First you will want to find out what is causing your cat\u2019s bad breath<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 Most often, bad breath is caused by a build-up of odor-producing bacteria in your pet\u2019s mouth. This can be a result of dental or gum disease; certain cats, in fact, may be especially prone to plaque and tartar. Diet and dermatological issues can also be contributing factors. However, persistent bad breath can also indicate more serious medical problems such as abnormalities in the mouth, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, liver or kidneys. In all cases, halitosis is a red flag that should be investigated.<\/p>\n In order to find out the reason your cat has bad breath<\/strong><\/em>, your veterinarian is the best person to pinpoint the cause. A physical examination may reveal the cause of your cat\u2019s problem. If not, further tests will likely be recommended. Be ready to answer questions about your cat\u2019s diet, oral hygiene, exercise habits and general attitude and behavior.<\/p>\n The following symptoms will require veterinary attention:<\/p>\n –\u00a0Excessive brownish tartar on your cat\u2019s teeth, especially when accompanied by drooling, difficulty eating and red, inflamed gums, could indicate serious dental or gum disease. Treatment of your cat\u2019s bad breath depends on your vet\u2019s diagnosis. If plaque is the culprit, your cat might require a professional cleaning. If the cause is gastrointestinal or an abnormality in your pet\u2019s liver, kidneys or lungs, please consult your vet about steps you should take.<\/p>\n Many people assume that bad breath in cats, especially at a certain age, is a \u201cgiven\u201d\u2014but that\u2019s not the case. In fact, being proactive about your pet\u2019s oral health will not only make your life together more pleasant, it\u2019s smart preventive medicine:<\/p>\n –\u00a0Bring your pet in for regular checkups to make sure he has no underlying medical issues that may cause halitosis. If your cat\u2019s bad breath<\/strong><\/em> is left untreated, gum disease and excessive tartar\u2014both causes of bad breath\u2014can lead to infection and tooth loss.\u00a0 Keep your cat healthy and happy and make sure his breath is fresh!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Does your cat have bad breath? Of course your cat\u2019s breath isn\u2019t always going to smell perfectly minty fresh, however if there is an extremely strong odor, there may be an underlying medical problem that needs to be addressed. First you will want to find out what is causing your cat\u2019s bad breath.\u00a0 Most often, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12,3,5],"tags":[260,17,259,113,174,261,262,54,214,258,69,19,70,24,25,38,20],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=627"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":631,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/627\/revisions\/631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n– Unusually sweet or fruity breath could indicate diabetes, particularly if your cat has been drinking and urinating more frequently than usual.
\n– Breath that smells like urine can be a sign of kidney disease.
\n– An unusually foul odor accompanied by vomiting, lack of appetite, and yellow-tinged corneas and\/or gums could signal a liver problem.
\n– Pawing at the mouth<\/p>\n
\n– Make sure your vet monitors and tracks the state of your cat\u2019s teeth and breath.
\n– Brush your cat\u2019s teeth frequently\u2014every day is ideal. (Please be sure to use toothpaste formulated for cats as human toothpaste can upset your pet\u2019s stomach.)
\n– Discuss home-use oral health products with your veterinarian to see if there\u2019s a type he or she recommends.
\n– Talk to your vet about feeding a diet that will help to prevent dental disease. Some feel that the abrasive action caused by chewing hard kibble can slow down the formation of plaque.<\/p>\n