Catalase Deficiency ( CAT ) / Hypocatalasemia / Acatalasia
Catalase Deficiency (hypocatalasemia or acatalasia) is a rare inherited disorder that is caused by recessive mutation in the CAT gene which is responsible for the production of the anti-oxidative enzyme catalase.
Catalase is a protein which plays an important role in a variety of metabolic reactions in the body including those involved in the prevention of cellular oxidative damage. Dogs affected with catalase deficiency lack adequate amounts of this protein in red blood cells. Though many dogs with this condition do not show clinical signs of disease, affected dogs are at increased risk of life-threatening ulceration and gangrene (tissue death due to loss of blood supply) of the oral cavity.