Our cat has bad breath. I want to brush her tee...

Cat / Exotic Shorthair - Answered 1460 days ago

Our cat has bad breath. I want to brush her teeth, but she doesn't like being touched in the mouth. I've been bitten before so I'm a little afraid. Is there a good solution to this? (By the way, I've been wondering why the cat doesn't smell after grooming herself, even though she has bad breath)

Emma Davis

Cleo

Exotic Shorthair, 2 years old spayed female

3 Answers

Bad breath is not normal, even in an older cat. Contact your vet if your cat has bad breath. Your vet will be able to fully, and safely examine your cat’s mouth, which may not be easy for you to do at home.

Answered 1460 days ago icon3

Link the brushing to a treat, such as drinking water from a dripping faucet or a favorite canned food," "Just before the treat, you can apply a tiny amount of the gel onto a finger and gently apply it to the cat's teeth. Most cats will forgive your foolish human behavior to savor their desired food or beverage. Repeat this procedure every day for the first week to establish the new routine. Then, apply the gel a little further back in the mouth, but still without stressing the cat." If you grip your cat and jam a toothbrush down her throat, the battle is lost. Once the cat is tolerant of the gel on the finger prior to receiving the cherished item, try the same routine with the gel on the brush rather than the finger. Because cats hate having their mouths forcefully opened, simply stretch back the lips without opening the mouth. Don't bother the tongue side of the teeth or focus too much on the motion. You simply want to disrupt the plaque buildup at the margin between the tooth and the gum line. The younger your cat, the easier it will be to brush her teeth. Never use toothpaste for humans because some of its components can upset a cat's stomach. And never force the issue; it's not worth putting yourself at risk. Some veterinarians believe that dry food is also better than canned food to prevent plaque buildup. Don't expect the cat to cooperate at the very first time it will take time, practice and patience to put it in routine.

Answered 1460 days ago icon2

Well bad breath in technical language is called as halitosis. It may be caused by several things. bacteria associated with plaque tartar (also called calculus) decomposing food particles retained within periodontal pockets persistent bleeding due to coagulation abnormalities tissue necrosis (death of tissue) Treatment of halitosis in cats involves eliminating the cause(s). First, the teeth need to be thoroughly cleaned and polished under general anesthesia (see handout "Dental Cleaning in Cats" for more information). Cleaning removes plaque and tartar (calculus) above and below the gum line (with the help of hand instruments and scaler tips designed to be used under the gum line). After teeth cleaning, a tooth-by-tooth examination is conducted. Intraoral dental X-rays are inspected to complete the oral assessment. Often those teeth affected by advanced periodontal disease or tooth resorption need to be extracted. "Often those teeth affected by advanced periodontal disease or tooth resorption need to be extracted." When periodontal pockets are small or when bleeding is found on probing, local anti-microbial administration may help to reduce halitosis by decreasing bleeding and diminishing pocket depths.

Answered 1467 days ago icon3