B |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Sep 25 2007 at 10:32 AM |
Bad Breath
Bad smelling breath (also known as Halitosis) is not normal in cats and is usually an indication of a problem.
Most bad smells come from the mouth, more specifically the teeth. Cats get bacterial plaque on their teeth just as we do, and if this is allowed to build up, tartar is laid down. This is a hard deposit made from the calcium in saliva that adheres to the plaque and contains the bacteria. It is these bacteria that create the smell. They also produce toxins that inflame the gum and can cause erosion of the tooth roots.
The solution to this is to remove the tartar. You vet will be able to do this, but since this requires a general anaesthetic, prevention is much better than cure. The natural method for a cat to keep its teeth clean is crunching through its prey. The foods we provide for them do not have enough substance to provide for this. Feeding dry foods is better than canned for the teeth, and there are now diets which are designed to help teeth clean.
It is also possible to brush a cats teeth with a special pet toothpaste Human toothpaste is not appropriate as it is not intended to be swallowed. This is not well tolerated by many cats, even if started young. Some pet toothpaste will get some benefit without brushing, and this is often the best option in a cat.
Not all bad breath comes from the mouth. Gas produced in the colon is well known for creating smells of another kind, but what is not commonly known is that most of those same gasses are absorbed into the blood stream and are expelled by the lungs, it is only the excess which becomes flatulence. If this gas is pungent, it can cause bad breath. This is not common in cats.
Biting - Themselves
All cats will bite at their own fur on a regular basis as a part of their grooming behaviour, but it can also be a sign of irritation of the skin. A cat sitting calmly that suddenly turns and bites itself probably has an itch.
By far the commonest reason for cats biting themselves is fleas. Any cat that goes outside, and some which do not, are likely to pick up fleas. Treating your cat regularly against fleas with a product recommended by your vet is advisable, even if you cannot see any.
Some cats will cause their skin damage by biting. This usually shows up as multiple small scabs around the head and along the back. If this occurs the cat is allergic to something. The biggest cause of allergy in cats is fleas (about 99% of cases).
Some cats will bite themselves for psychological reasons, if they are scared or stressed much of the time. The appearance is often similar so it is always worth ensuring fleas are not the problem first.
Bleeding
Any bleeding from a cat is abnormal. Female cats do not normally show any bleeding with their breeding cycles.
Wounds are a common cause of bleeding. Any wound will bleed when it first occurs, but in most cases it will stop within a few minutes. Pressure on the wound with a clean pad will encourage this, but try to avoid the temptation to keep taking it off to see if the bleeding has stopped too early as this could dislodge the forming clot and even slow the process. Most bleeding will stop with 3-4 minutes of continuous pressure. Veterinary attention should be sought at promptly if the wound is of any significant size.
A jet of blood indicates a significant blood vessel has been cut. This should be stopped as soon as possible. Wrap a bandage (improvise - a handkerchief or T-shirt is good) directly on the site of the bleeding with firm pressure. A broad bandage is best. The seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
NEVER apply a tourniquet unless all other methods have been tried and the animal’s life is at risk. A tourniquet can cause a limb to be lost if applied incorrectly or for too long. If one must be applied, use something broad and soft (like a sock) to avoid crush injury where it is applied.
Bleeding may also issue from any of the body’s openings in vomit, urine, faeces or discharges. Any abnormal bleeding should be investigated by a vet. See also Faeces - Blood and Discharge
Breathing - Difficulty
Breathing is a vital function, so any problem that affects the breathing can be serious and should be checked with your vet.
Problems with the upper airways with cause a noise when breathing. The commonest cause of this in a cat is Cat Flu. This causes snuffling, a snotty nose and runny eyes. See Flu.
Another surprisingly common problem in cats is breathing trouble caused by a foreign body. Many cats chew grass, and they can cough a blade of grass up the back of the nose. This causes discomfort, coughing and sneezing, and many cats will stop eating due to a sore throat. If your vet suspects this, your cat will need a general anaesthetic to discover if this is the problem. Tonsillitis can cause similar signs, so your vet might opt to treat with antibiotics first.
Persian cats can suffer from restricted airways, but this usually does not require any treatment.
Breathing problems that affect the lungs will cause the cat to breathe heavily, the chest moving with effort. The lungs may be affected by pneumonia, fluid on the lung, tumours, fluid around the lung, air outside the lungs or a ruptured diaphragm. As cats are not active much of the time and have a large reserve lung capacity, the problem is usually severe by the time it is noticed. Your vet will need to x-ray the chest to determine what is preventing air getting into the lungs.
Burns
Burns can be very nasty injuries which can take a long time to heal. An additional problem with cats is that there may be no visible indication of damage when the injury first occurs unless the fur is burnt. This is particularly true with burns from hot liquids.
As with people, prompt first aid is the most important factor in how bad an injury a burn will cause. When the skin is burnt, it is heated and the longer it stays hot, the more damage is caused. To reduce the damage, the skin must be cooled immediately with cold water. Since your cat cannot tell you it has been burnt, if you suspect a burn, treat the cat rapidly with cold water. It is best to fall on the side of caution, as cold water can make the difference between minor reddening and loss of skin from the same burn.
Immediately after a burn has occurred, there is often very little visible damage, but over the next few hours there will be reddening of the skin. If this is all, a soothing cream will see the skin back to normal in a few days. If the skin becomes black and hard, then the damage has been deep and severe; the skin is dead and will fall off. If this occurs, seek veterinary attention.
The amount of area burnt is important. A very small burn will probably heal quickly, but large areas of burns can take months to heal and can be life threatening without prompt and appropriate treatment. In severe cases, shock may set in within a few hours. Any large area burns should see a vet as an emergency – after immediate cold water treatment.