Your Cat’s Bad Breath
What is that unpleasant smell? It’s not coming from where you think it is; you have a case of cat bad breath on your hands.
Although you shouldn’t expect your cat to have fresh or odorless breath, you should take her to the vet for a checkup to rule out any underlying medical issues if she has repeatedly foul-smelling halitosis.
Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t ignore your cat’s bad breath or think it’s merely a byproduct of her diet.
The Causes of Offending Cat Breath
If your cat has exceptionally foul breath, there could be a variety of causes. These include:
- Periodontal disease, mouth ulcers, and oral sores
- Food or another object may be caught between your cat’s teeth or under its gums.
- It’s possible that an intestinal obstruction or a liver condition are to blame for your cat’s terrible breath.
- If the breath of your cat smells like pee, they may have kidney disease.
- Respiratory illnesses such as rhinitis
- Pharyngitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis
- Stomach and digestive system problems
- A state of skin
- Oral harm
- Metabolic conditions like diabetes (if your cat has a sweet-smelling breath)
- A viral, bacterial, or fungal infection
- Cancer
The best way to figure out what is exactly causing your cat’s bad breath is to take her to the vet for a thorough examination. Your veterinarian will determine whether a more serious underlying ailment is to fault or whether the issue is simply periodontal disease, in which case professional cleaning and home therapy would be sufficient.
If your cat also exhibits additional symptoms in addition to foul breath, such as weight loss, increased thirst, excessive urination, decreased appetite, or vomiting, don’t put off getting your cat to the vet. These additional signs and symptoms can point to a more serious disease that needs prompt medical attention.
Periodontal disease is the primary cause of foul breath.
Regular dental treatment for your cat can help prevent periodontal disease, the most common cause of feline halitosis.
Periodontal disease is avoidable. If you catch periodontal disease at your veterinarian’s office in time, it can be effectively treated before it gets worse. Furthermore, oral infections may spread to other organs, causing problems throughout the body.
Why It Is Important to Brush Your Cat’s Teeth
Brushing your cat’s teeth on a regular basis will help reduce bad breath by eliminating plaque that would otherwise accumulate over time, thicken, and perhaps result in swollen gums, gingivitis, and bone and tissue loss.
However, if your cat gets the illness, she can be in a lot of pain, get an infection in her mouth, lose her teeth, or require tooth extraction by your doctor. The plaque will ultimately begin to reappear, though, if you don’t keep up with home maintenance.
Nothing is always serious.
Although it’s vital to realize that your cat’s persistent bad breath can be a sign of disease, it’s as important to realize that not all instances of bad breath will indicate a health problem. For instance, if your cat recently ate food with a strong odor, you can expect that her breath may be harsher.
However, if your dog routinely has extremely bad breath, you should take her to the vet for a checkup. This will ensure that you are able to provide your cat with the proper care, such as antibiotics or other medications, dental cleanings, or both, to address the primary source of the problem.
You can take the appropriate steps to maintain your cat’s health and happiness by being aware of the possible causes of halitosis. If you ever wonder whether the breath of your cat is normal, consult your veterinarian.
