Chronic feline bad breath may be a sign of a problem with your cat. The foul odor is not the only thing we should worry about; cats with bad breath could be suffering from diabetes, kidney’s disease, feline stomatitis and dental problems among other conditions. If you are concerned about this cat health problem, you’ll find some important information below.

We need to differentiate what really is bad breath in cats. A good way to do this is check it with the vet. If you then smell a different breath you will know something is wrong. There are different types of bad breath in cats, and each one can sign a different underlying problem. For example a problem with teeth can resemble bad breath in humans; a sweet smell can be a sign of diabetes, and kidney disease can leave your cat with ammonia like smell.

Feline Bad Breath and Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of cat bad breath. You should know by taking a look at the gums and check if they are swollen. Also be on the look for pain in the mouth area, drooling and unwillingness to eat.

To prevent this, you can brush your cat’s teeth with special toothpaste designed for cats. Avoid using toothpaste for humans as it does no good to your cat’s health.

Diagnosing Cat Bad Breath

If you notice an unusual breath in your cat you should take him to the veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis. Although it could be a dental problem, it is better to discard any other underlying condition that may be affecting your cat’s health. Testing may be necessary in some cases, especially when the veterinary suspects there is liver disease, diabetes or kidney problems.

Feline Bad Breath Treatment

According to the diagnosis, the veterinary will give your cat treatment for feline bad breath. In cases of underlying conditions the solution is to treat them to get rid of the bad breath. In most of cases though, it just involves keeping your cat’s mouth clean regularly. With the before mentioned advice about cat toothpaste you should not have any problem, just make sure you regularly do it, use also a finger toothbrush to make your life easier.

Learning to brush your cat’s teeth is very easy, just put a little paste on the finger toothbrush and rub it gently on gums and teeth being careful not to force your cat, you don’t have to open the mouth just pull up the lips to let the teeth show. It is a good idea to reinforce this habit with something positive as a treat.

Tags: bad breath, gingivitis, kideny problems, liver disease, swollen gums