A vet has shared an unusual symptom which could indicate your pet may be in need of urgent medical attention, or near the end of their life.

Pets can enrich our lives as they quickly establish themselves as important, cherished members of the family. It’s important to keep on top of health checks to maximise the happiness and lifespan of your pet, and any changes to their usual behaviour or appearance should be investigated.

Dr Faith Banks, a geriatric and palliative vet, regularly shares her expertise and professional insight on caring for older animals on TikTok, amassing thousands of views in the process. In a recent video on the hit social media platform, she discussed a seemingly innocent symptom which could mean a larger problem: a change to the smell of your pet’s breath.

The vet explained she’d recently visited a “lovely” couple to provide an at-home euthanasia for their beloved cat when one of the owners commented on how differently their cat’s breath smelled. He noted his cat’s overall smell had changed in general but noticed the most significant changes to the aroma around their mouth and their breath.

Dr Banks said: “This cat has kidney disease so it is quite common for cats with kidney disease to have a change in the smell of their breath.

“The reason for that is the toxins build up in the system because the blood, which is going through the kidneys, is not able to filter the blood properly and so these toxins accumulate and gives them this smell.”

What does it smell like?

Dr Banks described this particular scent as “sort of an ammonia smell” and said she and her professional colleagues “call it uremia, or a uremic smell.”

A “uremic smell”, which is similar to the scent of ammonia - a strong odor akin to urine or sweat - can also be a symptom of kidney disease in dogs, as well as cats. This condition, known as uremia, arises when the kidneys fail to effectively eliminate waste products from the body.

The vet then said “there are other reasons” why a pet’s breath may change or present a different smell altogether. She explained: “If there is an infection in the mouth, or tumour, that is going to cause a really foul smell.

“Antibiotics may help clear it up, if it’s an infection, but if there is a necrotic mass - sometimes, with cats, it’s right at the back of their mouth or under their tongues - and so you don’t see it right away but it is nasty.”

Other conditions that could lead to a change in the smell of your pet’s breath could be liver disease or diabetes. She said diabetes can lead to a “sweeter” smell and stressed the importance of recognising any changes, as they’re usually indicative of the body not being “able to do their function” properly.

If you notice any changes to your pet’s smell, or you’re concerned about your pet in general, it’s best to consult your vet as soon as possible for tailored and personal professional advice.