Taking good care of your pet’s dental hygiene is one of the most important things to keep in mind. Taking care of their dental health is also an essential part. Without proper dental care, your pets can be at risk of developing health issues caused by poor dental hygiene. For your pet cats, their mouths and teeth play crucial roles in their daily survival, so you must ensure that they practice regular dental hygiene and maintenance. To give them proper dental hygiene, the owner must know about all kinds of dental issues their pet can face. No one knows your pet better than you. You must know what kind of problems can occur due to unhygienic dental conditions.
How to Treat Bad Breath of Your Cat
One of the first steps is noticing if your cat is having bad breath. If the bad breath is persistent, you should take your pet to the vet. Without wasting your money on other medicines, without self-medicating, take them to their vet. He will tell you what you have to do about it.
If it is not persistent, your vet will tell you about a minor problem that will involve little medication. Medication will help in the process, and the bad breath will be gone in no time.
Reasons for Bad breath
There can be many reasons why your cat has dental issues. Some of them are discussed below. Keep them in mind if you think your cat is having bad breath.
Dental Disease
Odor-producing bacteria can be the reason why your cat has bad breath. This type of bacteria can live inside the teeth of your cat, causing bad breath. Saliva and bacteria form a plaque that can then mineralize and become tartar if not treated. This can lead to periodontal disease, which is an infection of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Chewing from one side, excessive brown gums, swollen gums, and drooling can be a sign that your cat is having a dental problem.
Diet
It is possible that your cat’s bad breath is caused by the diet you are feeding him. The usage of fish oil or liver oil can be the result of unhygienic dental issues. The ingredients used in these oils can cause bad breath. Your cat often chews on foreign objects like rubber bands and toys. The particles that remain in the teeth of your cat lead to bad breath. Make sure to keep an eye on your cat while they are roaming around the house.
Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis
Gingivitis refers to the inflammation of the gum tissues surrounding the teeth, while stomatitis is another disease affecting other soft oral tissues like the tongue and its surrounding area, the back of the mouth, and the insides of the lips. Combining these two conditions, FCGS is characterized by severe inflammation of the oral tissues around the teeth and mouth. It can be extremely painful for your cat, and can eventually weaken your pet.
Tooth Fractures
Everyone knows how painful it is to have a fractured tooth. With crooked and broken teeth exposed, you know how painful it is when you experience pressure and extreme temperatures. Cats feel the same when they have tooth fractures.
Crooked teeth in cats can be the result of a catfight or chewing a rigid object. In both of these cases, their fangs are broken, which is the most exposed ones, causing sensitivity in the teeth. Once a tooth is broken or fractured, the dentin will be exposed, thereby resulting in increased sensitivity. Worse, when the pulp is exposed, the infection can easily hide between the exposed but narrow spaces of the root canal. The cat’s immune system won’t be able to know the cause of the infection, which can be very painful when your cat is chewing its food.
Periodontal Disease
Cats are no strangers to periodontal diseases or gum diseases. These are usually common in feline pets because of bacteria and dirt build-up in their teeth. Once plaque forms in a cat’s teeth and is mineralized into tartar, their teeth’ supporting structures or their gums become irritated. Gum irritation can eventually lead to inflammation, also known as gingivitis. Try to check your cat’s gums, and if they are unusually red, it can be an indication of gingivitis, which encompasses the early stages of periodontal disease.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
- Nasal Discharge
- Loss of Appetite
- Pawing at the Mouth
- Drooling
- Drooling with blood.
Conclusion
As your are the owner of your pet, it is your responsibility to take care of them. Their dental health is as important as choosing the best diet for your pet. Your pet can’t speak on its own, and no one knows your pet better than you do. It is important to take your pet directly to the vet if they are experiencing any kind of dental hygiene. It is better not to waste any kind of money on self-medication and to seek professional care.