Introduction
The Scottish Fold is a popular breed of cat with its distinctive folded ears. It has a beautiful coat and charming personality which make it an ideal pet for many people. However, there are some potential health issues associated with this breed which potential owners should be aware of before making their decision to adopt one. In this blog post we will take a look at what these potential health concerns are, how they might affect the Scottish Fold and how to minimize the risk of them occurring or becoming problematic.
What Are The Health Issues Associated With The Scottish Fold?
The most common health issue associated with the Scottish Fold is osteochondrodysplasia. This genetic disorder affects the bones and cartilage, causing joint pain and deformity in affected cats as they age. Other problems related to poor bone development can also occur due to this condition including hip dysplasia and arthritis-like symptoms in later years.
Another serious concern for the breed is polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD occurs when cysts form on the kidneys, preventing them from functioning properly; if left untreated it can cause organ failure and ultimately death in affected cats. While not all cats that carry this gene will develop PKD, those that do have an increased risk so regular testing by veterinarians is important for early diagnosis if necessary.
Can These Health Issues Be Prevented?
Fortunately, both conditions mentioned above can be avoided through careful breeding practices that eliminate or reduce their presence in new generations of cats. For example reputable breeders should only mate healthy parents who test negative for both diseases; any kittens showing signs of either problem should not be bred from again in order to reduce risks further down the line. Additionally prospective owners should always ask to see records proving such tests were carried out before committing themselves financially or emotionally into buying a new kitten from any breeder – even if they appear healthy initially there’s no guarantee against possible future complications arising without proper care being taken beforehand now!
