Cat bad breath may be caused by various factors such as dental problems, tumors in the mouth cavity or gastrointestinal problems. The gastrointestinal tract may be affected by different conditions (such as infections, intestinal blockage, stomach tumors or stomach ulcers) which will cause the halitosis in your pet.
Gastrointestinal Infections
Gastrointestinal infections may be caused by the ingestion of different objects or food that contains bacteria or viruses or may also be caused by intestinal parasites.
The gastrointestinal infections will cause halitosis.
Undigested Food in the Gastrointestinal Tract
If the cat has undigested food in the gastrointestinal tract, the cat is very likely to have bad breath.
The food that is not digested may stay in the gastrointestinal tract due to various factors:
- An intestinal blockage or occlusion (which may be caused by tumors, the ingestion of a foreign object that blocks the intestines), which will make the elimination of the feces impossible; the cat will be constipated
- The diet your cat eats is deficient in fibers; fibers facilitate digestion and a diet that is rich in proteins and fats may be difficult to digest if the necessary fibers lack from your pet’s diet
The vet should establish why the food stays undigested and should administer suitable medication. In some cases, a change in diet will be required or the vet will recommend fiber supplements.
Tumors Can Cause Bad Breath
Tumors that are located in the stomach or the intestinal tract may cause bad odor which can be felt in your pet’s mouth.
The tumors may be detected through ultrasounds; some tumors may be felt as lumps. However, the tumors need to be biopsied to establish if they are benign or malignant.
Stomach Ulcers and Bad Cat Breath
Stomach ulcers can occur in felines and will be signaled by symptoms such as bad breath, vomiting, dark feces, lethargy and refusal to eat. Blood in the vomit is also common in cats with stomach ulcer.
The stomach ulcer occurs due to an overproduction of gastric acid that will damage the stomach lining.
Often, stomach ulcers are caused by an underlying condition such as a bacterial infection or the presence of tumors in the area.
Bad Breath Treatment Options
If the bad breath has gastrointestinal causes, these issues need to be addressed. Most often, a change in the cat’s diet will solve the bad breath.
Gastrointestinal infections can be treated with antibiotics.
However, if the cat has a tumor, this needs to be removed (if surgery is possible) and the cat should receive medication therapy to prevent the cancer from metastasizing.
Stomach ulcers may be treated depending on the underlying condition. If the ulcer is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics can treat the cat’s condition and the bad breath issue will also be solved.
It is important to get help when you suspect that the bad breath is caused by a gastrointestinal problem. The problem may be more severe than the bad breath.