My cat has gingivitis and a foul ear odor- possibly a polyp or infection. Please provide helpful information.?

Question

I got a one yr. old tabby female from the SPCA a few months ago. Took her to the vet for a checkup. She has very foul breath and also a horrible smell in her infected ear. The vet told me to get lysine for the ginigivitis...(he didn't mention cleaning). Also, he said I could give her antibiotics if the ear was bothering her. He thought the ear problem could be an infection or a polyp. She seems perfectly healthy otherwise. She doesn't seem to have ear pain...but the odor is awful. Also, I have been doing the lysine but have not noticed a difference. My vet didn't seem too concerned about this. What should be done for her? She's a young cat now..but it could get worse as she ages. I feed her only dry food and sometimes tuna juice when we open a can. She also sometimes scoots across the rug. Should I get her worm treatment? How do you know whether it's worms or just anal glands? Thanks for your help...I have had other cats, but this is the first one I've had with these problems. Thanks!

I think I will get a second opinion from another vet. I don't think the first was intentionally overlooking concerns. He is older and not sure if he does dental work. Appreciate all the great advice.

Answer 1

Shame on your vet for not giving a darn about oral and ear infection, simple antibiotics and supplements will do nothing to solve the problem. The infection from her mouth will spread to her heart and kidneys, and she will scratch the heck out of that ear until it blows up into a hematoma.

My first suggestion is to find a vet with the time and concern to address your cat's medical needs. My second suggestion is to get proper medication and treatment for the cause of the ear infection, and to have her put under anesthesia to clean the teeth thoroughly before they abscess or kill her.

As for the scooting, it never hurts to deworm a cat with unknown history. FIRST make sure she's treated and flea free before deworming. Then deworm with pyrantel pamoate for roundworms, and praziquantel for tapeworms. The p-pam will need to be repeated in 2-3 weeks, but the praziquantel usually takes care of the tapes in one dose. Both of these medications are now available over the counter (at least in the US). And when you have her looked at by your new vet, just make sure they check her glands and empty them if necessary. Tapeworms, fleas, allergies, and inflammatory conditions can all cause occlusion of the gland ducts, making them fill up. Make sure you don't just treat the full glands, but also resolve the cause.

And I don't know why anyone would try to argue that canned cat food is better for dry. Elderly cats with no teeth maybe, but canned food is TERRIBLE for teeth, the syrup contains concentrated sugars that stick to the outside of the teeth where they cannot lick them clean. Chewing dry food keeps the teeth and gums in good health with proper stimulation, and less buildup.

Answer 2

Could be yeast, a very common infection besides bacteria or ear mites. Check around for an inexpensive vet. It shouldn't cost too much for an office visit, ear cytology (looking at an ear swab on a slide under the microscope) and some ear medications. If you must, go to a pet store like Petco or PetSmart and ask for an ear cleaner or ear flush for cats. Put a squirt of the cleaner into the ear and massage the base of the ear. (It really helps to have a helper for this!) Let the cat shake, then gently wipe the inside of the ear with cotton balls. Do not use q-tips inside the ear! Clean the ear at least once per day. Clean the other ear too, but only once a week or so. And, I hate to say it, but: If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet! Your pets rely on you 100% to take care of them. They can't do it themselves. I guarantee that the kitty's ear is itchy and painful. Would you let a little child suffer with an ear infection because you can't afford the doctor?

Answer 3

Take the cat to another vet. Odor from the ear is an ear infection. Most probable ear mites. scooting around could be worms.

Answer 4

My first advice is to find another vet. Foul mouth odor and gingivitis indicate dental disease...she needs her teeth cleaned and antibiotic therapy. The ear odor is NOT ok. Why can't he identify what it is? It shouldn't be difficult. She needs treatment.
Scooting is almost always a sign of full anal glands. Rarely worms.

Answer 5

I think I'd get another vet!
Scooting could definitely be due to worms.
If he said you could get her on antibiotics for her ear, WHY did he not GIVE you any??? If he thought there was an infection in the ear he should have dealt with it, whether it was yeast or bacterial.

Answer 6

DEARIE, you have several issues, some of them serious! I agree, you need to call around and try another vet, especially if yours is over 50 yrs old. DRY FOOD IS OUT - Almost every independent site (not owned by cat companies) says canned is the way to go - there are many reasons, you can check them out for yourself. In fact, there is toooooooo much to list here.

learn about this, and a lot of interesting things at these GREAT sites:
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/family/cat-food/index.html

http://www.cat-world.com.au/CatHealthArticles.htm

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library

http://www.cattraining.com/

http://www.perfectpaws.com/

hope these are helpful

Answer 7

take teh cat for a second opinion the gingivitis means teh cat needs teeth cleaning and antibiotics teh ear needs a good cleaning and probaly meds.
teh first vet sounds like you were bothering him and doesn't care less

Answer 8

Take the cat to the vet. How's that for helpful information?

Answer 9

Wow, what a bad vet, get yourself to a new vet ASAP, the should have provided everything you needed, with or without charging for it.

Answer 10

hard factor. query on to a search engine. just that will help!