All cat owners love to be affectionate with their pets, but sometimes this becomes impossible due to the unpleasant odor from the animal’s mouth. If this situation occurs once, then there is no need to worry, but if the cat’s breath stinks with enviable frequency, it is better to show the pet to the veterinarian. The oral cavity is the top of the gastrointestinal tract, and underneath it can hide an entire iceberg of diseases and ailments, which are signaled by bad breath in a cat. The causes of this phenomenon, called halitosis, can be varied, and without a doctor it is impossible to understand them.
Normal and abnormal odor from a cat's mouth
There are many shades of unpleasant and putrid stench. Strictly speaking, cats cannot smell like anything at all, since they are predators. Most often, they smell of the faint aroma of the food they consumed. Bad breath in a cat becomes pathological when it lasts too long or gives off sharp and unpleasant notes. Usually this indicates gastrointestinal disorders or diseases of the oral cavity, but there are also particularly “fragrant” brachycephalic breeds:
- Persians, especially extreme sportsmen;
- exotics;
- British;
- Scots.
Of the cats with a normal nasopharynx structure, the stench most often emitted by sphinxes due to caustic gastric juice and fashionable Maine Coons with Abyssinians, in which overgrown gum tissue sometimes becomes inflamed.
In kittens
Typically, kittens have not yet acquired gastrointestinal diseases, so their bad breath appears due to injuries to the gums and palate or excessive growth of bacteria during the process of changing teeth.
In case of injury, the mouth ceases to smell as the tissue heals, and in the second case, the odor evaporates when the replacement of milk teeth with molars is completed.
In adult animals
The average age is considered to be from 1 to 8 years. a cat develops bad breath in this age range
- infections of various etiologies affecting the oral cavity;
- diseases of internal organs;
- feeding cheap, low-quality food;
- various dental problems: caries, plaque, tartar;
- neoplasms of mucous membranes;
- lack of oral hygiene.
Each of the listed reasons is divided into a dozen more nuances, therefore, if you smell the stench from your pet, it is better not to guess, but to contact a specialist to solve the problem
In older individuals
Over the years, your pet does not get any younger, and in old age it may develop a variety of chronic and other diseases. The problems of mature cats include diseases such as:
- periodontal disease;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- hormonal disorders;
- stomach ulcer;
- diseases of the endocrine and cardiac systems.
You need to make allowances for age and not judge your aging pet too harshly, but it is better to check everything thoroughly to know that the stink does not relate to anything vital.
Reviews from veterinarians about halitosis
Veterinarians often encounter an unpleasant odor from the mouths of cats. The reason for this is often an incorrectly formulated pet diet, which leads to diseases of the stomach, liver, kidneys, and poor oral care of animals.
The owner will definitely be consulted on the proper nutrition of the cat. If the cause of the stench turns out to be poor hygiene, the specialist will recommend brushing the cat’s teeth regularly.
Common Causes of Halitosis
Very conditionally, the causes that cause halitosis in cats can be divided into four large subgroups. The owner is not always able to diagnose it on his own - sometimes the help of a veterinarian is required.
Diseases of the mouth and teeth
Dental diseases can be both serious and easily solvable conditions:
- Stomatitis and gingivitis are inflammatory processes of the gums, palate and inner surface of the cheeks.
- An abscess is a closed, encapsulated abscess formed as a result of the entry of a foreign body that provokes inflammation.
- Changing teeth in a kitten can cause bacterial growth and, as a result, a bad odor.
- Plaque and tartar can cause halitosis.
These problems are easily treated, especially at the initial stage. Plaque and tartar can be avoided through prevention, that is, regular brushing.
Diseases of the nasopharynx
Halitosis is a common accompaniment of polyps in the nasal passages. Once they are removed, the stink disappears.
Mustachioed friends also suffer from such human diseases as sinusitis and sinusitis. The symptoms are similar to a runny nose: discharge from the nose and eyes, frequent sneezing, and sometimes the animal’s temperature rises.
Viral diseases can also manifest themselves, which often cause the death of a pet. At the first alarming signs and lethargic state of your pet, do not be too lazy to go to the veterinarian.
Problems with internal organs
Diseases of internal organs are more common in older animals. Usually the stench occurs when there are problems in the gastrointestinal tract, tumors and neoplasms in the liver, stomach, lungs, etc.
Diabetes in older cats does not promote fresh breath, nor does reverse reflux or pneumonia. Severe conditions require mandatory treatment under the supervision of a specialist.
Parasite infestation
Even an animal that does not leave the apartment should be dewormed (that is, drive away worms). People can carry parasite larvae on their shoes, and if a cat likes to feast on fresh meat or raw river fish, worms can be waiting for it there too.
For individuals walking on the street, veterinarians set a deworming period once a quarter. It is enough to worm your pets once or twice a year, and always two weeks before the annual revaccination. This must be done, because if there are worms, the vaccination may not work or cause serious damage to the pet’s health.
Discharge from the ear, or otorrhea
Allergy
Fungus
18488 June 24
IMPORTANT!
The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. Discharge from the ear: causes of occurrence, what diseases cause it, diagnosis and treatment methods.
Definition
Earwax is a physiological secretion from the ear canal and protects the hearing aid from pathogenic bacteria. It contains lard, fatty acids and fat-like substances, as well as various mineral salts. Normally, a person produces 15–20 mg of earwax per month, which has the appearance of a sticky yellow-brown mass. All other discharges are considered pathological and indicate ear diseases.
Types of ear discharge
The discharge may be clear, white, light or dark yellow, or greenish (if there is pus). If blood enters the ear secretion, the discharge becomes reddish or brownish in color.
The consistency of the discharge may be watery, have a cheesy or flaky texture, and sometimes crusting may form.
An unpleasant smell of discharge due to the presence of pus in it can serve as a diagnostic sign.
What diseases and conditions cause discharge from the ear ? Wax plugs
. Excessive work of the sulfur glands leads to the formation of sulfur plug. Most often, this problem occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and high cholesterol levels in the blood. The formation of cerumen plugs is provoked by increased viscosity of sulfur, dry skin, the entry of small foreign particles into the ear (for example, industrial dust), as well as excessive hair growth in the ear canal. Often, wax plugs are observed in people involved in water sports, using hearing aids, and miniature headphones.
With improper hygiene measures and independent attempts to remove excess earwax, there is a risk of pushing it deeper into the ear canal, thereby causing the formation of a plug.
Clinical signs of cerumen plug are pain and congestion in the ear, tinnitus, especially painful when the cerumen comes into contact with the eardrum, sometimes headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Mucopurulent and purulent discharge is a symptom of inflammation of the outer and middle ear. For inflammation of the outer ear (otitis externa)
the pathological process can develop in the auricle and external auditory canal (up to the eardrum). Most often, otitis externa occurs due to infection of the ear by bacteria and microscopic fungi. Its first signs are, as a rule, pain in the ear, itching, and, less often, hearing loss and a feeling of fullness. Mucopurulent discharge appears only with a widespread form of the inflammatory process throughout the entire ear canal.
The source of purulent discharge in the outer ear can also be a boil
located in the concha or ear canal.
With otitis media of the middle ear
, mucopurulent and purulent discharge becomes the result of infection of the sterile effusion from the inflamed tissues of the ear. Since the chamber of the middle ear is closed by the eardrum, purulent discharge can appear in the outer ear only after a hole has formed in it. This is preceded by severe pain in the ear, fever, decreased hearing, and in children - overexcitement, sometimes vomiting.
For mastoiditis
(inflammatory lesion of the mastoid process of the temporal bone), purulent discharge from the ear also appears. As a rule, this disease develops as a complication of otitis media and is accompanied by fever, pain and swelling in the mastoid area behind the ear.
Transparent bloody or purulent discharge appears with acute infectious myringitis
(inflammation of the eardrum), which may be of fungal or bacterial origin. Blisters filled with blood form on the surface of the eardrum, which then burst. In addition to the discharge, ear congestion is observed.
Transparent, colorless or slightly pinkish discharge from the ear can be a consequence of liquorrhea - the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. It enters the auricle during fractures of the skull bones
(usually temporal) due to injury.
In addition, clear watery discharge sometimes accompanies allergic otitis
, which is also characterized by other symptoms - itching, ear congestion.
Unchanged blood appears from the ear, usually after injury and rupture of the eardrum
.
Such injury can occur after acoustic and mechanical shocks, as well as as a result of improper hygiene procedures. A ruptured eardrum is always accompanied by severe pain.
The appearance of bloody-purulent discharge from the ear is one of the indications of the presence of a polyp on the eardrum or the mucous membrane of the middle ear
. A polyp is a growth of tissue in response to irritation. The appearance of a polyp is preceded by active inflammation of the middle ear. In addition, polyps can be a consequence of myringitis, otitis externa, or malignant neoplasms. By perforating the eardrum, the polyp can protrude into the external auditory canal, leading to hearing loss.
Minor discharge, sometimes forming crusts and having an unpleasant odor, is characteristic of cholesteatoma.
– a tumor-like formation formed from the epidermis of the ear canal.
In most cases, cholesteatoma complicates chronic purulent epitympanitis
and is formed from layers of keratinized epidermis, water, proteins, fats and cholesterol. The formation of cholesteatoma is accompanied by feelings of heaviness and fullness in the ear, and headache. If left untreated, it can gradually invade the mastoid process and cranial cavity.
For otomycosis
loose cheesy discharge is observed. The main culprits of the disease are molds (usually localized in the outer ear) and yeast-like fungi (usually found in the middle ear). Clinical signs of otitis externa in these cases include pain and a colored, cheesy-necrotic discharge from the ear. Patients complain of tinnitus and dizziness.
A discharge that contains large, greasy flakes, sometimes mixed with pus, is characteristic of seborrheic ear dermatitis.
. The disease can affect not only the ear, but also the scalp. Clinical signs include severe itching, swelling of the ear, peeling skin and weeping wounds.
Transparent discharge mixed with blood (bloody discharge) indicates bullous, or influenza, otitis media.
. Bullae (bubbles of fluid) appear on the surface of the ear canal and eardrum. When they burst, the liquid with ichor flows through the ear canal into the auricle.
Which doctors should I contact for ear discharge?
In most cases, ear diseases are characterized by a clear clinical picture, which is based on pain. Such patients are treated by an otolaryngologist.
In the presence of a traumatic brain injury, which is accompanied by liquorrhea, urgent hospitalization is necessary. Otherwise, an unfavorable prognosis is possible.
Discharge from the ear is not always accompanied by pain, in particular with allergic otitis media, which is treated by, and.
Diagnosis and examinations for ear discharge
If the formation of a cerumen plug is suspected, the doctor performs an otoscopy, during which an accumulation of sulfur in the ear canal is detected. Diagnosis of external and otitis media is carried out on the basis of patient complaints, otoscopy, and palpation of the parotid area. It is recommended to culture the discharge from the ear to determine the causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to antibiotics. Audiometric examination is possible.
Types of unpleasant odor depending on the cause
Trouble can have a different nature. Depending on the shade, you can suspect a particular disease in your pet and get tested specifically for it first.
Fish
A weak amber from raw fish is a signal of oral diseases. This type of breathing occurs in purrs whose owners are not concerned about their hygiene, as a result of which the cat’s breath smells like fish. Tartar, inflammation of the gums and subgingival tissues - all this negatively affects the aroma emanating from the pet.
Putrefactive
If your cat's breath smells like rotten meat, the range of possible problems is wide. The most harmless one is unsuitable or low-quality food. This issue can be resolved by adjusting the diet: replacing food or type of food, enriching the diet with nutritional supplements.
It’s worse if the cause of the rotten stench is ailments of the digestive system: gastritis, ulcers, tumors, obstruction, infections - all these conditions require treatment, sometimes surgery. A helminthic infestation smells the same, in this case the animal is given anti-worm medications twice in the required dosage.
Acetone
If a cat does not digest carbohydrates due to the fact that the body produces insufficient amounts of insulin, then as a result of their breakdown, ketone bodies and acetone are formed. Of course, we are talking about diabetes. This is not to say that the smell of acetone is unbearable or completely unpleasant, but it is a very specific marker of a systemic disease. In combination with constant thirst, we can talk about diabetes with confidence. Therefore, pay special attention if you smell acetone on your cat’s breath.
Ammoniacal
If you smell ammonia in your cat's breath, there is a possibility of kidney problems and various forms of kidney failure. Urine production in the kidneys decreases until it stops completely, and creatinine and urea accumulate. Other signs:
- frequent urination;
- thirst;
- the pet avoids touching the kidney area (sides and stomach).
Kidney failure can occur due to hypothermia, inappropriate food and type of nutrition, and infections. In the early stages, the cat can be helped, but the disease is difficult to detect, and once symptoms become apparent, the condition is usually incurable. You will have to carry out maintenance therapy for the rest of the cat's life.
Sweetish
A sweetish, but no less nauseating odor, similar to the stench of rotting meat, comes from animals with liver diseases. The liver filters and neutralizes toxins, and if it does not work correctly, they accumulate and poison the entire body. If your cat’s breath smells like sweet rot, and the whites of the eyes and gums have a yellowish tint, then you and your pet are heading straight to the veterinary hospital.
What does the smell tell you?
Based on the nature of the smell, you can guess the reason for its appearance:
Rotten . Signals problems with the gastrointestinal tract. If you have a disease of the stomach or duodenum, food is retained in the stomach. When it decomposes, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are released. As a result, the cat belches rotten meat. The owners say it smells like a garbage dump.
Sour. C indicates the presence of worms. At the same time, the cat loses its appetite, becomes nervous, and suffers from constipation.
Acetone. The smell of acetone from the mouth occurs in animals with diabetes. Also, in case of diabetes, a pleasant fruity aroma may come from the mouth.
Ammoniacal. If an animal has diseased kidneys, then its breath attracts attention with the smell of ammonia. Cats with kidney failure experience a range of symptoms: weight loss, weakness, vomiting, frequent diarrhea, and a persistent urine odor from the mouth. Animals with uremia must be monitored regularly by a physician, and most medications are prescribed for life. Another cause of ammonia odor is urolithiasis in cats. The pathology is dangerous primarily due to blockage of the urethra. When urine is retained in the bladder, the mouth stinks of urine or ammonia.
Symptoms associated with the problem
Rarely does the stench appear on its own. Usually it is accompanied by various symptoms, which are noticed by an attentive owner. Based on the overall picture, one can assume a specific disease and direct efforts to identify it. This will save time and allow effective treatment to begin as quickly as possible.
Suppuration
The presence of purulent discharge requires determining the location of the abscess. With current pus, most likely there is a ruptured abscess. It can be caused by injuries to the mucous membranes, pulpitis, caries. Purulent processes require rinsing and treatment with antibiotics in most cases.
Brown discharge
If you don’t know why your cat’s breath stinks, but you see brown discharge coming from its mouth, the first thing you need to do is rule out injury. Ichure and caked blood have a brown tint.
If there are no injuries, but there is discharge, then it can be assumed to be calcivirosis. The settled virus causes the appearance of bleeding ulcers and ulcerative stomatitis in general, and its companions will be a brownish discharge and a putrid stench.
Excessive drooling
Increased salivation is also a sign of stomatitis. If your still “dry” cat has suddenly become like a bulldog in terms of drooling -
look for ulcers on the mucous membranes. This could be either ordinary gingivitis or dangerous calcivirosis.
Dental problems
Animals have the same dental problems as people. Pulpitis, caries, abscess, tartar - all this can cause an unpleasant odor to come from a cat’s mouth. When kittens replace their baby teeth, wounds remain in the place where the fangs fell out, and bacteria can multiply in them. In mild cases, rinsing helps, in severe cases, you need to go to the doctor and ask to be prescribed a course of medications.
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.
Diagnosis and treatment of halitosis
The surest way to rid your pet, and therefore yourself, of the stench is to find and eliminate its cause. After recovery, it disappears, but, unfortunately, cure is not always possible.
Visit to the veterinarian
If you notice that your cat's breath smells and you can't figure out why, the best thing you can do is take your cat to a professional. The veterinarian will check your pet’s mouth for damage, dental diseases, and ulcers. If your furry friend has developed a stone, the clinic can clean it with ultrasound under sedation; A teenage cat will have his baby teeth removed, which are interfering with the proper growth of his molars.
If the reasons are not external, then the doctor will suggest taking tests, and in some cases, doing an x-ray to find out for sure what is happening in the cat’s body. Based on their results, adequate treatment will be prescribed that will bring maximum benefit to the pet, and if a complete cure is not possible, at least alleviate its condition.
Help at home
Before visiting the veterinarian, in some cases you can help your pet yourself. For stomatitis, you can wash the sores with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, alcoholic chlorophyllipt or chamomile decoction. In case of injury, the owner can treat the wound with antiseptics.
Sometimes simple cleaning of incisors and canines helps if plaque is the problem. To do this, you will need a scaler or special veterinary wipes - you can buy them at a veterinary pharmacy.
Special preparations
If you are bothered by your cat's bad breath, you can use special aids. This:
- chlorophyll tablets, which inhibit bacterial growth;
- liquid for adding to drinking water;
- gels, sprays and cleaning pastes;
- tooth powder;
- antiseptic treatment with chlorhexidine;
- folk remedies - a soothing solution of chamomile or horsetail.
Before using any product, carefully read the contraindications, or even better, consult a veterinarian. Allergic reactions are possible, as well as the futility of measures - if the causes are hidden deeper than the oral cavity.
Treatment of kittens
Treatment for a kitten should be prescribed by a doctor, since due to its low weight, a particularly careful calculation of the dosage of drugs is required. When changing teeth, the doctor will determine whether removal is necessary or you can wait until the tooth falls out on its own, and will also adjust your diet.
If you have viral or oncological diseases, you cannot self-medicate – days, if not hours, count. The pet will need prompt and qualified help to save its life.
Prevention measures
In order to maintain the health of the pet and not face such a problem as an unpleasant, pungent odor from the cat, owners should follow a number of recommendations:
- Maintain cleanliness. Regular cleaning of the litter box, washing and replacing covers on the cat's bedding will prevent even the faintest cat odor from spreading throughout the room.
- Bathe your cat as the need arises, taking into account age, lifestyle, and coat type.
- Take care of the cleanliness of the coat, comb it regularly, inspect the ears, nose, mouth, promptly clearing them of dirt.
Selection of food and proper feeding. No less important than maintaining hygiene standards is proper feeding of the cat. When using ready-made feeds, it is necessary to give preference to high-quality, good products. The use of low-quality industrial feed for a long time often causes an unpleasant odor from the cat’s fur, feces, and also from the oral cavity.
It is completely necessary to exclude foods such as salt, sugar, spices, smoked meats, sweets, and flour products from your pet’s diet.
Feeding such forbidden delicacies often provokes food allergies, damage to the sebaceous and skin glands, leading to the appearance of a foul odor.
Hygiene rules for cats
To prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor, you need to follow the rules of hygiene for cats. First of all, keep the tray clean. If a cat has to go to the toilet in wet sand, the fur may develop an unpleasant odor.
Note! If your cat's fur does not look healthy, has lost its shine, sticks together or falls out, consider this a symptom and contact your veterinarian. If a cat doesn’t wash its fur, it means it’s feeling very bad.
Clean, wash and change the covers on your cat's bed regularly. It is important to remember that a pet is in a constant state of stress if it is unable to maintain its fur at full frequency. Dirty bedding can cause your cat to refuse to rest in its place.
Cats should only be bathed when absolutely necessary. Healthy cats don't need bathing! The exception is animals that regularly participate in exhibitions. To be presented in the best possible light, the six cats are styled with special cosmetics that must be washed off after the show.
Important! Never cut your cat's hair, even if it seems to you that she is very hot! The only valid reason for grooming a cat is veterinary indications - extensive skin lesions, tangles that cannot be eliminated, etc.
When to contact a veterinarian
Almost all inexperienced owners make common mistakes that affect the health of their pet. The good news is that the pet’s body quickly responds to correcting errors and returns to normal. Unfortunately, some mistakes can lead to irreparable consequences.
You can monitor your pet for some time, change its diet, living conditions and care methods. However, it is important to remember when to contact your veterinarian:
- Once every six months - a preventive visit to the veterinary clinic.
- A sharp deterioration in the quality of the coat and the cat’s reluctance to take care of itself is a sign of severe apathy.
- Increased or decreased body temperature is a sign of excitation of the immune system in the first case, and anemia in the second.
- Obvious pain syndrome - the cat is hiding, may show aggression or look too depressed.
- Refusal of food for more than a day or categorical refusal of water.
- Unsuccessful attempts to go to the toilet.
- The slightest signs of intoxication.
It is important to remember that Cats live in conditions that are unnatural for them. There are household chemicals and cosmetics stored in your home that can be toxic to your pet. All substances that may affect the cat's health should be kept out of reach. When poisoned, the cat experiences intoxication, and an unusual odor from the skin, saliva or other secretions is one of the symptoms.
