What to do for a stray cat with a swollen, bad-smelling mouth?

Mingming really needs to see a vet soon. It looks pretty bad, and could be caused by a fractured jaw, severely infected teeth, or cancer. All of these issues would be treated completely differently. She would also benefit from some pain medications. Since we don't know what is the cause, it is difficult to recommend a treatment, and it is illegal for us to prescribe medications.

Poor kitty! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem. Unfortunately, I can't really tell what's going on in this photo, except that his mouth appears to be swollen and there is something (maybe his tongue?) protruding from his mouth or chin. I would definitely say that he needs to see a veterinarian, but can't even hazard a guess as to what might be wrong or what kind of treatment would be needed without an exam and a more detailed history. I would recommend having him seen by a veterinarian today if at all possible. Once the initial exam has been done, he/she should be able to give you a better idea of what might be wrong and what kind of treatment is needed, including costs.

I can't tell from the photo if it is swollen. If you think it is, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian because it could indicate the beginning of an infection or tooth root abscess. There's not much you can do in that area because Misty will lick off any topical treatments. She should wear an elizabethan collar at all times so she cannot rub the area. If the lesion is not swollen, you can monitor it for a few days. If the area is not healing or is getting worse, I recommend to have Misty examined by the veterinarian. A lesion like this could signify ringworm (which humans can get) or allergies. I hope this helps.

Poor girl. It sounds like Princess has an abscess (infected pocket) which can be caused from an underlying tooth root abscess due to periodontal disease, so I do agree with you here. The only treatment for this is to lance and drain the area, start antibiotics and then get the infected tooth removed surgically. You can place a cold compress on the area tonight for 5-10 minutes to help with some of the soreness. You can follow that with a warm compress for 5-10 minutes and repeat this in 12 hrs. She should be ok until the morning when you can get her to the vet for further treatment. Best wishes with Princess and I hope she gets better soon. Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Korra. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian as soon as you are able. The lip is swollen and possibly ulcerated. This is likely uncomfortable for her. The veterinarian will examine her especially looking inside the the mouth. She could have further wounds in her mouth or even a bad tooth. Treatment will be started based on these findings. I do not believe an over-the-counter medication will help. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications either as they are toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

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!

Please contact your local humane society to try and identify a shelter or foster hone to get him the help he requires. It is likely he has loose, broken or infected teeth that require extraction in order to control the pain