It can be difficult to notice that your cat has bad breath as often they are not as close to our faces as our dogs. A healthy cat should smell like the food they eat but when their mouth starts to smell bad, it’s time to review their oral and dental health.
Many cats have problems with their teeth at some point in their lives with the most common problem being plaque. In fact, 70% of cats over the age of 3 are most likely suffering from some sort of dental issue. A classic sign of plaque is that the cat’s mouth smells bad. A cat’s breath that smells slightly of cat food (such as fish, chicken, or meat) is perfectly fine and normal. If/when your cat’s breath starts to smell bad, it’s time to review their oral health – bad breath can be a sign of plaque that can lead to tartar, gingivitis and other serious diseases.
What Causes Bad Breath in Cats?
The most common cause of bad breath in cats is poor dental hygiene. Every time cats eat, plaque builds up between their teeth, causing bacteria to accumulate. The bacteria thrive to form a film on the teeth and at the gum line called plaque, which causes bad breath. Bad breath can also be caused by other things, such as autoimmune diseases, kidney issues, high blood sugar, nutritional deficiencies or dental disease or injuries in the mouth. However, the most common reason for bad breath is plaque.
Signs of Poor Dental Health in Cats
If plaque is not removed regularly, it will be calcified and mineralized by the saliva in the cat’s mouth and turn into hard tartar. Tartar that is not removed can lead to inflammation of the gums and can cause gingivitis, which is very painful for your cat. Cats are experts at hiding pain and not good at communicating how they feel so it can be helpful to know the signs of gingivitis. In addition to bad breath, poor appetite or gums that are red, swollen and even bleed can be signs. Also watch out for to whether your cat loses weight, swallows food whole or only chews on one side of the mouth or begins to drool. Poor dental hygiene in cats can, if it goes too far, result in cavities, tooth loss, TR (tooth resorption), malnutrition and in extreme cases can lead to disease in organs.
Veterinary Advice and Treatment
When a vet sees a cat with bad breath or oral issues, they always examine the teeth to investigate initial causes. It is important to rule out tumors, kidney disease and autoimmune diseases. Gingivitis can be similar to other inflammations that cats can have in the mouth, such as stomatitis, which is due to other causes. Once the vet has completed the investigation and given a diagnosis, it is vital to follow their instructions to ensure optimal oral and dental health. Vets advise to regularly brush your cat’s teeth, which can be easier said than done! Veterinarians also recommend that you combine tooth brushing with a nutritional supplement, such as ProDen PlaqueOff®, to help keep your cats’ teeth clean and prevent plaque.
How ProDen PlaqueOff® can Help Bad Breath
The ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat is a 100% natural food supplement containing the natural seaweed ingredient A.N ProDen® to help maintain clean teeth and healthy breath. ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat has been shown in clinical trials to reduce plaque and tartar and to improve bad breath and is recommended by veterinarians. The unique seaweed ingredient, A.N ProDen®, is 100% organic and natural with no additives, making it healthy and safe for your cat. Sprinkle the powder over your cat’s food once a day with the supplied scoop. If used daily as directed, ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat will help reduce and control plaque, tartar, and freshen breath. The results are usually seen between 3 to 8 weeks, with continued use. ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat has a tasty formula containing brewer’s yeast specially made for cats- your cat won’t be able to resist it!
For this article, we have enlisted the help of veterinarian Craig Morgan, who works and runs Lake Forest Animal Clinic in Alabama, USA.