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“Bear” Breath in Cats
It is only sunrise, but Kitty is knuckling her little paws into you so that you can get up and enjoy some snuggle and play time with her. Or maybe in cat time it is well past breakfast and the dish is low? Whatever! Unfortunately, you notice as she rubs her whiskers past your face in bed, nasty morning breath is all you are thinking about. And it is not yours!
Cats normally have a bit of odor to the breath because as carnivores, their food releases some molecules in their breath. Particularly if they eat fish-based food!
If the breath is more than just the usual kitty version of “cat breath” and approaches “bear breath”, you need to stop ignoring it and talk with your veterinarian!
Bad breath can have a number of sources, and most of these are treatable. Left unattended, the source of the problem may progress unchecked, and if it gets advanced, it may not matter what science offers, Kitty will not then just have bad breath, but may be in the throes of some chronic disease.
Common breath killers include:
Kidney disease : Slowly progressive kidney disease often leads to ulceration of the mouth membranes. This allows infectious organisms to set up in the mouth and produce nasty odor. This is not a condition to be left untreated. Though it is not a curable one, we can slow progression, and help to keep the cat comfortable by treating the kidney malfunction and its associated complications include oral ulceration. An acidic smell may also be present if advanced kidney disease is present.
Diabetes : High levels of sugar weaken the cat’s immune system and allow colonization of tissues that normally resist infection. Poor dental health, and acetone breath which occurs if the cat develops ketoacidosis complication can lead to truly scary breath. The breath is only the tip of the iceburg though, and these cats need professional care to stop the destructive cycle of diabetes right away.
Dental and oral cavity disease : Cats spend a lot of time using their mouth! Grooming takes about a third of their waking hours alone. Eating, drinking and hunting may also take up a little bit of time—or a bit more. Diet, genetic constitution for tooth and oral cavity health, and general care (tooth brushing, professional cleaning) can affect the cat’s propensity to problems in this department.
Gingivitis, stomatitis, periodontal disease, and advanced periodontitis may all affect normal breath. Tooth infections or loss, cat cavities (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions), and spread of bacteria via the bloodstream to distant sites may affect the general cat health as well as cause bad breath, pain, appetite loss, and hiding. An annual evaluation by your veterinarian and prophylactic cleaning (scaling just like your dentist does!) will help to control infections of the gums and control tartar.
Cancers of the mouth, or lodged foreign material may also lead to bad odors.
Cats with nausea from kidney disease or from local mouth irritation may also drool a lot, and fuss when eating, perhaps throwing the food out the side of the mouth or showing exaggerated chewing motions with the head. They may also resist being petted along the whisker pad area near the sore teeth.
The bottom line is that the presence of bad breath is often more than just a simple nuisance! If you smell abnormal smells, get it checked out! Apart from fish diets, the cat breath should not deeply offend….
. Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.
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