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Bad Breath in Cats
One of the most common problems we have with our pets is
bad breath. Approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of three
start to show signs of some sort of oral disease which causes bad breath and can
lead to oral pain. What causes bad breath in our pets.
PLAQUE BUILD UP:
Small particles off food remain in the mouth after eating.
These particles decompose creating conditions where oral bacteria thrive. The
bacteria grows to form plaque which is a combination of bacteria, minerals and
decomposed food. Plaque and associated oral infections give the pet’s breath a
bad odor. Plaque also clings to the base of teeth causing the gums to become
inflamed and recede. Inflamed gums leak blood serum with combines with and
increase the amount of plaque. This plaque or calculus is visible as a hard
yellowish coating on the outer base of the teeth.
These problems are more severe in toy and
smaller breeds of dogs and in purebred cats.
LOSING BABY TEETH:
Brushing your pet’s mouths with a dilute baking soda
solution gives them relief and minimizes the odor. This is a good time to start
creating good habits of brushing your pet’s teeth while they are still puppies
or kittens. Do not use regular human toothpaste.
UNDERLYING PROBLEMS:
Bad breath can be a sign of underlying problems in our
pets. With dogs it can be associated with kidney, liver, heart disease or
diabetes. With our cats it can be a sign of kidney or intestinal trouble, liver
disease, diabetes, skin problems, or intestinal parasites, such as worms.
OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Broken, decayed or abscessed tooth, Periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue
surrounding the teeth), bone or foreign body stuck between the teeth,
gastrointestinal disease including cancers and obstructions, Sinus infections,
and mouth tumors.
If your dog or cat has bad breath, what can you do. There
are several options.
BRUSHING YOUR PET’S TEETH:
Brushing your pet's teeth is one of the best ways to keep your pets teeth
clean. If your pet already has severe tartar build up this will not help, it is
only to be used as a preventative to tartar build up and gingivitis. It is also
important to remember to only use toothpaste that is labeled for dog/cat use.
If they swallow human toothpaste it might make them sick.
DENTAL CHEWS:
Giving a dental chew is an alternative to brushing teeth.
Bright Bites are great for the teeth. Make sure you purchase the proper sized
chew for your pet, both of these treats are labeled with weight
recommendations.
MOUTH RINSE:
We carry Triple Pet Plaque
Off. We use it for our pets at home as well. It’s colorless and odorless. You
just add a capful to your pet's water (24 oz bowl) for fresher, healthier
breath. Also helps remove plaque and tartar. Formulated to aid oral health for
dogs, cats and other small mammals.
RAW BONES ARE NATURE’S TOOTHBRUSHES:
Dogs and cats raised on raw bones have clean, white teeth that never need
scaling,
Raw bones act like floss in the mouth, polishing and
scraping away tartar as the animal crunches and gnaws. In addition, raw meat
creates a somewhat acidic oral environment to retard plaque formation and
freshen your pet’s breath. If you are concerned about bones chipping your pets
teeth, go for the knuckle bones which are softer then the femur bones. Do not
give your pets cooked bones.
It is a myth that dry dog food will keep clean your pet’s
teeth. That’s would be like saying go eat potato chips after dinner to clean
your teeth. At best, dry food produces a little less tartar than canned food.
So do not rely on your dog’s food to clean their teeth.
If you pet has persistent bad breath; is reluctance to eat;
has facial swelling; seems to have pain around the mouth area; tries to eat, but
drops the food; is pawing at his mouth or has excessive drooling, you should
have him checked by your vet.
As you can see, it’s an ongoing job to keep your pets teeth
clean but well worth it for your pet’s health and wellbeing.
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