Brush Your Cats Teeth To Fight Bad Breath
Brushing your cats teeth is still the best way to keep plaque and tartar from building up. The less plaque, tartar, and decay the fresher your cats breath will be. It is best to brush their teeth daily. If thats just not possible, aim for brushing 3 times a week, preferably when your cat is relaxed.
There are toothbrushes designed specifically for cats teeth, but you can also use a childrens toothbrush or finger brush. Your local pet store or grocery store should carry them.
Use toothpaste for cats, and never use toothpaste that is normally for humans. Fluoride and sweeteners in human toothpaste can be harmful to cats, since they dont get to spit it out like we do.
Its best to choose a cat toothpaste that isnt flavored, because artificial meaty flavors can make their breath worse, and most animals arent a fan of mint. When it comes to cat toothpaste, odorless and tasteless is the way to go. Want more info? Check out Why You Need a Cat Toothpaste: 3 Surprising Facts.
Best Cat Foods For Bad Breath
The best cat food for bad breath needs to be able to get rid of the foul mouth smell as well as support your cats oral health. The cat foods listed below feature uniquely shaped kibble and are made of high-quality ingredients for easier digestion.
The following are the three options that you can choose from:
Watch For These Oral Problems In Your Cat
Cat owners should watch out for swollen jaw, drooling, bad cat breath, difficulty chewing, change in appetite, and inflammation of the gums. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue around the teeth caused by cat dental problems and can become serious.
Cat owners should always take their cat to the veterinarian for dental care if they notice these symptoms, especially cat bad breath. Regular teeth cleanings by a veterinarian are essential for cat oral and dental health.
Bad breath in cats can also signify kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes, or oral trauma. For these reasons, it is important not to ignore bad breath in cats.
A veterinarian should check consistent cat bad breath.
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Brush Your Cat’s Teeth
If you want fresh-smelling breath, you are going to need to tackle a task many pet owners prefer to avoid. Brushing your cat’s teeth requires practice and patience, but it will help. Here’s how you can get started:
- Start with tooth gel on your finger or on a finger toothbrush.
- If your cat tolerates this, then use a cat toothbrush and cat-safe toothpaste to brush more thoroughly.
- Choose a time when your cat is happy and calm.
- Go slowly, building trust and getting your cat used to things touching her mouth.
- Repeat sessions until you can do the whole thing at once.
- Use positive reinforcement throughout the process.
- Practice until you are both comfortable with the process.
What Causes A Cats Bad Breath
Halitosis is the official name for the stench in your cats mouth. And while its tempting to blame your kittys diet, the source of the smell actually comes from the bacteria in their mouth. Dont reach for an antibiotic as the answer to freshening your cats breath, though.
Not all of that bacteria is bad. Some of its needed to help break down your cats food. The bacteria go to work with the saliva, generating enzymes that start the digestive process. During the process, the compounds that get generated stink. The problem of kitty bad breath then gets worse when too much bacteria hangs around in the mouth.
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Easy Ways To Freshen Your Cats Bad Breath
If youre lucky enough to have an affectionate cat who loves to cuddle, youre a fortunate pet parent, indeed. That is until you get a whiff of your cats breath and realize just how grateful you are that humans brush their teeth multiple times a day. Theres tuna breath, and then theres the fish steamroller that some cats have. Desperately need to know how to freshen cat breath? Youve come to the right place!
Get Him A Professional Cleaning
Sometimes, only a professional can get rid of your cats bad breath. Thats why its important to make sure youre regularly bringing your cat in for a teeth cleaning.
Brushing your cats teeth at home is amazing and you should definitely keep that up but he should still have his pearly whites professionally cleaned about once per year.
Bad breath is no good, but its not forever! And now that you know what causes your cats bad breath, you know how to handle it, too.
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Watch Out For These Signs Of Cats Dental Problem
Feed Your Cat A Proper Diet And Avoid Dry Mouth
Choose natural cat food over highly-processed foods to help your cat stay healthier. Give your cat plenty of water to avoid a dry mouth. When choosing cat food, keep these things in mind:
- Choose something that is easy to digest, like human grade food with no added sugars or unnecessary fillers.
- Avoid foods with a lot of added chemicals and food coloring.
- Give your cat variety to avoid weight loss due to boredom with the food.
- Use wet food to help your cat get more fluids and avoid a dry mouth.
Our dehydrated foods are great for getting more water into your catâs diet!
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Cat Fresh Breath Treats Faq
How to treat bad breath in cats?
Regular brushing routine and switching to cat bad breath treats can treat bad breath in cats. If it persists, book an appointment with the vet. If a particular food is causing bad breath, avoid it.
Is it possible to prevent bad breath in cats?
Yes, it is! Most oral hygiene issues can be solved by keeping your cats teeth clean and germ-free. Brush their teeth daily to remove plaque before it sticks in the teeth. Moreover, brushing prevents gum inflammation and many other dental problems.
How to determine the cause of bad breath in cats?
To determine the cause of Halitosis, get your feline examined by a veterinarian, and provide the cats complete health history. The vet will check their teeth thoroughly to understand whether there is dental disease or an underlying medical issue. They might run blood work, urinalysis, and perform other diagnostic tests to determine whats causing bad breath.
What can I give my cat for bad breath?
You can give oral care products and vet-approved dental diets to treat bad breath. Dental care diets contain uniquely designed kibbles and special additives to reduce plaque formation and tartar build-up to keep the cats breath fresh.
Signs Of Bad Breath In Cats
Aside from a fetish breath emanating from your cat`s mouth, there several other clues that any cat owner can look out for to see whether their cat suffers from bad breath.
Some of the signs include
- Tartar buildup on teeth evidence of a brownish matter on your cat`s teeth, especially on the lower part of the back teeth is sufficient evidence of bad breath.
- Redness and swelling of gums in most cases, a cat`s gum assumes a color pink, but redness might indicate inflammation of the gums, which in addition to bad breath, it causes a lot of discomfort and chewing problems to your cat.
- In the same breath of redness of and swelling of gums, if your cat`s mouth is in pain, they are reluctant to eat, or you may notice the cat getting hesitant to take a bite or chewing from one side of the mouth.
- Increased salivation
Aside from the above signs, there are others which are not exclusively related to halitosis in cats, but may also be signs of bad breath. They include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
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Treating Bad Breath In Cats
If your cat has bad breath its important to make sure you take them to the vet to rule out any more serious issues being the cause. This being said, some cats suffer from bad breath even if there are no problems with their teeth and gums.
Try out some of the steps below to reduce the bad smell coming from your cats mouth. If your cat is suffering from gum disease, check with your vet before carrying out any home treatments as the inflamed gums can be sensitive.
How To Prevent Bad Breath In Cats
Take your cat to the vet regularly. Your vet should be able to alert you about any upsetting-looking ailments involving the mouth.
The best way to prevent bad breath in cats is to brush their teeth periodically. It does not need to be done every day, but once or twice a week is perfect. Make sure to get both the front and back of the teeth. Finger glove application appears to be the easiest method for both owners and cats.
Chew toys are also a great preventative measure for bad breath in cats. The constant chewing and gnawing will help stop bacteria from building up on the teeth. Many chew toys come with breath-freshening options as well, to make things easier for owners. Try to incorporate as many dental-friendly treats into their weekly routine as recommended.
Final Thoughts on Preventing Bad Breath in Cats
Bad breath is gross. You just want to cuddle your furry little friend, but you are met with a putrid smell that ruins the mood. Bad breath can be more than just an annoyance, it could hint at a much more serious medical ailment.
If you have tried home remedies for cat bad breath and you still find yourself dealing with this issue, take your cat to the vet immediately. Bad breath can be caused by different diseases such as liver disease and diabetes.
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What Are Cat Dental Treats
Cat dental treats come in a variety of forms, including special kibble thats larger than the regular everyday variety, biscuits, chews, and sticks. These treats are designed to reduce harmful tartar, plaque, tooth decay, and bad cat breath. As cats chew on their treats which are typically crunchy and yummy their teeth get some extra TLC.
While cat dental treats may look like regular cat treats, the crunch they provide benefits your cats entire mouth, not just their palate. Many such treats have a uniquely porous texture thats specifically designed to surround teeth and scrape off tartar buildup as cats chomp.
If the innovative design of cat dental treats isnt enough to convince you to give them a shot, consider their nutritional benefits. Many cat dental treats are packed with calcium and other vitamins that can help boost your cats oral health and overall well-being, like vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, vitamin E, and biotin.
What Causes A Cat To Have Bad Breath
Your cats bad breath is most likely a sign of another problem. Ongoing bad breath is linked to disease. That foul smell is more often than not linked with dental disease. Many pet owners do not brush their pets teeth weekly, or even monthly.
If your cat hasnt had their teeth cleaned in months, or longer, it is likely that dental disease is the issue here. Roughly 75% of cats over the age of three have dental disease. Infections affecting the gums or gingiva and tooth decay lead to foul odor. Remember, occasional bad breath is normal. Halitosis in pets is normal, its only when it becomes persistent and extremely foul that owners should worry.
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Getting Rid Of Bad Breath: Home Remedies & Professional Tips
The goal of treatment is simple enough: establish cat breath that is free from offensive odors. If you are starting with a kitten with a healthy mouth, implementing a plan of good oral hygiene will be fairly simple, provided you are consistent and committed. Brushing your cat’s teeth is another effective way to prevent the buildup of tartar. You should use toothpaste made especially for cats, which is available at pet supply stores or your vet’s office. You should also purchase a special cat toothbrush to make this task easier for your cat and you. Brushing should be done several times weekly at a minimum, and ideally, daily. This can be a challenge, especially in the learning phase. Stick with it and most cats will learn to tolerate it as part of their daily routine and may even enjoy the attention from you.
You should also schedule a professional cat teeth cleaning with your vet at least once a year. This procedure will require them to put your cat under anesthesia this isn’t just to make it easier for the vet to more easily navigate your cat’s teeth while they are asleep, but teeth cleanings for pets often requires more extensive cleaning that a regular toothbrush just can’t reach. This often includes removal of hard to reach plaque and tartar that may form underneath the gum line. Your vet may also recommend X-rays to look for broken or cracked teeth, which can be common among cats.
Contact Me With Any Questions
As a veterinarian, I truly enjoy answering pet owners questions. I love helping pets live happy and healthy lives and witnessing the joy they bring to their owners. Please reach out to me with any questions in the comments section below. You can also visit me at theAll Cat Clinic in Englewood, Colorado.
Dr. Joel Stone
Dr. Joel Stone is a former research scientist and practicing veterinarian in Englewood, Colorado. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Medicine from the University of California San Diego, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University. He is a leading expert in pet dental hygiene and his research has helped thousands of pets lead happy, healthy lives.
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Remedies To Get Rid Of Cat’s Bad Breath
Stinky or foul-smelling breath does not have to be a condition that your cat lives with forever. There are ways to not only manage poor smelling breath in cats but to treat and eventually get rid of halitosis as well . But to improve your cat’s breath, you must first get rid of the cause behind it.
Since each cat’s situation is so detailed and situational, your cat’s breath issue will need to be addressed at your next vet appointment. Your cat’s medical team can help to come up with the best treatment plan for your cat’s breath. Not only will your cat’s breath improve throughout the treatment, but all of the adverse side effects stemming from the causes will be eliminated, too, meaning your cat will feel so much better in general.
If your cat’s breath smells poorly or unfavorable in some other way, it’s essential to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. When you take your cat to the vet, it’s highly likely that your vet will conduct teeth cleaning to rid of any problematic elements, like plaque and tartar build-up. Not only will your cat thank you in their way, but you’ll also learn how to improve your cat’s dental care so that situations like these don’t resurface in the future.
Why Does My Cats Breath Stink
Usually, a cats breath is not supposed to give an unpleasant odor. However, if you have recently begun to observe that your cats breath smells very bad and is testing your patience, there must be something wrong! As a responsible cat owner, it is one of your utmost duties to stay vigilant towards your little furry friend. Understandably, if you spend most of the time away from your pet, it might have to face severe health issues without you knowing.
Your cats unbearably bad breath may hide many health concerns behind. Therefore you must investigate as much as you can to trace out the root cause. Mostly, cats have dental diseases that lead to bad breath. Since your cat cannot come up to you with symptoms of any dental issue, therefore the duty is totally up to you!
Unhealthy dietary habits may also cause your cats breath to stink. You might not know, but your cat can feed on anything it sees, like rubber bands or plastic. The residues of these materials may become troublesome for your kitty. On the other hand, systemic diseases like kidney dysfunction and Diabetes are also the culprits for your kittys bad breath.
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