What is the reason behind bad breath in cats?

Your feline buddy wakes you in the morning with a hungry meow. You reach up and carry them to your bed for a quick cuddle but are shockingly roused by their breath. Not a great start to your day isn’t it? Bad breath is common in cats as well as us humans but what causes the foul smell?

Halitosis or bad breath is a result of a bacterial infection that occurs when a tissue is damaged following which the bacteria enters the area. Halitosis can also signal the presence of kidney disease or diabetes in the body. It can also be a sign of other dental problems or cancer affecting the tongue or gums.

Symptoms of halitosis

You will know that your pet has halitosis when they approach you with a bad breath. You will know that something is wrong easily when their breath smells fishy enough to turn yourself away from them!

Other signs include pain when your cat eats. This makes them wary of eating food which automatically leads to weight loss. If their mouth is inflamed then they will drool a bloody saliva. They will also feel sore enough to be groomed and will have a dull and an unkempt coat. When they do groom themselves, their coat will stink as their smelly saliva spreads all over the coat.

Causes of bad breath                   

The following are the causes that help infection to easily spread in your pet’s mouth.

• Dental Calculus – Tartar that builds up on the teeth causes the gums to recede.
• Gingivitis – This is the inflammation of the gums. A supressed immune system or teeth that is afflicted with bacteria can be one of the causes of it.
• Oral cancer – Lumps that are cancerous can grow rapidly, become ulcerous and even infected which usually causes the foul-smelling breath.
• Tongue Lacerations or ulcers – Cats can cut their tongues on any sharp objects and this can cause infections to affect the area. Proper care with a prescription of antibiotics can help your pet recover soon.
• Oral foreign body – A grass blade is the most common oral foreign body. When a cat chews on a grass most of it is swallowed but some parts get stuck at the back of your cat’s throat and traps food causing a bad breath.

Once you notice the above signs in your pet and understand the likely causes you should take them to the vet for quicker medical intervention. Any underlying medical condition should be taken care of and a course of antibiotics helps to eliminate the bacterial infection.

Since prevention is always cheaper and better than cure, helping your pet practice good oral hygiene greatly decreases their chances of falling prey to dental diseases and gingivitis. So, brush their teeth regularly and if you cat is not to keen on brushing then you must get them to chew on dental treats.

You can post your queries at www.tailslife.app.link/queries for further advice.