Why does a cat's breath stink?

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"Fish" breath in a cat? Causes, prevention and treatment

Unpleasant breath in cats is usually a consequence of a bacterial infection. Most likely, some tissue has been affected, and bacteria freely penetrate there. If this is the case, the diagnosis is usually "halitosis" – bad breath caused by disease.

Bad breath can also occur with kidney failure and diabetes, but in the vast majority of cases it is caused by oral disease. In any case, to get rid of unpleasant odor, you need to accurately identify the root cause, which only a specialist can do.

You should be alarmed as soon as you feel the urge to turn away from your pet. Failure to take timely action may result in phenomena such as pain when chewing food, and as a consequence, rapid weight loss. The pet may drool bloodily, and the fur becomes dull and tangled. Finally, if the cat spreads its odorous saliva all over its fur when trying to clean itself up, a pungent unpleasant smell will come from the whole animal, not just its mouth.

Possible causes of an unpleasant "fishy" smell.
Tartar. Tartar deposits damage the gums.
Gingivitis and stomatitis. These are infectious inflammations of the gums.
Oral cancer.
Lesions, lacerations, or sores on the tongue.
A foreign body in the mouth. Sometimes it can be an accidental weed that has not been swallowed, but hides in a nook and causes discomfort and suffering.

Treatment. Most likely, the veterinarian will offer you a course of antibiotics, the treatment will be quick and effective and help get rid of bad breath. However, additional problems may arise when a foreign body (the same grass) is detected and removed. This blade of grass is very difficult to detect, and its presence in the body (in the mouth) can cause symptoms similar to other diseases that require medication.

Types of bad breath

• A putrid odor can signal problems with the stomach, intestines, or liver, as well as report the presence of neoplasms. A foreign object in the cat's mouth can also cause such an odor. Kittens' breath also changes when their baby teeth are replaced with their molars, and the odor should disappear with the end of the tooth change;
• Ammonia odor signals kidney problems and urinary retention;
• The smell of acetone is a symptom of diabetes mellitus;
• If there is an injury to the mouth, you may smell raw meat.

You should not diagnose your pet on your own. If the smell is not related to recent food intake, see a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis.

Causes of cat mouth odor

Every cat's mouth contains aerobic bacteria that are part of the beneficial microflora. These bacteria are involved in the digestive process, and their activity can lead to mouth odor. When the microflora are normal, this odor is not intense and repulsive.

When the balance of bacteria is disturbed and anaerobic bacteria displace aerobic bacteria, the pet's breath becomes pungent and unpleasant. Anaerobic bacteria feed on the protein plaque present on the cat's teeth as well as on the tongue and mucous membranes.

Halitosis is not only a symptom of oral disease or microflora, but is a frequent companion to upper respiratory and other organ dysfunctions.

Changing teeth

Bad breath in kittens under one year of age may be related to tooth changes. In kittens at 4 months of age, the milk teeth begin to change to permanent teeth, and there are wounds in place of the milk tooth that are favorable to pathogenic bacteria. Local inflammation and pain in the kitten's mouth during this period is normal, but you should examine your kitten's mouth regularly to detect inflammation and prevent it from developing.

If your kitten's gums look swollen, or if you notice that a molar tooth has erupted, but a milk tooth is not falling out, consult your veterinary dentist. Failure to replace the teeth can lead to bite problems, and then halitosis will haunt the pet forever, as bits of food get stuck between its teeth.

Changing teeth end at 8-10 months, depending on the breed, and the molars last a lifetime. If you notice that your adult cat's teeth are falling out, you should contact your veterinarian.

Bad food

Poor quality food, eating spoiled food, or having only wet food in the diet can lead to halitosis. Poor food does not provide all the nutrients a cat needs, which can cause internal health problems and, as a result, lead to bad breath.

Diagnosing bad breath from a cat's mouth

By the specific smell coming from the mouth of the pet, you can identify the organ that is giving the failure:

• smells like acetone: if a cat has an acetone odor from its mouth and is drinking plenty of water, the most likely cause is diabetes mellitus. Carbohydrates are not absorbed, and the breakdown of fats produces ketone bodies that smell like acetone;
• rotten odor: it makes sense to anthelmintics the cat. Also the cause may be a disease of the digestive organs. Failure may be caused by the stomach, which cannot cope with the cat's diet;
• Ammonia: problems with the kidneys or other organs of the urinary system.
• fishy smell: likely caused by poor oral hygiene and dental disease.

Whatever cat's breath stinkWhatever it is that's causing the cat's breath, your veterinarian can identify the underlying cause and treat the problem, not the symptom.

Veterinarian reviews of halitosis

Veterinarians often encounter bad breath from cats' mouths when they see them. The culprit is often the pet's improper diet, leading to stomach, liver and kidney disease, and poor animal oral care.

The owner will be advised on the correct diet of the cat. If the cause of the stench turns out to be poor hygiene, the specialist will recommend brushing the cat's teeth regularly.

Prevention

In order to prevent the occurrence of odor from the mouth of the domestic cat, it is necessary to take preventive measures. They consist of observing a few basic rules:

• timely hygienic treatment of the oral cavity;
• Removal of foreign objects from the mouth, noticed during examinations;
• Balanced and proper nutrition;
• conducting deworming according to the veterinary calendar;
• Preventive examinations by a veterinarian at least once a year.

If after hygienic brushing the cat continues to smell from the oral cavity, then you should immediately go to the doctor without waiting for the development of symptoms. This is especially true for owners of kittens of all breeds.

The development of pathological conditions in small animals is much faster due to the metabolic processes of the body, and the immune system due to its underdevelopment can not react adequately with inflammatory processes caused by pathogenic microflora.

Due to the large flow of incoming questions, free veterinary consultations are temporarily suspended.

Preventing bad breath in cats

To avoid bad cat mouth odor again, follow the vets' simple recommendations:

1. Conduct regular oral hygiene. Get your cat used to brushing his teeth weekly. This will prevent plaque buildup that causes bad breath. The main thing is to choose the right veterinary paste. It is available in meat or fish flavors. That's why cats take it as a treat and relate to the procedure more relaxed.
2. Establish a nutritional plan. Choose the right type of food, follow their feeding schedule and give them some dental treats.

1. Maintain the frequency of anti-parasite treatments. Deworming at least once every six months.
2. Keep an eye on his oral health. Examine your teeth for tartar. If necessary, have it cleaned at home or at the veterinarian's office. Professional cleaning of feline teeth is done under anesthesia.
3. Have an annual checkup at your veterinarian's office. Have regular examinations of vital body systems. This will prevent serious problems later in life.

When to see a veterinarian

If the use of pills, powders and pastes does not bring the desired effect, it is better to show the animal to a vet. The vet will examine the cat, determine why he has bad breath and prescribe an appropriate treatment.

If tartar is the cause of halitosis, it can be removed by ultrasound. After the procedure, the patient should receive application of an antiseptic, prescription of vitamins, and recommendation of soft food.

If the source of bad breath is bad teeth, they are treated or removed at the veterinarian's discretion. For gingivitis and stomatitis, medication therapy is prescribed for the cat.

When viral diseases and abnormalities of internal organs, the animal is prescribed specific treatment, including the administration of antibiotics and hormones. As local treatment, Miramistin, which does not have a bitter taste, is prescribed.

In case of autoimmune diseases and cancer the cat is shown surgical intervention. In particular, swollen salivary glands are opened to drain the accumulated fluid.

Helminthiasis is treated with antiparasitic drugs. It is better to leave the selection of a particular drug and calculation of the dosage to a professional.

Prevention

To prevent the development of conditions in which the cat's breath stinks, it is sufficient to adhere to the following recommendations:

A sharp unpleasant smell from the mouth is not the norm for pets and may indicate the presence of serious health problems.

If you notice your cat's breath stinking of acetone, rotten food, ammonia, or sweet rot, it's best to take your cat to the vet instead of trying to mask the problem by brushing his teeth.

How does a kitten's mouth smell normally?

The feline tribe is exceptionally neat. Constant care for the cleanliness of its body is the result of the desire to eliminate any strong odors that may attract the attention of enemies and potential victims. All mammals have a physiological smell, but due to their small size and metabolism peculiarities, healthy cats and even more so kittens hardly smell. Only by sniffing carefully, you can distinguish a faint specific smell that can not cause disgust.

From 2-3 months of age, the kitten becomes accustomed to solid food, and by the age of 4 months, it switches to cooked food or dishes with fish, seafood and chicken. Given the frequency of feedings (3-5 times a day), an unpleasant food odor coming from the mouth may be caused by smelly foods, and this is considered the norm.

Why does bad odor appear?

Halitosis, the constant foul odor coming from the mouth of cats, is one of the most common reasons for vet visits. Stench is not only due to pathological processes in the mouth, it can be the first and even the only symptom of serious disorders of the digestive and endocrine system.

Identifying the cause of bad odor is crucial not only for the comfort of the owner. The cat's body is notable for its ability to mask disease, and such a striking symptom as bad odor allows you to start treatment in time, without neglecting life-threatening cases.

Rotting food remains or a foreign body in the teeth

A common "culprit" of halitosis is food debris that gets stuck between the cheeks, lips and gums, or between the kitty's teeth. A hair, string, or other small, inconspicuous particles that cannot be seen on cursory inspection begin to decompose, rot, and emit a stench. Pets may signal a problem by trying to paw, shake their head, or cough to get rid of the foreign body. If you don't pay attention to your mentee's oral hygiene, the presence of food clumps and contamination will be revealed after the inflammatory process begins.

Oral diseases

The causes that predispose felines to the occurrence of chronic stomatitis and gingivitis are not fully understood. These diseases, which are accompanied by tartar, tooth decay, gum degeneration and loose teeth, are characteristic of adult cats. Juvenile kittens have the juvenile type of gingivitis, which is caused by hereditary factors. Pedigree kittens, especially Abyssinian, Siamese and Persian, may suffer from chronic gum disease at 6 months of age.

How does a cat's breath normally smell?

The mouth is part of a cat's digestive system. It is bounded by the lips and cheeks, with the inside of the mouth formed by the palate, gums, teeth, tongue and tonsils. Its surface layer is the mucous epithelium, which covers all areas except the teeth.

There are always aerobic bacteria in the mouth of every animal, just like humans. A healthy cat's mouth should not smell anything. However, when harmless bacteria are joined by pathogens, there can be a specific smell.

Brachycephalic cat breeds are an exception. Their skull has a specific shape, so the animals are prone to develop halitosis. Representatives of such breeds often have an odor in the mouth without any obvious pathology.

Unpleasant odor is a signal to the owner

When pathological microflora multiply strongly, the smell can be felt even when the cat is just lying around. In veterinary medicine this phenomenon is called "halitosis". The smell is usually not dangerous, but it is always a sign of some health problem in the cat. Oral odor is most often one of the symptoms of internal diseases, bacterial or viral infections, systemic abnormalities or inflammation in the mouth.

If an unpleasant odor appears, your pet's behavior should be closely monitored. If the stench is caused by some disease, other symptoms join halitosis, such as:

• Loss of appetite or complete refusal to eat;
• Digestive disorders such as diarrhea, vomiting or constipation;
• Increased fluid intake;
• General weakness, decreased activity, apathy;
• craving for solitude;
• Frequent urge to urinate;
• increased body temperature;
• weight loss.

Read also: Symptoms of renal failure in cats and prognosis: what to do if a cat has kidney failure, can it be saved?

Diseases of the mucous membranes of the mouth and dental problems can be detected by the cat's owner himself. To do this, you need to carefully examine the pet's mouth and observe him while he is eating. As a rule, eating in such cases causes discomfort. The animal tries to chew food on one side of the jaw, eating not as actively as before.

Pathologies of internal organs and infectious diseases can not be identified by the owner. A veterinarian examination and a number of tests will be required to determine the source of the problem.

Diagnosis of bad cat mouth odor

Domestic cats live in better conditions than their ancestors and wild counterparts. On the one hand, this has benefited the quality and longevity of the pets, on the other hand, the home keeping of animals has contributed to the emergence of a number of diseases. For example, often due to unbalanced diet, domestic cats are disturbed metabolism, develop diseases of the digestive system, including diseases of the mouth.

Diagnosing the cause that may have caused the cat's bad breath is done in two steps:

1. ruling out lesions of the mouth and teeth. The veterinarian examines the animal to determine if an oral lesion is the cause of the odor. If there are no obvious signs of a lesion, the second stage of diagnosis is performed.

2. Detection of common diseases.In this step, the pet is examined for common diseases that may have caused the pet's bad breath.

Oral examinations of the cat can and should be performed regularly, especially if there is severe breath odor. This manipulation can be done by the owner if the pet is not aggressive, or by a veterinarian.

Examination by the owner

In order for a cat to accept examinations of the mouth and teeth calmly, owners should be advised to accustom the cat to this procedure from an early age. The examination should be performed in a calm environment. Gently place the palm of your left hand on the cat's head in the forehead area, as if the owner wants to pet it. Place the thumb under the left cheekbone and the index finger under the right cheekbone, then carefully lift the head up, tilting it slightly. The index finger of your right hand should be placed on the lower incisors and gently press to make the cat open its mouth.

A healthy cat should have no foreign objects in its mouth and its tongue should be pink and smooth. The gums should normally be pale pink, smooth, without lesions or growths. The teeth are white, with an even surface. The edge of the gum adjacent to the teeth is visible.

The main causes of bad breath in cats are

Changing Teeth

The change of teeth in kittens begins at the age of 4 months. First, the milk incisors fall out. The gum becomes inflamed and a red border appears around the tooth. Inflammation leads to increased reproduction of bacteria, which are always present in the mouth. An increase in bacteria causes bad breath. After 6 months of age, it is advisable to examine the kitten's mouth: if the teeth have changed, but the gums are still red and swollen, then it is advisable to examine the kitten. The veterinarian should continue to see if the inflammation persists. It is also advisable to see the veterinarian if the kitten is having trouble changing teeth.

Bad food

Bad food, faulty feeding, eating stale food, rotten fish is accompanied by the appearance of repulsive cat breath. Cats that walk freely in the street are more prone to this. A domestic cat may find a rotten product in the trash and eat it. If this becomes a habit, it can be dangerous to the pet's health, as such cases not only cause bad breath, but, much worse, can cause severe poisoning in the pet.

Stuck objects in the mouth

Usually they are small fish bones that get stuck between the teeth or in the throat and can stick up like a spacer and cause chronic inflammation, erosions at places of contact with mucosa, appearance of mucopurulent discharges if the foreign body is in the mouth for a long time. In this case, the cat wants to eat, but can not take food or swallow it, begins to choke, there is salivation, the pet quickly loses weight.

Viral diseases

In cats, calicivirus infection, viral rhinotracheitis (to a lesser extent) can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. With calicivirus, stomatitis develops and ulcers form on the mucous membranes, more often on the tongue. With rhinotracheitis – stomatitis, the inflammatory process with bacterial reproduction leads to halitosis (bad breath).