Halitosis is the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the mouth, a fairly common reason for cat owners to visit a veterinarian.
The reason for the appearance of a repulsive odor from the mouth can be various factors - from diseases of the oral cavity to damage to internal organs. The smell emerging from the pet’s mouth can have a different hue - ammonia, ichorous, putrefactive, depending on the provoking factors.
Diseases of teeth and gums
One of the most common reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the mouth of an animal is diseases of the teeth and gums. In the absence of proper oral hygiene in a cat, pathological changes occur. A faint smell of raw fish begins to come from your pet’s mouth. This is the first signal for the owner. It is recommended to seek help from a veterinarian.
Pathologies such as tartar and inflammatory processes in the gum area and nearby tissues negatively affect the condition of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and teeth.
Prevention and oral hygiene
Pets' breath smells like garbage due to poor oral hygiene or dental problems. To prevent this, they need to be given solid food and special bones to clean their teeth.
Kittens develop bad breath when they change their teeth. Oral hygiene is especially important during this period. Need rinsing 2-3 times a day. This will prevent bacteria from multiplying. The mouths of adult pets can be treated with tablets and rinses; sprays are more suitable for the elderly.
If a kitten has bad breath, then you need to teach him to brush his teeth from childhood. Periodically give special bones and cookies from the pet store, solid food. Plaque can be removed on your own. Special brushes and wipes are sold for this. It is necessary to show the animal to the veterinarian annually as a preventative measure.
In order to avoid the situation leading to the appearance of worms, it is enough to deworm domestic cats (if they do not have access to the street) 2 times a year, and once a quarter for walking cats. The medicine is given even if no parasites or larvae are visible in the stool. Deworming is carried out 2 weeks before the annual vaccination, otherwise the vaccination may become useless due to the presence of worms in the body.
A barely perceptible, short-term unpleasant odor is often normal. But when it intensifies and lasts for a long time, it indicates pathological processes or diseases. To avoid serious consequences, you need to take your pet to the veterinarian.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Diseases of the digestive system can cause a repulsive odor from a cat’s mouth. Dysbacteriosis is a common factor that provokes the appearance of halitosis. The reason is the rapid growth and development of anaerobic opportunistic microorganisms.
Dysbacteriosis is an imbalance of microflora that occurs as a result of poor nutrition or a sharp decrease in the body’s immune forces.
If a cat has a strong smell of acetone from its mouth, this may indicate a problem with the pancreas. Carbohydrates stop being absorbed when there is a lack of insulin produced. Metabolism slows down, and toxic substances such as acetone and ketone bodies are formed from unbroken carbohydrates.
If you notice increased thirst in your pet combined with the smell of acetone from the mouth, it is recommended to visit a veterinary clinic as soon as possible. Symptoms may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus. The animal needs qualified help.
The occurrence of an unpleasant odor from a cat’s mouth may be due to the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as:
- gastritis;
- ulcerative damage to the walls of the stomach;
- tumor processes;
- intestinal obstruction;
- infectious pathologies.
Halitosis also occurs with serious helminthiasis. Infestation of the body by parasites requires immediate action on the part of the host. It is necessary to administer antihelminthic drugs twice in the correct dosage.
An unpleasant odor from the cat's mouth may be a sign of the development of liver disease. From the animal's mouth comes a sweetish, nauseating odor reminiscent of rotten flesh. The main filter organ neutralizes toxic substances and removes them. When the liver functions abnormally, toxins accumulate in the body, causing intoxication.
If you notice a sweetish odor reminiscent of rotten meat, a change in the shade of the visible mucous membranes and yellowness of the whites of the sclera, you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian.
Getting rid of bad breath from a cat
In some cases, you can get rid of halitosis by brushing your teeth.
Tartar
If your pet has tartar, you should contact your dentist. The doctor will perform preliminary anesthesia, after which, using special equipment, he will remove stones from the surface of the enamel.
In the future, to avoid relapses, regular oral hygiene should be carried out; you can also use antiseptics, for example chamomile infusion.
Metabolic disease
If there is an imbalance of minerals and trace elements, it is recommended to change the diet and adjust the nutrient content.
Kidney diseases
The appearance of an unpleasant odor of ammonia in a cat’s breath is a sign of serious problems in the functioning of the kidney structures. An ammonia odor from the mouth may indicate the presence of kidney failure. This occurs as a result of a decrease in urine production in the kidneys, but the level of urea and creatinine increases. In parallel with the smell of ammonia from the mouth, kidney disease in a pet is indicated by:
- increased thirst;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- painful sensations (when the owner tries to touch the cat’s kidney area, the animal becomes restless).
Pathological changes in the kidney area can occur due to an incorrectly selected diet, infectious diseases, or against the background of hypothermia.
At the initial stages of pathology development, it is easiest to help an animal. Therefore, it is important not to miss the onset of the disease. Otherwise, the risks of developing irreversible processes in the kidneys are incredibly high.
About cat smell
A healthy and well-groomed cat does not have a pronounced, specific odor. What is commonly called “cat spirit” is the smell of urine - pungent and occurring in the absence of regular cleaning of the room and compliance with hygiene standards. Here the culprit can be considered not the cat itself, but its owner.
If an unpleasant odor begins to emanate directly from an animal that is being monitored and properly cared for, then the reason most likely lies in certain diseases characteristic of representatives of the cat family.
The cat is a hunter, a predator by nature. Therefore, these animals are extremely clean and ensure that there are no foreign odors.
An unpleasant odor should not occur even when your pet's fur gets wet.
How to brush your cat's teeth at home
When you get yourself a tailed pet, you need to understand that this is not a toy, it needs the necessary care. This includes brushing your teeth, and this needs to be done regularly. This is especially important when the animal has a foul odor coming from its mouth. In order to brush your cat’s teeth, you don’t have to buy a special toothpaste; you can also use the regular children’s version.
It happens that animals do not allow you to approach with a brush, then it can be replaced with natural fabric of medium hardness. The brush or cloth is soaked in water, then dipped in the paste (this can be replaced with baking soda). After the pet is fixed in the required position, you need to begin the procedure. Pets' teeth are brushed in the same order as people's: from top to bottom, from side to side. This method of sanitation is necessary for your pet, so you need to teach him to brush his teeth from childhood.
Proper cat care and regular consultations with a veterinarian will help avoid the question of why the cat’s mouth smells far from fresh.
Feed or spoiled food
Pets love to explore the kitchen and trash can for food. As a result, the cat may find the remains of old sausage or fish there. This situation can not only cause a terrible smell, but also provoke other diseases . In addition, missing food can cause a number of other serious problems. Therefore, carefully remove spoiled food. Sometimes low-quality prepared dry food can also cause an unpleasant odor.
Veterinarians recommend feeding the animal the same food and not constantly changing manufacturers. Also choose the optimal food in terms of price/quality ratio. If you combine different foods, an imbalance in the diet occurs.
Treatment
As a result of the diagnosis, having learned why the cat has an unpleasant smell from the oral cavity, the veterinarian prescribes the necessary treatment. It is based on what problem was discovered.
- If a kitten has been diagnosed with diseases of the digestive organs, then it is necessary to reconsider the food that the pet is fed. Food should not only consist of soft options (pates, porridges). It is better to replace cheap dry food with high-quality food high in vitamins and minerals.
- When the veterinarian discovers helminths during diagnosis, he will prescribe the necessary anthelmintics.
- When a cat is diagnosed with kidney disease, medications are prescribed to help restore this organ.
- When a kitten is diagnosed with dental problems, its caries will be treated and plaque will be removed.
- When diabetes is detected in cats, medical therapy is prescribed, which will not only help get rid of the stench, but also cope with the underlying problem.
After effective treatment, the bad odor emanating from the cats’ mouth will disappear forever.
Do you smell like cat, fish or cabbage? This is a diagnosis!
Today, an increasing number of scientists are confident that soon the diagnosis will be made by breath or body odor.
Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
Recently, a story went viral online about how Belarusian doctors diagnosed a newborn with a rare and dangerous disease, cystic fibrosis, based on the smell of maple syrup emanating from him. The incident caused surprise and admiration.
But science has known for a long time that many diseases smell. Even in ancient times, the smell of a patient allowed doctors to identify the disease. After all, modern diagnostic methods - blood tests, CT scans, MRIs - did not exist then.
Why is this happening? In the process of functioning, our body constantly releases substances it does not need, which are formed as a result of various processes. And unpleasant body odor can mean more than just that someone forgot to use deodorant. It can serve as a distress signal.
I don't like you, my dear!
Today, an increasing number of scientists are confident that soon the diagnosis will be made by breath or body odor.
Swedish scientists from the Karolinska Institute (one of the largest medical universities in Europe) have come to the conclusion that the activation of the immune system during infections is accompanied by a certain odor released in sweat. This result was obtained as a result of a study in which 8 healthy participants were injected with lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin, or regular salted water. After 4 hours, the shirts were taken from the participants, the sleeves with the armpits were cut off, and they were placed in bottles.
About 40 students noted the intensity, sharpness of the smell of the samples and how different it was from a healthy one. The smell of the shirts of participants who were injected with the toxin was rated by students as less pleasant and “unhealthy.” The more pronounced the body's immune response, the more pungent the smell of sweat.
A 2011 study in Russia found that the sweat of people with gonorrhea had an unpleasant odor. Russian scientists from the Siberian cities of Tomsk and Kemerovo have experimentally confirmed that women are able to subconsciously identify a man suffering from this venereal disease by their natural body odor. 50% of the women who took part in the experiment felt disgust when inhaling the smell of the patient’s body.
Artificial nose
According to one study published in the journal ACSNano, lung cancer can be diagnosed by smell. Israeli scientists have developed a special device NaNose (“nanoNose”), which, based on the composition of exhaled air, allows one to diagnose lung cancer with an accuracy of up to 90%. The device identifies a specific “smell” that cancer cells emit. Doctors can use this technology to diagnose other diseases - Parkinson's disease, other cancers, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease with an accuracy of 86%.
SPECIFICALLY
Which smells indicate which problems.
Smells like acetone
Diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas produces little insulin or the cells for some reason do not perceive this hormone. As a result, glucose cannot reach tissues and organs. In order to compensate for the lack of glucose, the body begins to break down fats. The body produces glucose and acetone from fats. When in excess, acetone begins to be released through the skin. This smell is also reminiscent of the smell of rotting apples or the smell of nail polish remover.
Smell of a cat
In some cases, a person may smell of cat feces, or more precisely, the smell of urea and ammonia. This is a signal that a person may have kidney or liver failure. The kidneys cannot process all the nitrogen and it begins to be excreted through the skin.
The smell of ammonia can also come from excess protein in the body, for example, when eating too many low-carb diets. In order to eliminate the smell, you need to add carbohydrates to your diet.
The use of sports supplements, vitamins and medications, and even certain plants, such as asparagus, can also trigger the smell of ammonia.
Smell of fish
If a patient smells like fish, then there is a high probability that he has a rare metabolic disease - trimethylaminuria (fishy odor syndrome). This genetic disease involves the accumulation of trimethylamine in the body. Trimethylamine is formed in the body when eating red meat, liver, eggs, dairy products, and some vegetables. As a result, this substance with the smell of fish begins to be released in sweat, urine, and exhaled air. The disease is not fatal, but can cause depression and social isolation in the patient.
The smell of boiled cabbage
It may signal that a person has genetic mutations that cause the breakdown of the amino acid tyrosine. As a result, the amino acids tyrosine, methionine, and phenylalanine accumulate in the body. This leads to severe disorders in the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system. The amino acids accumulated in the body give patients the characteristic smell of boiled cabbage.
