Bad Breath in Cats:Causes And Treatments

To some degree, just about every cat has a level of bad breath on a frequent basis that can usually be removed simply by washing it away when water is consumed. Consistent bad breath in cats or an odor that is remarkably strong in it's presence may spell the beginnings of a much larger and more serious health issue. A pet owner should be constantly on the watch for drastic changes in their cat's mouth odors, and it is not always a matter of something they recently ate. Certain serious and possibly deadly diseases in cats make their presence known by affecting a cats breath, such as lung disease, severe kidney disease or cancer of the mouth.

The most common causes of bad breath in cats is due to a foreign object such as bone, meat, hair or vegetation caught in a cats teeth. As the object decomposes it emits a strong odor that will remain until it is removed or swallowed. While most cats can work this problem out on their own, occasionally they may require the assistance of an owner. There are a number of good cat toothbrushes available along with toothpaste made specifically for cats that will clean tartar and improve bad breathe almost instantly. A word of caution is in order here - never, never use toothpaste made for humans on cats as it can have harmful effects. There are also breath drops made for kitty, as well as cat treats that remove plaque from teeth.

A cats bad breath may also be due to abscessed teeth, oral ulcers, tumors of the mouth or gingivitis. These are usually accompanied by symptoms such as excessive drooling, difficulty eating or swallowing, or a bloody discharge coming from the cat's mouth. The pain associated with these disorders may cause a cat to actually grab it's mouth with a paw in the same way that a human would place a hand over an aching tooth.

When your cat's bad breath has lingered and progressed to a point where the previous signs of distress are present, it is imperative to get kitty to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Most oral issues in cats can be remedied in a positive fashion if addressed in a timely manner, via antibiotics, a change in diet or surgery. With immediate attention a veterinarian can most likely prevent a minor oral issue from progressing to a life threatening illness.