The mouth of a meowing pet is home to many bacteria, both pathogenic and beneficial. The latter help maintain the normal condition of the oral cavity, inhibiting the growth of bad micro-residents, and a violation of this balance brings not only an unpleasant stench from the mouth, but also health problems.
Causes of bad breath in cats
If suddenly your pet opens its mouth, and from there comes the aroma of the Kraken’s mouth, then you urgently need to figure out why the cat has bad breath:
Age: most often this attack occurs in young animals aged 1-3 years. If a “charming” amber is heard from an elderly cat, the cause is probably a malfunction internal organs.
Changing baby teeth to permanent teeth: halitosis in kittens is quite rare, but it does happen during the period of teeth change.
Oral diseases: gingivitis, caries, pharyngitis, stomatitis, cysts and other diseases often smell bad.
Breed: Brachycephalic breeds (cats with a flattened face) also often cause their owners to suffer from bad breath.
Problems with internal organs: diseased kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, upper Airways- any organ can betray its illness in this way.
Inflammation: any inflammation, from mild to abscess in oral cavity may manifest itself as a stench.
Helminths: as a result of the activity of bacteria, a cat’s mouth develops a bad odor.
Based on the above reasons, it becomes clear that the pet needs to be examined by a veterinarian.
Diagnosis of bad odor from a cat's mouth
By the specific smell coming from the pet’s mouth, you can determine the organ that is malfunctioning:
Smells of acetone: If your cat smells of acetone from its mouth, and this is accompanied by copious amounts of water, the most likely cause is diabetes. Carbohydrates are not digested, and due to the breakdown of fats, ketone bodies that smell like acetone are formed;
rotten smell rot: it makes sense to worm the cat. The cause may also be a disease of the digestive system. The stomach may fail because it cannot cope with the cat’s diet;
ammonia: problems with the kidneys or other organs of the genitourinary system.
fishy smell: probable cause serves for violations of oral hygiene and dental disease.
Whatever The cat's breath stank, a veterinarian can identify the true cause and prescribe treatment not for the symptom, but for the disease itself.
Reviews from veterinarians about halitosis
Veterinarians often encounter an unpleasant odor from the mouths of cats. The reason for this is often an incorrectly formulated pet diet, which leads to diseases of the stomach, liver, kidneys, and poor oral care of animals.
The owner will definitely be consulted regarding proper nutrition Kotofeya. If the cause of the stench turns out to be poor hygiene, the specialist will recommend brushing the cat’s teeth regularly.
Treating cat bad breath
You should not listen carefully to the words of your cat-loving neighbor, who cured his purring dog’s mouth stench in some way. The causes of the problem can be completely different, so the first thing you should do is visit a veterinarian: after the appointment, it will be clear on what principle to treat the disease.
If the trouble was caused by an incorrect menu, then the first thing you need to do is balance your diet. The doctor will prescribe medicines that will help eliminate the cause.
Problems with metabolism will be revealed by a blood, urine and stool test, as well as a swab of the oral mucosa. Additional symptom The cat will have diarrhea or loose stool. The diet will require the exclusion of economy-class feed and food from the host’s table.
If there is a suspicion of diabetes, this will require lifelong therapy and veterinary supervision.
When indicating problems with internal organs or chronic diseases An ultrasound or x-ray is performed.
Sometimes it is difficult to independently assess the condition of the oral cavity, so the cat is shown to a specialist: if periodontitis, tumors, caries, or excessively grown tartar are detected, qualified treatment methods will be taken.
How to remove odor from a cat's mouth
In the case where the reason bad smell If your cat has a mucous membrane disease or tartar coming from his mouth, then you can deal with it on your own: you can buy brushes and gels from the veterinary pharmacy that you can and should use to clean your cat’s teeth. It is better to accustom your pet to cleaning from childhood, but if the moment is missed, you will still have to start.
If the examination reveals wounds, then they must be regularly treated with miramistin or hydrogen peroxide 3%: after such simple actions, there is a chance that the cat will have much less bad breath if the cause is wounds or diseases of the oral cavity.
Remedies for cat bad breath
There are several remedies that can be used to help if your cat’s breath stinks.
Fresh Breath Tablets - Beafar company offers products containing chlorophyll. The medicine acts as a disinfectant on the mucous membranes of the mouth and is easily combined with food. The pet is given 2 tablets per day, one in the morning feeding, the second in the evening. The pack contains 40 tablets, the price of the medicine is about 500-800 rubles.
Another product with a lot of positive reviews is called Api-San spray or gel “Zubastic”. The medicine costs about 200-250 rubles. Instructions for use: apply the product only from the factory bottle 2-3 times a day for one or two weeks. Since the animal will experience profuse salivation in the first half hour, food is offered no earlier than 30 minutes after treatment.
Cliny spray to combat mouth odor Suitable for use in cats. The medication acts by destroying tartar, whitening teeth and strengthening gums. The stench that appears due to lack of oral hygiene is eliminated without harm to the animal’s health. You can spend about 200-250 rubles on the drug Cliny.
Gel Dentavedin is an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant for the care of the oral cavity in cats. By combating gram negative/positive bacteria, yeast and dermaphytes. The gel is rubbed into the gums and teeth. Feed the pussy only half an hour after the procedure. The cost of the drug is on average 70 rubles.
Timely care of the animal’s health will prevent the appearance of a bad odor from the pet’s mouth.
Video about bad breath in cats
The cat is neat. She constantly licks herself, but bad smell from a cat indicates an anomaly. This cannot be tolerated. The cause should be found out and prevented further development pathological process.
Nature took care of the hunting cat and provided for the absence of smell. "Washing" the cat plays great value. Animal saliva contains lysozyme. This is an enzyme that, when contacted by microorganisms, immediately destroys their membranes.
The smell of flesh is the smell of microorganisms. It is they who, by multiplying, reveal their presence. The higher the population, the stronger the odor emanating from the microbe's breeding site. By destroying the microflora on itself, the cat normalizes it and prevents reproduction.
The cat washes itself often because the enzyme is very unstable. When it comes into contact with air, it quickly breaks down and must be applied again and again. If a cat feels good, it will not be lazy. Constant washing is a guarantee that there will be no odor.
Sources of unpleasant odor from cats and their prevention
An unpleasant-smelling animal cannot cause disgust; it should alert you. Pathologies in the body can happen at any time. Finding out the cause of the smell in a timely manner and providing assistance will help you quickly deal with the problem.
Odor from wool and leather
Pathological processes on the animal's skin may not be visible due to the presence of fur. In this case, the smell gives away the problem.
To establish the location, you need to examine the animal. It is enough to carry out palpation. Starting from the head with your fingers, moving through the cat’s skin, you need to move towards the tail. If, upon palpation, irregularities are identified, they should be inspected by moving apart hairline. In case of pain, the animal will give away the location of the pathology by its reaction to pain.
Upon examination you can reveal:
- papules (nodules);
- pustules (ulcers);
- vesicles (air bubbles);
- (limited purulent inflammation);
- (not limited purulent inflammation);
- scabs (crusts of dried tissue and purulent masses);
- scales (dry dead tissue).
As a rule, on initial stages, there may be no odor during the ripening process. It appears when the tissues are lysed and the purulent masses go beyond the process itself.
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Unpleasant odor from the mouth
Cats are carnivorous predators. In nature, their food is meat and fish. Man, in order to reduce the cost of his diet and ease his lot, tries in every possible way to change nature. Keeping cats on dry food, which is based on cereals, violates acid-base balance in organism. As a result, opportunistic microflora begins to transform into pathogenic microflora, causing dysbacteriosis. This may be one of the reasons for the unpleasant odor from the animal's mouth.
To identify possible reason you need to examine the oral cavity. The following can tell about the pathology:
- dental condition (, inflammatory processes);
- gums ( , );
- mucous membrane of the cavity ().
As the body ages, it loses its immune functions and the liver is no longer able to perform barrier function in full and this is reflected in the state of the entire organism. The unpleasant smell from an old cat's mouth is the smell of old age.
Strong odor of urine
Urine has its own specific smell. Normally it does not appear. If the owner feels it, this may indicate:
- improper feeding (this is again due to a violation of the acid-base balance);
- kidney pathologies;
- disruption in work Bladder, ureters, urinary tract.
In any case, urgent consultation with a doctor and examination of the animal is necessary.
Smell from ears
Inner surface ears inaccessible to cleansing by the cat itself. Therefore, the owner must ensure cleanliness. If this does not happen, then over time dust and natural secretions accumulate in them. All together, this is a breeding ground for microorganisms, and they emit an odor.
Microbes multiply vigorously and can cause not only odor, but also cause serious pathology.
The cause of the smell may be. In this case, you can see crusts, discharge, and dirtiness in and around the ear. The ear will “itch.” If the process is left to chance, it will lead to (otitis media) and hearing loss.
The smell from under the tail
If an animal has diarrhea, or alternates with diarrhea, then this is the reason. The cat simply does not have time to “serve” itself.
Other pathologies are also possible. If the odor is associated with estrus or during prepartum or lochia discharge ( postpartum discharge), then you should pay attention to this Special attention. During this period there should not be a particularly intense odor. Any odors indicate the proliferation of microflora and a pathological, purulent process in the genital and birth canals.
Read also: What to feed a Siamese kitten: menu by age
Inflammation of the anal glands is common in older cats. Normally, they are released independently into the lumen of the rectum. With age, the muscle sphincter weakens, which slows down the evacuation of secretions. Against this background, purulent inflammatory processes are possible.
Smell from the nose
The cause of odor from the nasal cavity may be:
- rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal cavity);
- sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses);
- and (other signs may join later).
Whatever the reason, a visit to the doctor is necessary.
Hygiene rules for cats
A healthy cat takes care of itself. She spends a third of the day on this. However, the owner is also obliged to take part in this.
Cat hygiene consists of caring for:
- skin and hair. This includes bathing, combing while simultaneously examining and palpating the skin. To do this, you can use special shampoos and foams, combs and comb mittens. (For long-haired ones, you need a set of different combs). should be 2 times a month, hairless breeds that sweat profusely in summer - daily. If the animal is unwell, bathing is not used. You need to comb it 2 times a week (daily during the molting period);
- . They should be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in warm water or zoo lotion. Using smooth movements and turning the swab clockwise, you can easily clean your cat's ears. If the accumulation of dirt is large, dry and old, then you can drop a few drops of lotion, sunflower oil or water into the cavity. The animal will shake out the excess, and what remains will soak the crusts. Next, you can use a cotton swab. Hygiene procedure carried out once a week;
- . The removal of stones and plaque should be carried out by a specialist in the clinic. For prevention, the cat should be given solid food and allowed to chew on soft bones and cartilage.
Healthy feeding rules
The cat is a carnivore. should consist of feed of animal origin:
- meat;
- fish;
- eggs;
- dairy products.
Practice shows that constant feeding of dry food, even the most “promoted” brands, does not add health. Among these “eaters” there are no long-livers. Humans are not yet able to select an animal’s diet with molecular precision so that it is balanced by:
- natural proteins;
- carbohydrates;
- fats;
- minerals;
- vitamins.
You should figure out why your cat's breath smells, this could be a sign serious problems with health. If bad breath appears once, then there is no need to worry, but if it appears with enviable frequency, then you should consult a specialist.
Many different bacteria accumulate in the oral cavity, some of them are useful, and some can be harmful. A kitten is the same living creature, and various pathogenic processes can occur in its body. One of these processes is bad breath.
Causes
The causes of stench are most often bacteria in the oral cavity, as well as diseases of the internal organs. If this problem appeared after another snack and went away on its own, then there is no need to worry. But if the smell contains notes of acetone or rot, then this may become one of the symptoms of the disease.
Reasons why a cat has bad breath:
- Stomatitis– inflammatory processes are observed in the pet’s mouth.
- Gingivitis– the inner surface of the cat’s mouth becomes inflamed. If no treatment is taken, it may develop into infectious disease which will destroy bone tissue and will cause serious harm to the oral cavity. The kitten may lose its teeth, resulting in rapid exhaustion and death.
- Abscess– most often observed in cats. The reason for this is the entry of a foreign body into the tooth, as a result of which inflammation develops and many harmful bacteria appear.
- Changing teeth– Kittens’ teeth begin to change at 3-4 months. This may cause an unpleasant odor.
- Polyps – benign tumor, the location of which is the nasal passages or larynx of the cat.
- Diabetes– observed in old cats. At the same time, the animal develops a fruity odor from its mouth.
- Reflux- in other words, heartburn.
- Lung diseases– the inflammatory processes that occur there can also be the cause of the cat’s bad breath.
- Liver diseases– characterized by the smell of ammonia.
- Benign and malignant tumors.
- Gastrointestinal diseases– oncology, indigestion, etc.
If your cat has bad breath due to problems in the oral cavity, then you can solve them on your own. Ointments, compresses, special foods and brushing your teeth will help cope with the disease. Usually these are problems with teeth or gums. But if the kitten chews slowly, finds this process difficult, scratches its mouth with its paw, or tilts its head to the side, you should seek help from a veterinarian. Perhaps your pet has developed one of the above diseases.
If a bad odor has become a symptom of a disease of the internal organs, then without qualified assistance there's no way around it. The owner of the animal himself will not be able to determine anything.
If a cat eats only soft food, then it begins to accumulate between the teeth, and therefore, tartar can form on the teeth.
The causes of odor can be divided by age category
Kittens will most likely have:
- Untimely replacement of teeth.
- Malocclusion.
- Wounds, ulcers in the mouth.
- Remains of food, a foreign body in the tooth, due to which bacteria begin to develop.
Middle aged cats:
- Tartar on the teeth, in which the gum moves away from the tooth itself. Harmful bacteria begin to colonize it, which leads to infections and inflammation.
- Injury to the gums, causing them to become inflamed. For this reason, the cat's breath stinks of rotten meat.
Adult cats:
- Malignant tumors.
- Diseases of the kitten's internal organs.
- Diabetes.
We distinguish diseases by smell
Bad breath from a cat can make it clear to its owner what needs to be addressed. Gastritis, ulcers and other diseases of the esophagus give putrid smell . Liver diseases are characterized by a sweetish odor. The smell of ammonia signals kidney disease. The smell of acetone or overripe apples indicates the development of diabetes. If it smells like rotten meat, then most likely there is a problem in the animal’s oral cavity.
Associated symptoms
Halitosis (stinky odor) is not the only symptom that may concern the owner. In addition to this, pet Appetite may decrease and it becomes difficult for him to chew food, especially hard food.
A cat's bad breath may be accompanied by diarrhea or constipation. IN in this case The cause is diseases of the digestive tract.
If strong thirst, changes in weight up or down, weakness, indifference to everything, the smell of acetone from the mouth are added to the stench of the mouth, then this indicates diabetes mellitus.
In combination with the stench, there may be frequent urination, pain when going to the toilet, all this indicates diseases of the urethra.
If accompanied by increased salivation
This is one of the signs of stomatitis. In this case, the cat’s mouth smells like rotten meat. In addition to stomatitis, the smell of rotten meat may indicate infectious processes in the body, presence of a foreign body in the oral cavity or kidney failure.
Accompanying tooth loss
Some cat breeds are highly prone to oral diseases, especially Persians and Abyssinians. An owner who does not monitor his pet’s nutrition, as well as the condition of his oral cavity, leads to the fact that his ward loses his teeth early.
When the following symptoms, you need to visit a veterinarian:
- putrid smell.
- swollen gums.
- strong salivation.
- loss of appetite or complete refusal of food.
If such signs are present, you should immediately contact a veterinarian. No one can make a diagnosis on their own. The doctor examines the animal, takes necessary tests, and will determine the reasons for the cat’s strong breath.
During the examination, an x-ray is used, which allows you to identify diseases of the bones or teeth, and will also show a tumor, if any. An ultrasound will determine the condition of the internal organs and their size.
If it is difficult to determine the cause of the stench, your doctor may recommend an endoscopy. This procedure is carried out using a thin tube that is placed into the digestive tract. At its end there is a camera that will show the state of the gastrointestinal tract.
Typically, diagnosis of the disease consists of urine, feces and blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound and a swab from the kitten's mouth.
Treatment
To determine the source of the kitten’s bad breath, you need to contact the appropriate specialists; only they, based on the examination, will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If the problem is in the mouth, then most likely brushing the cat's teeth will help deal with the situation, but this is only when yellow plaque appears.
For prevention purposes, pets need to be given special food that reduces plaque. Solid foods help clean teeth from dirt and remove tartar..
Only a veterinarian can determine the treatment for bad breath in a cat. It all depends on the disease.
- If the kitten eats only soft food, then it should be replaced with harder food. And cheap food, balanced and full of vitamins and minerals.
- If the cat is found to have helminths, the doctor will prescribe anthelmintic drugs.
- For kidney diseases, drugs are prescribed that restore this organ.
- For dental diseases, procedures are carried out to remove caries and plaque.
- If a cat develops diabetes mellitus and a foul odor appears as a result, then it is prescribed therapy that helps get rid of it. However, she cannot cope with the disease.
If your pet's gums are poor condition, there are dental problems, as well as gingivitis, then, under anesthesia, they can remove the stone, remove the tooth or the resulting polyps. If a tumor is found, surgical intervention is possible.
If your pet’s mouth smells bad due to stomatitis, the doctor will prescribe ointments, antibiotics, or late stages, all teeth are removed. If there is an abscess, the tooth is opened and cleaned, and antibiotics are prescribed. In advanced stages, the diseased tooth may be removed.
If a cat’s breath stinks due to diseases of the internal organs, then a balanced diet is prescribed, and the necessary medications are also prescribed.
How to get rid of the stench
If the cause of the stench is not a disease, then special powders that are sold at the pet store will help get rid of it. They can be added to your pet's food or water. This method can only help if the stench appears occasionally and the cause is the pet’s food.
Prevention
To prevent your cat from having bad breath or prevent a recurrence, you need to follow simple recommendations.
- Take your pet to the veterinarian more often. He will assess your health and prevent unpleasant consequences.
- From the early age You need to teach the kitten to brush its teeth and treat cuts in the mouth. This way, in the future, he will not be afraid of this procedure, which will make caring for him easier.
- The pet must eat a healthy and balanced diet. The diet should include soft and hard foods.
- It is necessary to purchase a special toy for animals that will help relieve them of some problems. By gnawing on it, the gums will be cleared of stuck food, the toy will prevent the formation of plaque, caries and tartar on the teeth.
Every owner should know that an unpleasant odor indicates a serious illness in his pet, which could result in death. The most common cause of stinky odor is oral problems. However, halitosis may indicate more serious illnesses internal organs that cannot be treated at home. All these troubles can be avoided, you just need to monitor your pet’s oral hygiene and promptly seek help from a specialist.
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