Can pets have the same birth defects as humans?

Question

Babies can be born with chromosome-based illnesses such as down syndrome... but is it possible for pets to have such things?

Answer 1

Of course, though the animals generally die often before symptoms have been noticed. Medical science saves us from dieing of a lot of things. I had a cat that drooled and occasionally walked into things, I'm sure he was handi-capped.

Answer 2

Yes. Anything with DNA (i.e. anything alive) can have genetic birth defects. They might not have the exact same thing we can get, such as your example of Down's Syndrome, but they can be effected by genetic defects.

Answer 3

A chromosome birth defect in a cat can happen just as it could in other animals, even humans.

Answer 4

absolutely...but usually when they are born, sometimes the mother eats them. usually right after they are born, instinct takes over and the mother eats it, rather than letting it live and suffer. thats why we don't see it very much in animals.