Here you are going to find a survey about possible congenital defects. Hereto belong umbilical hernia, cryptorchidism, cleft palates and epilepsy. Some of these are surgically treatable and provide a “normal” and long cat life for the cat after the correction.
A frequency of occurance of certain defects with Thai cats/ Siamese cats is not verifiable.
Umbilical hernia describes the incomplete unification of both halves of the body during the embryonic phase. In the range of the umbilicus the halves of the body do not grow together completely. This occurred aperture may be unnoticeably small but also centimetre-sized and have different effects: least umbilical hernias have no negative impacts. They are palpable but so small that neither umbilical fat tissue nor intestinal loops may get pinched. The bigger the aperture is the higher is the risk that tissue or intestine may get in and get cut off from supply. A large umbilical hernia always bears the risk of an intestinal bruise and should undergo surgery as soon as possible. Smaller, harmless hernias may be left or maybe corrected with another pending stomach surgery (e.g. castration).
Many small umbilical hernias may only be detected during the first weeks of life.
It is an educated guess that umbilical hernia is hereditary which should provoke the exclusion from breeding for these animals. Repeadetly, cats cutting the umbilical cord of theit kittens to too curtly are suspected as a cause. Other causes might be infections of the mother or pollutants during the pregnancy, weakness of the connective tissue or a huge navel hole.
Each detected Umbilical hernia also means the exclusion of an exhibition or the tetention of the title. Most cat associations cats with umbilical hernia are exckuded from breeding:
For example: FIFe Breeding and Registration Rules § 3.6 Cats not allowed for breeding
"Not allowed for breeding are cats: - Cats with umbilical hernia"
Source: FIFe Homepage Rules & Forms
If kittens have a small umbilical hernia there is no need for rapid action. It should be checked steadily but as a rule it does not cause any symptoms. Later, the umbilical hernia sould undergo surgery anyway, it can be done along with the castration – then the cat only has to cope with one anaesthesia. Now and then the abdominal wall is so weak that it ruptures or the hole in the abdominal wall is so big that a surgery for the kitten is indispensable.
After the treatment the cats have no restrictions in their daily life. An accumulation of umbilical hernia in Siamese/Thai does not exist.
Umbilical hernia with cats -causes andappearance
Umbilical hernia with cats - symptoms and preventive measures
Umbilical hernia with cats – Treatment and surgery
www.nabelbruch.net/nabelbruch-bei-tieren
Veterinary practice Nidderau Dr. Rogalla & Dr. Rummel
As cryptorchidism we understand the lack of one or both testicles in the scrotum.
With cats the descending of the testicles into the groin area or rather the scrotum takes already place before birth, so that they should be big enough and easily palpable no later than at the first vaccination
Most commonly we see the one-sided abdominal cryptorchidism, which means, one testicle remained in the abdomen and therefor is not palpable int the groin. The testcle which remained inside the groin or even in the abdomen is infertile because the temperature inside the body is too high for the spermatozoa. Often these testicles degenerate to tumors.
The exact reasons for the emergence of an undescended testicle othen remain unsolved. Sometimes the cryptorchidism occures because of a too narrow inguinal canal, the testicle simply cannot pass through and therefor remains before the inner inguinal ring or in the inginual canal. A recessive heredity is also suspected as reason.
Therefor, breeding with cats with cryptorchidism and their parents should remain undone. With many other animal species, the lack of one or both testicles also leads to exclusion for breeding. Each dedected cryptorchidism also means the exclusion of an exhibition or the tetention of the title.
Most cat associations exclude male cats with not completely desended testicles and demand a medical certificate before breeding.
For example, FIFe Breeding and Registration Rules § 3.2 stud:
„Before a male cat is used as a stud, he needs a veterinary confirmation that the testicles are formed normally and descended into the scrotum “
Source: FIFe Homepage Rules & Forms
There is no accumulation of cryptorchidism in Siamese/ Thai.
Surgical therapies:
*Orchidopexie: This surgical method preserves the testicle which is transferred into the scrotum and fixed there surgically. To allow the descent the vas deference must be severed because usually it is too short. This surgical method coinciently provides the sterilisation of the animal. So, no inferior or damaged spermatozoa can be used for reproduction. Depending on the position of the testicle the abdominal cavity might be opened. Temorarily, the testicle is fixed in the inguinal canal after the cut of the vas deference. Three weeks after, with a second surgical procedure the testicle will be fixed in its final position in the scrotum.
*Castration with testicular prothesis made of silicone: This procedure allows a natural appearance of the male cat without exposing the animal to a higher cancer risk. Testicular prothesis made of silicone are multi tiered, in various sizes and allow a natural tactile sensitivity. A disadvantage is the high price of the prothesis as usually two are implanted.
*Normal-castration with removal of both testicles: This method of treatment is chosen by most of our pet owners. Depending on the position the abdominal cavity and/or the ingunual canal are opened to find and remove the testicle. The patients cope well with the surgery and recover quickly.
After the treatment the male cat suffers from no restriction in his daily
Veterinary practice Chr. Bauer
www.ueberweisungspraxis-bremen.de
Cleft palates occur similarly as umbilical hernia by incomplete coalesce of bodys - / here bodyhalves during the embryonic development. It often occurs together with cleft lips. A cleft palate makes it difficult or impossible for the kitten to to suck which means a certain death sentence. Some kittens are stillborn because other defects do not allow survival, other kittens are born vitally but can not survive because they cannot suck. Presumably it is a dominant inheritance which means that both parents should not be used for breeding anymore.
Some of the congenital cleft palates can be surgically corrected by now. The surgical treatment reqires extensive experience but the prognosis usually is good.
Congenital malformations with pedigree cats
The usage of a collagen-matrix (VetBiosist®) for closure of cleft palates in dog and cat, Veterinary practice for small animals, 2009: Book 3 2009, S173ff
Epileptic seizures are faulty discharges in the brain. The progress of the seizures and their cause are similar to those of humans. But cats scarely show falling down and spasm, rather focal forms. Thereby behavioural disorders, compulsive movements, aggression or tremor of limbs may occur. Only 0,5 % of all cats are epileptics!
To eliminate other causes for these symptoms a close cooperation with the veterinary is necessary. The therapy is similar to the therapy of humans. With hereditary forms of epilepsy, a familial incidence can be detected and therefor, concerned animals and their ancestors should not be used for breeding anymore. An accumulation of epilepsy in Siamese/Thai does not exist.
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