Sphynx Health
Dental Disease
Purebred cats in general seem to be more prone to dental disease than “mutt” or “alley cats”. Signs that your cat may be developing dental disease are: Reddened gums, tartar build up, and bad breath. Keep an eye on your kitty’s teeth as Sphynx seem to be especially predisposed to dental issues. As a rule, your sphynx will need his/her teeth cleaned every 3 years, but yearly exams by your dentist that include teeth and gum inspection is invaluable. Gum disease can be pre-cursor to heart disease just as it is in humans! Weekly cleanings of your cat’s teeth can drastically reduce the chances of developing dental disease. Feeding a RAW diet also greatly reduces dental issues.
This photo shows the plaque buildup and red gums that are telltale signs of dental disease.
When taking your cat in for routine dental care, beware the use of ketamine! We know of several Sphynx friends that have been lost forever because their vets used ketamine in routine procedures. Two of these Sphynx friends were lost during dental cleanings where ketamine was used. Bemisu does not support the use of Ketamine in veterinary clinics. There are other alternatives that, while more expensive, are much safer for your Sphynx.
The best thing to do to prevent your feline friend from having dental problems is to feed a good diet and brush their teeth routinely. There are many feline dental products available at local pet stores and veterinary offices.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Another disease that seems to have a higher incidence in Sphynx is Inflammatory Bowl Disease. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. If your cat exhibits these symptoms, the first thing that should be done is a PCR diarrhea panel, which is a test your vet can have done that looks for the DNA of different parasites, bacteria, and viruses that commonly cause diarrhea. Once these organisms are ruled out, if your cat continues having symptoms, IBD could be the cause of your cat’s symptoms. There are various medicines and dietary changes that can be made to control symptoms of IBD, but one of the most effective ways to get rid of your cat’s symptoms is by feeding a RAW diet. In many cases, the diarrhea will completely disappear in less than 24 hours! Please see our section about feeding RAW and its many benefits for your Sphynx.
Here is a link to an excellent article about IBD: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/ibd.html
Yeast Infections of Ears and Skin
If Sphynx are not given regular baths and ear cleanings they can develop yeast infections in their ears and on their skin. On rare occasions, even with proper cleaning some cats can develop this issue. Signs that your Sphynx may have a yeast infection of the ear are constant scratching of the ear and tilting of the ear and head. This needs to be treated IMMEDIATELY as ear infections can progress quickly and can potentially cause life long problems for your kitty. Take your Sphynx to the vet, where they can provide you with special medicated ear drops.
