My 8-week-old kitten has bad breath and unhealthy gums. What to do?

Meshmesh should not have bad breath. He may have an infection in his mouth. If you are unsure or worried, you should have him examined by a veterinarian. He also needs his first vaccinations now and needs to be wormed as well.

You need to take her to the vet ASAP, she is probably suffering from a gum/teeth disease which is very common in cats, treatment varies according to the severity of the condition but this must be dealt with urgently.

At this age the bad breath might be because of teething, which occurs until the age of around 5 months of age, after that if the bad breath remains it's probably due to gum disease, which is very common in cats, in most cases it doesn't bother the cat and thus does not require treatment.

Halitosis (bad breath) in a kitten can be caused by oral infections such as gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or feline stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucous membranes at the back of the mouth). Teething can also cause bad breath. Another cause that is harmless is certain food like canned soft food can sometimes cause the kitten bad breath, for example, smoked oysters or canned tuna. Other causes such as kidney/liver disease and diabetes are less commonly found in kittens. I would suggest to take the kitten to your vet to examine the mouth and identify the cause.

I am attaching a link to the products that the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) has tested and approved for use. http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm You will see that the list for cats is pretty short, but there are some diets, treats and water additives that might be an option for you. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Bad breath has nothing to do with worms. It’s due to tartar buildup on the teeth and bacteria in the mouth. Just like if you never brushed your teeth you would have bad breath too. The best thing you can do is start brushing his teeth daily. You can watch a YouTube video on how to do this properly or you can consult with your local veterinarian to get instructions on how to brush his teeth.

I am sorry Christian is having a painful mouth. Honestly, I would recommend taking Christian to a vet for a good physical exam. Severe dental and gum disease usually needs treated with antibiotics , pain medications and possible extraction of the bad teeth. At home I would avoid trying to brush or examine Christians mouth often because it is a painful disease. I hope that helps