What Causes Bad Breath in Kittens With Upper Respiratory Infection?

Having a kitten in your home makes for hours of fun playing with him and watching his antics. Kitty bad breath can put a damper on the fun, however, and can cause concern for owners. A number of health issues can cause bad breath in kittens, including tooth problems, digestive issues and upper respiratory infections.

  1. Why You Should Investigate Bad Breath Problems in Your Kitten

    • Generally, kittens should not have a problem with bad breath. Their teeth are brand new; they have not had time to develop the plaque and decay problems that may occur later in life. If the odor is stronger than what would normally occur from consuming their usual food, it may be a sign of growth of bacteria that is associated with infection. Bad breath can also have other causes, such as digestive problems or a broken tooth that is infecting the gums. It̵7;s always a good idea to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian, who can determine what the problem is and how to solve it.

    Upper Respiratory Infections and Bad Breath

    • A respiratory infection can cause bad breath in your kitten when bacteria continue to grow deep in nasal passages or in the throat. The odor can occur at the beginning of the illness, before other signs of a cold exhibit, such as sneezing, runny nose, fever, weakness, lack of appetite, conjunctivitis or coughing. Breath odors can also occur after the major symptoms of the cold have passed but while bacteria are still present and growing in the respiratory system. Low-grade infection in the lungs can also cause bad breath as air is expelled from the lungs.

    Treating Upper Respiratory Infections That Cause Bad Breath

    • Your kitten can become very sick and even die if upper respiratory infections go untreated. Feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus account for 80 to 90 percent of all contagious feline respiratory diseases, according to the Pet WebMD website. Take the kitten to your vet for a thorough examination. Standard treatments include a course of antibiotics, rest and isolation, as well as fluid and nutritional support. Intensive treatment will cure the respiratory symptoms and the bad breath problem.

    Systemic Diseases Can Cause Bad Breath

    • If the problem of bad breath continues even after antibiotic treatment of the upper respiratory infection, it may not be the infection alone. Other diseases can cause bad breath in kittens, and you should have your veterinarian investigate these fully at his office with a full panel of blood tests. Diabetes, liver disease and kidney disease are all possible reasons for bad breath problems in cats, according to the CatWorld website.