Cure
Your Cat Bad Breath
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If your cat suffers from feline
halitosis (cat bad breath) you will know that it is
not pleasant. It is embarrassing too when you have
visitors to the house who may think you do not care
for the cat well. What can you do to make your cat
nicer to be around again?
Bad breath can occasionally be caused by digestive
disorders so if you have recently made any change
in the cat's
diet, this should be the first thing you consider.
Try switching back to what he ate before and see if
the problem goes away.
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If not, look in the mouth. Bad breath in cats, as in humans,
is most often caused by bacteria in the mouth that break
down protein in scraps of food, causing sulfur and other
chemicals to be released into the air through the breath.
It is the sulfur that smells so bad. The bacteria are found
in plaque and tartar (a hard yellow substance that forms
around the base of teeth).
You can often cure this type of halitosis with special
cat foods and treats containing enzymes that will help to
keep the cat's teeth free of tartar. Alternatively, you
can have your cat's teeth professionally cleaned. This should
eliminate the problem immediately, although you may need
to incorporate some changes to prevent it recurring. Your
veterinarian may also prescribe an antibacterial mouth spray
to treat gingivitis (a common gum disease caused by oral
bacteria).
Brushing your cat's teeth from time to time is a good idea
and if you can start this with a kitten you will probably
be able to prevent tartar buildup and many more serious
cat dental problems. You can find special pet toothbrushes
and toothpaste. A powered toothbrush gives the best motion
for tartar prevention. Cleaning is best done soon after
a meal but with a cat it may be best not to clean the teeth
immediately after eating because he is likely to dislike
it and he may become afraid to eat in the house. Waiting
for a half hour or an hour may be more effective so that
he does not associate the dental cleaning with mealtime.
If your cat does not have any sign of tartar and cleaning
the teeth does not cure the bad breath problem, then the
cause may be more serious. There could be an underlying
dental problem such as an abcess or tumor or resorptive
dental disease, which can lead to the loss of teeth. Bad
breath in cats has also been linked to feline leukemia,
lung cancer and liver or kidney disease. Only your veterinarian
can diagnose these conditions so you should have any signs
of persistent cat bad breath checked out professionally
right away.
Veterinary
Secrets Revealed
Learn how you can treat your beloved cats at home with over
1000 at-home pet health remedies, without going to the vet,
by visiting Dr.Andrew Jones's website here!
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Cat Health Cat Care
