Feline's overall health begins with the mouth
Some feline caregivers are surprised to learn that their pets may suffer from some of the same medical symptoms as people.
I am convinced that if we take a common-sense approach and find the similarity of symptoms, cat owners might be able to diagnose their feline's medical issues at an earlier onset.
With that premise in place, let's say you find your feline is suffering from bad breath that may rise to the level of halitosis. The problem may be solved by merely implementing a home dental program, if you do not already have one in place. There are many oral hygiene products that you can add to your feline's water that can assist with breath odor and plaque reduction. You can ask your veterinarian for suggestions if you need assistance in picking the proper solution for your pet's needs.
Every time you take your feline in for a dental, I would venture to say, you receive a bottle of oral hygiene solution to put in the water as aftercare. Why not continue to be proactive on a daily basis, instead of only following the procedure after a dental?
Your feline's breath may also be impacted by the type of food you are feeding it. If you are feeding a fish-based food, how can you not expect your feline to have bad breath?
Feline halitosis can also be the indicator of a significant medical condition. Feline periodontal disease is usually the first culprit, and the easiest to remedy, unless you have a feline that is a juvenile-onset periodontal problem.
Even when a feline has the onset of plaque, which is an early stage of periodontal disease, your feline's breath will be bad. If you cannot get this stuff off at home, a dental may prevent the next stage of the disease. If the soft tissue and the bones of the mouth are impacted, the gums will recede and bone loss will occur. At this stage, you will need your veterinarian to remove the hard tartar and possibly do an extraction.
If a tooth infects or begins to die at the root, your feline's mouth odor will become worse. An untreated feline's mouth can even be the site of a tumor, which can smell.
Once you neglect your feline's mouth to this stage, you risk a host of problems. The most obvious being squamous cell carcinoma (an almost always deadly cancer tumor of the mouth).
I say this because once you see signs of this type of tumor in the mouth, it has progressed to the point of not being treatable, except for pain management.
Problems in a feline's mouth can also cause other medical problems. The problems are better understood if you think of your feline's mouth as a gateway to the rest of the body's organs.
The kidney is a good example. Your feline's kidney is meant to filter toxins from the body. This process slows down with age and gets labored with toxins from the mouth. As a kidney begins to dysfunction, blood finds its way into the urine.
A healthy mouth helps all the organs. The bottom line, all mouth odors of your feline should be a cautionary light to seek advice from your veterinarian. You can only hope the problem can be solved with dental and a change of diet.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a volunteer nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization, with all funds directly assisting its animals. For information, visit thebuddyfoundation.org or call (847) 290-5806.