If your cat has a surface bite, flush the area with sterile saline. I was a nervous wreck! It is important to remove as much pus as possible or it will act as an ongoing source of infection. Make sure to wipe using downward strokes and use 1 cotton ball per stroke to avoid cross-contamination. Then, gently wipe the wound with the cloth. He acts like nothing happens and escapes and fights every night. Written by the founders of this website including the author of the hugely successful Happy Puppy Handbook, it's packed with cat care information and fascinating cat facts. It’s probably best to err on the side of caution if you are not sure. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Then, wring out the excess water and place the cloth over the wound. Going to get warm saline, "I found this to be very easy to understand on how and what to use for treating my cats. Although anything with a sharp point can cause a puncture wound to a cat, most cat puncture wounds are caused by other cats and their sharp teeth. Deep injuries may improve with soaking or … Use a clean piece of soaked cotton wool for each downward wipe, so that the dirty piece does not recontaminate the wound on the next downward pass. If your cat has a burst abscess, a considerable volume of pus may leak from the wound. Here are the two ingredients required: Water: Instead of ordinary water from the tap, prefer using distilled water, or purified water. If the worst happens, here is a complete guide to treating cat wounds at home. This heavy-duty sounding compound is actually a mild antiseptic agent commonly called a quat (short for quaternary ammonium compound). Once you have done your best to clean the wound, it’s important to monitor it and check that the healing process progresses smoothly. A wiggling cat is impossible to treat and the movement may worsen the injury. For puncture wounds like animal bites, call your vet. If the wound heals on its own, then you will see it going through a few distinct stages. National Research Council (US) Committee on Toxicology. wound, and this article offered simple, good and effective advice on things I could do to help him myself. Finally, apply a disinfectant, like diluted hydrogen peroxide, then bandage the area if your cat tries to lick or chew the wound. But beware — not … Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water and dry. Cat’s teeth are covered with bacteria, so when a bite delivers these under the skin, an infection can start. I wanted to make sure whatever I, "Just found a little kitty on the street with a couple of his paws bleeding and needed immediate help on how to do, "My cat Teeney had a scratch on his outer ear. Animal professionals can best decide if the antimicrobial power of the fluid is worth the possible cell damage, and choose the right concentration. Remove the wound from the Epsom salt after 10 minutes. There is a slight risk using water that it will damage the exposed tissue bed, as it does not have the same composition as body fluids and therefore draws fluid out of damaged tissue. Let’s learn how to clean a cat wound! To clean cat wound with salt water, simply fill the syringe and release the water across the wound. You should avoid using hydrogen peroxide to clean a cat’s wound … be careful handling your cat as they may be very painful bathe any wounds with dilute salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a pint of cooled boiled water), try to bathe the wound twice per day for a couple of days to help reduce the likelihood of infection Sometimes, you might not even notice that your cat has a bite wound until an abscess forms. When treating superficial scratches, it’s reasonable to wash the wound with soap and water… If the wound is bleeding, use clean … Check around the head, ears, and back of the neck, before looking at the hind legs, rump, and the base of the tail. Hold it there for a few minutes to help soften up the crust or scab. This is a good way to keep it calm and minimize the risk from teeth and claws. These changes could be symptoms of a medical problem. You will be watching it go through the repair and maturation stages. Keep the cat calm and gently sweep your hand over the body while looking at the skin beneath the fur. Can you use chlorhexidine or iodine to clean cat wounds? This is the newly formed collagen and you should see hair starting to regrow along the wound area within a week or two. And picked out the best bits! Last Updated: July 30, 2020 The wound is probably pretty itchy too. You can use plain, sterilised water in the syringe to flush out debris from the wound, or a saline solution. Salt: You can use salt … The type of wound determines whether you can treat it at home. As long as a wound is relatively minor and not infected, you may be able to clean them yourself. If you believe that your cat’s wound is minor with minimal bleeding and no punctures, then you can treat the wound at home. ", article I scrolled down & read about the mission wikiHow is involved in, love it!! Fowler and Williams. Did you know that thousands of research papers have been published on cat behavior and health? Whatever the reason, the first thing we must assess is whether your cat has a superficial wound or whether it is severe.. To loosen a crust or scab that has formed over your cat's wound, soak a washcloth in warm water. What is the next stage of cat wound care? She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Salt; Water; Scissors; Soap and water; Saline solution. Likewise, a puncture wound over a joint should be treated by a vet, as there is a risk of bacteria being introduced into the joint and a short course of antibiotics may be required to prevent joint sepsis. My cat have a deep wound n it is increasing day be day I try to cure it but its swelling n wound is eaten by vermiculate …. To help you along, we will explain the different types of wound, any potential complications, and how to treat them at home. The trick to using saline is to use large volumes and keep washing until the area looks clean. Try wrapping the cat in a large bath towel with just the wound exposed. How do I treat this? Use a soft cloth or towel to clean the injury; avoid cotton wool and other loose-fibered materials, as the threads often stick to the wound. She has two sores, each between both ears and eyes. Step 1: Flood the wound with warm water for 4 to 5 minutes. Clean minor wounds with warm water and dry them with a clean kitchen towel or a wad of soft paper towels. However, the same studies show that low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can actually help with the healing process. Veterinarians can flush out wounds to remove the bacteria and they can also prescribe antibiotics to kill pathogenic microorganisms that remain in the wound. I've been cleaning them with a saline solution, then covering with Vaseline. Take the cat to the vet, there's nothing you or anyone else who is not a professional can do for him, and if he's not eating it could be very serious. Few cats go through life without picking up a few battle scars. Slightly pressurizing the water, by squirting it from a bottle or hose, will rinse away dirt and debris more quickly. Again, follow any of your doctor's instructions carefully, but a typical recommended routine might involve soaking the wound in warm normal saline three times a day for 20 minutes each time, until it looks like the infection has cleared up. It can take up to 10 minutes for bleeding to stop. Thank you for the all the helpful information! There has been debate about whether it is safe for felines, and some experts suggest it is fine to use on cats. Accordingly, it is best to leave the hydrogen peroxide flushing to your veterinarian. There are many products containing these, which may be good antiseptic sprays for treating cat wound care naturally. Treating Cat Scratches. This article helped. Then keep an eye on the sore. Scratch wounds are very common, and cats can pick them up even when they are just play fighting with their siblings and other cats sharing their home. You may also want to know what to put on a cat’s wound? Once you have cleaned the wound, if there is little sign of bleeding and healing progresses normally, then you will undoubtedly see your cat licking the wound. If your cat's personality or behavior has changed drastically, and you can't figure out why, take it to a veterinarian. When these bacteria are killed, the wound site is cleaned and thus, the infection is inhibited, so that it will not spread into the other skin areas or getting worse. Welcome to your simple cat feeding … More... What does a cat yawn mean? Now, we can return to some of the questions that you, our readers, asked. Your feline may be lethargic and irritable as well. How SEVERE is it. Don’t worry - we’ve done it for you! ", now I can start using it the proper way. Fights, scuffles, and minor injuries are common in the life of a cat, and you can successfully treat minor scratches and scrapes at home. What should I do? As long as the water is hot, the salt should dissolve within 10 to 15 seconds. Your cat may get into a fight and get clawed at, or it might just get some scratches while it is exploring out in the neighborhood. If that doesn’t clear away all the dirt and debris, use more solution-soaked cotton balls to wipe the wound. If you notice any pus, redness, or unusual odors, take your cat to the veterinarian. e,g HOW DEEP is the wound. The physical act of washing removes the bacteria and debris, while the saline is so similar to the pH of the body tissues that it causes minimal tissue damage. You can find this at your local animal supply store. Cat wound sprays can be even better. Please take her to one ASAP. Found your info easy to understand and to do! Underneath the scab, collagen will form that closes the open wound. In addition, your cat may scratch or bite, leaving you with wounds that will need cleaning. ", the first aid before taking it to a vet. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Cats have sharp teeth, and most will receive cat fight wounds at some point. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Works wonderfully when caring for a pet with post-surgery incision sites. Work with a family member to hold your feline or wrap them securely in a towel. Plain water will not kill bacteria, so a saline rinse is a better option. If the wound starts to look worse instead of better, take your cat to the vet. Our readers gave us a few questions about how to clean cat wounds at home. e,g HOW DEEP is the wound. You can make saline solution at home. To clean a wound on a cat, start by soaking a cotton ball in a cleaning solution made from 1 cup of boiled water and ½ teaspoon of salt, and squeezing it so the liquid runs over the wound. If you can’t get hold of chlorhexidine, what about old-fashioned iodine? If you notice these symptoms, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. ", "This article contained good advice and excellent illustrations!". Read the label to see if the product is a phenolic disinfectant, and avoid using if it is. It may be much safer to use a wound ointment specially designed for cats. Use dry cotton wool, gauze, or absorbent paper tissue to wipe away the pus. Step 1: Flood the wound with warm water for 4 to 5 minutes. Cats fight for territory and defense, or for health and stress reasons. Use Polyfax or any other skin ointment that you use for your wounds or your doctor recommends. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The trick to using saline is to use large volumes and keep washing until the area looks clean. Clean it with soap and water, and there is no harm in letting the cat clean its own wounds if they are minor. One treatment that provoked some controversy is Neosporin, an antibiotic ointment with a triple action intended for humans. Cat saliva contains antibacterial properties and acts as a natural painkiller. What should I do? Alternatively wounds in the cat could be treated by washing them with warm salt water twice a day, carefully dabbing the area dry with clean kitchen paper and then applying the likes of Neosporin. In a week or two the cat is pushing it’s head under my hand to get the buiscuits, a wonderful moment of first contact which quickly develops into head strocking and ear tickling. Here are a few steps you can work through, which we will expand upon later: At any stage, if you think that the cat wound is worse than you thought, then maybe it is time to call the vet. In many cases this would be adequate. You can usually use the wound spray a few times a day, but you should ask your veterinarian what is best based on the type, depth, and location of the wound. Cats will usually get small injuries from time to time. I would suggest cleaning the wound and then wrapping it with some simple human bandages. 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