What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath (halitosis) is only a real problem if it is associated with underlying pathology. Of course, your cat’s breath is most likely to smell like the food that it just ate. Some experts suggest that soft or canned foods might lead to worse breath; dry food can cleanse your cat's teeth. The following smells might signify internal problems - ammonia, citrus or sickeningly sweet feline breath.
Feline halitosis (bad breath in cats) could be caused by food, periodontal disease, a foreign body, infections or something more serious, like diabetes or liver cancer. Chronic cat's bad breath could be due to a serious internal disease.
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Symptoms of Bad Breath in Cats
Your family pet might like to rub noses with you or the kids, giving you a great chance to get a whiff of its breath. When a foul-smelling odor startles you, then your cat might have a significant problem. Here are the symptoms that may accompany bad breath in cats:
- Aggressiveness
- Appetite loss
- Bleeding gums
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Excessive urination
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Mouth dysfunction
- Oral cavity lump
- Pain
- Pawing at their mouth
- Poor coat condition due to reduced grooming
- Putrid odor
- Reclusiveness
- Swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes or of the face itself
- Thirst
- Vomiting
- Weight Loss
- Yellow, red or runny eyes
Of course, the difficulty with bad breath is that it also might be a symptom of other maladies. Is your cat more aggressive, irritable or reclusive with its bad breath? Does your cat start to eat, then jump back? This could be due to a painful tooth infection.
Does your cat have difficulties opening or closing its mouth? Mouth dysfunction could be a sign of a more serious ailment.
Causes of Bad Breath in Cats
Kitty halitosis can be caused by something as simple as smelly food or something as complicated as liver cancer. It could be a foreign body that has lodged between the tooth, such as food or a bit of bone or wood.
Bloody gums and bad breath can occur due to stomatitis or periodontal disease.
Plaque or tartar can lead to bacterial buildup over time. Tiny polyps, local infections and gingivitis might develop.
Gastric acid reflux also stinks.
Your baby cat might be teething. Normally, cats have baby teeth fall out between 3 and 6 months.
Somewhat minor ailments causing bad breath could include endocarditis (inner heart tissue layer infection), esophageal tube enlargement, gingivitis, pharyngitis (inflammation of throat), rhinitis, sepsis (bacterial colonization of blood), sinusitis, stomatitis and tonsillitis (inflammation of tonsils). Coprophagia (eating of feces) could also be the cause.
Serious maladies leading to bad breath could include the following: Bartonella henselae, diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), gastrointestinal upset, immunodeficiency virus renal failure, kidney, liver etc.
Diagnosis of Bad Breath in Cats
Veterinarians may conduct blood tests and urinalysis to help determine the cause of the halitosis. These might include more specific FeLV or FIV tests. Ultrasound and X-rays display your cat's internal bone structure and it is typically an x-ray that is taken when we examine the mouth.
The veterinarian is likely to complete a physical examination of your cat's tongue, lips, gums, roof and back of the mouth. The vet might need to sedate your pet. The dental vet will also exam tooth mobility and gingival attachement, while your cat is under a general anesthetic.
Treatment of Bad Breath in Cats
Vets will search for any foreign bodies, injuries or infections.
Minor gingivitis may respond well to daily brushing with cat toothpaste. While you might want to simply give your cat human toothpaste, this is not advisable, because this is not meant to be swallowed. Also, cats don't like to have their mouths pried open forcibly.
Professional scaling and polishing of your cat's teeth, gums, and mouth, is advised when needed. Veterinarians might offer same-day blood work and as well as blood pressure monitoring and intravenous fluid therapy during the procedure, to minimise risk. If severe oral disease is at fault, then tooth extraction may be necessary.
Corticosteroids and other antibiotics are used to treat stomatitis. Cancer treatment would require surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
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Recovery of Bad Breath in Cats
Of course, the recovery time for your cat will vary dramatically depending on the cause. If the feline halitosis is only due to something stuck under the gums, then your cat should enjoy a full and immediate recovery. On the other hand, liver cancer and others serious diseases could be life-threatening.
After a complete professional dental cleaning, your cat may be required to stay in the hospital for recuperation. Multiple tooth extractions could require assisted feeding, iv fluids, pain medications, and oral antibiotics. The veterinarian will discuss what the owner can do to prevent the cat halitosis from recurring.
Bad Breath Average Cost
From 575 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,200
Average Cost
$850
Top
Bad Breath Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Domestic cat
Little miss
7 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath No Other Symptoms Eats
I have a kitten she is 7 months she has a polyp removed it was benign but now her breath is starting to smell again the vet gave me an antibiotic it works for a little bit and now her breath smelling again
Jan. 15, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Without knowing where the polyp was removed from, or how long ago, i find it difficult to comment on what might be going on with her. Sometimes polyps can recur, but I'm not sure if that is what is causing her bad breath. It would be best to follow up with your veterinarian to see what the source of the problem is, and if further care is needed for her. I hope that everything goes well for her.
Jan. 15, 2018
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Maine Coon
FILIP
6
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Running Nose
my cat Filip who is 6 years old start having very running nose 3 months ago, I went to Vet, he told me that was just a cold, so no medication, 2 weeks after he give my cat yearly shots, week two weeks after my cat still was having running nose and stop eating, we end up in emergency 2 times, pictures of he abdominal was taken, nothing was find, on the day they were about to put feeding tube, he started eat on his own:) Since that I was twice to Vet,first proscription was prednisone - which helped little, than we try Viralys, but no improvement, than famicicovir which stop the running nose for 3 days and last two days he was on was congested bad. Now Im giving Filip Doxicilin first day. He still has running nose, clear discharge, but all the time, he was very active before now he is lot less, when he is breading he make noises, I know he has bad nos congestion, from time to time his nose is very hot and very dry. As I mention, he has taken picture for abdominal, longs, he was check for leukemia, all looks good... but he is not himself. Also from time to time he has very bad breath. Please help. Thank you!
Beata
Nov. 18, 2017
2 Recommendations
There are various causes for the symptoms which you have described which include dental issues, infections, allergies, foreign objects, parasites, tumours among other issues; if Filip is blocked up with his nose it may be worth trying to keep him in the bathroom whilst you shower as the humid warm air may help loosen any discharge in his nose offering temporary relief. It seems that your Veterinarian is treating for everything as there doesn’t seem to be a specific underlying cause, a antihistamine (cetirizine 5mg per day) may help but first wait to finish the current course of treatment with doxycycline. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 18, 2017
Thank you:)
Nov. 20, 2017
FILIP's Owner
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Tabby mix
Big popa
5 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Foul Breath
My cat I had just gotten from a rescue last year. Has already had tests done while there, been examined, and up to date on shots, but you can smell his breath sitting across the room when he yawns. He has alot of teeth missing. He can only eat wet catfood
Siamese
Dexter
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath
I have a 3 year old Siamese rescue. All of a sudden he started he started sneezing and coughing. That lasted two weeks. Then I noticed he had horrible bad breath like RANCID. I was going to bring him to the vet. The other day I saw something in his water dish. Turned out to be a chunk of his tooth!! He is on grain free hard food and only 3 years old! We were able to look in his mouth and saw blood on his top back of his mouth. How on Earth does this happen to a 3 year old cat? Also, he is eating and acting normal. Can some kind of upper respiratory infection cause his teeth to rot? What do I do?
Domestic cat
Moose
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Bad Breath
I adopted my cat about a month ago from a local shelter and he has been having diarrhea since I got him. He is a very active and playful cat that doesn’t seem to be sick but he keeps having diarrhea. He also has fishy breath which may just be how his breath smells. At the shelter he was neutered, vaccinated, and given treatment for deworming and his food has been changed twice along with a move to a new apartment so I had been assuming maybe those were the causes, but it hasn’t gotten better yet.
Siamese
Leo
4 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath
Lack Of Appetite
Sleepiness
I recently adopted a kitten (4months) a few days ago. He does seem to eat much, sleeps all day, has bad breath, and seems lethargic? I can't be sure of there is something wrong with him as I haven't gotten to know him yet.
Bad Breath Average Cost
From 575 quotes ranging from $400 - $1,200
Average Cost
$850
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
