The vet pointed out bad breath in the kitten we...

Cat / Mix - Answered 1288 days ago

The vet pointed out bad breath in the kitten we adopted from a shelter at 6 months. We'd been giving him gum massages using Oratene gel with our fingers once daily, but we forgot after a while since we got busy with adopting a new cat. After two months the smell got worse so we restarted the massaging. It’s been a month since then but it hasn't been very effective. The vet told us that we should get medication to improve his constitution (twice a year, 10 doses a time, $100 per 10 doses ($200 per year)) if the massages won't work. He also told us that if this continues, our cat might lose the ability to eat food at an early age. I'd like to avoid having to use the medications - is there anything we can do other than that? By the way, we feed him dry food, and we don't give him treats very often (1-2 times a month). *Also, I don't know if this helps, but his lower front teeth are crooked. The vet said that it isn't really a problem since he has all six teeth.

Dennis Hall

Yamato

Mix, 11 months old castrated male

Lucifer Stark

獣医師, DVM

Bad breath or halitosis may indicate conditions from periodontal, kidney, respiratory or liver disease to diabetes, skin disease (involving tissue around the lips) or oral trauma. However, by far, the most common problem associated with bad breath is periodontal disease. Without good dental care, this preventable disease is likely to cause pain, tooth loss, and infection that, in some cases, can spread to other organs. Without tooth brushing, a film called plaque adheres to the teeth. Over time, this film thickens and hardens, attracting even more plaque. The gums will swell with gingivitis, eventually leading to tissue and bone loss. Early stages of periodontal disease can be remedied with professional teeth cleaning, which would give your cat a fresh start, but plaque will build up again within days without regular tooth brushing. To prevent most cases of bad breath, brush your cat's teeth - ideally, every day - using tooth gel for felines. 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. 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. 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. OTHER REMEDIES --- 1. ORAL MOUTH SPRAYS 2. DENTAL CHEW STICKS 3. TRY TO CHANGE THE DIET about the medication your vet suggested, could you please specify the medicine otherwise its hard to tell whether his treatment is in the right direction or not. thank you. hope this helps. -- your next door vet

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