Manx Cat health: the list of common diseases of the breed
Here is everything you need to know about common Manx diseases: what they are, how to recognize them early, how they are treated.
Knowing everything about the health of your four-legged friend is essential to ensure that your pet’s life is long and healthy. Let’s find out together what are the common diseases in Manx, to be able to identify and treat them, and to prevent the most serious genetic diseases.
Common Diseases of Manx: The Complete List
The specimens of this breed are long-lived and tend to be healthy.
The average life span of these four legs, in fact, is between 14 and 16 years.
However, there are a number of common diseases in Manx, which are inherited from one generation to the next. Among the diseases that most frequently affect this cat are:
Manx syndrome
Corneal dystrophy
Megacolon
In addition to the genetic diseases of Manx, it is essential to prevent the onset of diseases common to all cats. These include infections, skin and oral disorders. How to do?
Taking care of the Manx is essential: in this article you will find everything you need to know about it.
Manx syndrome
Manx syndrome is among the most common diseases of this breed. This genetic pathology causes malformation of the spine: it is short and can be bifid. Symptoms of this pathology are:
Abnormal gait
Fecal and urinary incontinence
Loss of sensation in the hind legs
This syndrome affects approximately 30% of Manx cats. To date, there is no definitive cure for the disease.
The prognosis is closely linked to the conditions of the individual specimen, which can die within a few days or have a life expectancy of up to 3-4 years.
Therefore, prevention is everything. For this reason, it is essential that breeders avoid reproduction among Manx specimens totally devoid of tails, making them mate with cats with longer appendages, which do not have the dominant M gene, responsible for the onset of the disease.
Corneal dystrophy
Among the most common diseases in Manx is corneal dystrophy.
It is an eye disease, which can cause the cat’s vision to worsen and lead to total blindness. The main manifestations of this disease are:
Opacification of the cornea
Gradual loss of vision
Circular lesions of gray, white or silvery color
To date, there is no definitive cure for the disease. However, with the right care and good nutrition, the progression of the disease can be slowed down.
Megacolon
Finally, the megacolon closes the list of common diseases in Manx.
It is a disease that affects the cat’s intestine, causing it to dilate and reduce functionality.
In most cases, it is an idiopathic condition , the causes of which are currently unknown and attributable to stress and discomfort of the animal. Symptoms of megacolon in Manx are:
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Bowel obstruction
Anorexia;
Lack of appetite.
How is this disease treated? In the most serious cases it is necessary to subject the animal to surgery to restore the normal size of the colon and eliminate the huge amount of feces that accumulates inside it.
