the part of the owner, the condition of the Scottish Fold cat can be significantly improved. You can also increase your pet's lifespan with a balanced diet.
Unfortunately, if the disease is too severe, it is still better for the animal to undergo euthanasia. It is suggested to do it if the disease is constantly progressing, the pet does not get up at all and does not go to the litter box, and he also has to take pills that no longer bring relief. In such a situation, it is better to stop the cat’s suffering, but the decision always remains with the owner.
What to do if the lump is bleeding or discharges pus
An umbilical hernia on a kitten’s stomach: what to do
If the cat’s owner notices that the neoplasm has begun to bleed or that pus is oozing from it, then this is a very dangerous symptom that indicates a malignant formation.
Note! Sometimes a cat's lump under the skin on its abdomen can also be an abscess, which can rupture on its own. It is highly undesirable to wait for this, as the pet will experience pain and suffering.
Even after septic treatment, pus may still be released for some time, so the wound must be treated and washed.
Very often, cats develop bumps that frighten their owners. The percentage that they are malignant is quite low, so if a neoplasm is detected, you need to take your pet to the doctor’s clinic as quickly as possible for a medical examination and to rule out the worst cases of the disease.
Do straight-eared Scottish cats get sick?
Owners of the straight-eared variety of Scottish cats do not have to worry about the fact that their pets may develop osteochondrodysplasia. Scottish Straights are not susceptible to this disease, because their ears are not deformed, which means they do not have the gene for lop ears. In very rare cases, Scottish Straight cats may also experience deformation of the musculoskeletal system, but this is usually minor. This is because the Scottish cat breed is prone to various bone and joint problems.
Interesting! In addition to the Scots, representatives of the Ukrainian Levkoy breed are also susceptible to osteochondrodysplasia, since Scottish Folds were used to breed them.
Owners of Scottish Fold cats who have been diagnosed with osteochondrodysplasia should not despair. After all, with timely treatment, proper care, supportive therapy, as well as love and care from the owner, the pet can live a long and happy life.
