My cat has foul breath, smacks lips, and won't groom. What's wrong?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sam. I recommend that he sees an emergency veterinarian today. He needs to be examined. If there is a smell coming from his mouth, I worry that he has a wound. If he is painful, then he will not open his mouth. There are also other causes of not being able to use the mouth properly such as infectious and inflammatory conditions. The veterinarian will examine him and may recommend some testing. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help him feel better. I worry that he will become dehydrated from not eating and drinking properly. This may need to be addressed as well. I hope this information helps!

He may have an ulcer or sore in his mouth or on his tongue that is painful and burning. They often do not want their mouth opened or touched when that occurs. It creates an infection and the odor occurs and gets worse. I would schedule an appointment with your vet to have his mouth and teeth examined to see if there are any wounds or damaged teeth causing this in order to get proper medication

Without examining your cat or at least seeing some photos it is very difficult for me to comment. The best I can tell you is that he needs to see a vet so he can be examined in person. He may have a seriously infected tooth or even a tumor in his mouth cavity. Both things can cause the sign you describe. He cannot be left in this condition without eating and losing weight. It sounds like he is in pain so he needs to see a vet right away. I would not wait to get him examined. This is an emergency in my opinion.

It sounds like Scooby could have a problem with his mouth - he may have a wound or a growth that's bothering him, or a bad tooth. Often cats with problem teeth will continue to eat even with severe lesions that are obviously painful. Licking the lips frequently could also be a sign of nausea. I would recommend making an appointment with your vet for a complete oral examination.

Bad breath and inflammed gums in an older cat can be caused by gingivitis or stomatitis. This is a severe inflammatory disease caused by a reaction of the body's immune system to plaque on their teeth. It is extremely painful. I would recommend that Snowball be checked out by a veterinarian for treatment before it gets worse. If Snowball is a young cat or kitten, then there may be another cause, like oral trauma from eating something or an infected tooth. All of these should also be evaluated by a vet as soon as possible before they have a chance to get worse.

Poor Jada Leigh! it sounds like she has a few things going on at the moment. The foul smelling saliva, only eating soft food, and acting like it hurts to swallow are indications of a dental problem. She could have a loose or broken tooth, could have severe gingivitis, or could have a tooth root abscess. As for the yellow mucus in her eyes, that can be a sign of an eye infection. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take her into a vet right for both her dental problems and her eye problems. She needs veterinary care now because the dental problems will be very painful to her (and you cannot give her pain meds at home as human ones are toxic to cats and are fatal if given), and eye problems need to be treated promptly. Please take her into a vet now so that she can have her problems examined, diagnosed, and treated. Good luck, I hope this helps!

This sounds very much like she may have a tooth problem or a mouth ulcer or an injury. Since she apparently is in pain when you try to touch her around the mouth, I suggest you take her to your veterinarian for a dental exam. She may need a tooth removed or be treated for an ulcer or have tartar removed.