cat wound

[lucysmom]

My cat Smokey seems to have a wound between his eye and his ear. A patch of fur is missing about the size of a nickel. I think one of my other cats may have had a fight with him. It doesn't seem to be infected, just bright red skin, I think. I did not find blood anywhere. What can I use to clean/heal this wound? Thanks!

[Karen]

Is the wound still open? You might get him to the vet if so. Otherwise just clean it like you would a wound of your own, but don't use any ointment that he'd then get on his paws to take it off.

[Catlady711]

Yes, don't use ointment, it often seals in infections. Just use peroxide if it's just a small scrape. If it's open, draining, or larger see your vet. Either way watch for infection or swelling within the next 7-10 days as fight wounds sometimes abcess.

[columbine]

If it doesn't clear up but doesn't get worse, it would be worth having the vet check for allergens. Sometimes cats get allergic to mites that are nearly impossible to detect otherwise.

Love, Columbine

[Redhead84]

Yes, don't use ointment, it often seals in infections. Just use peroxide if it's just a small scrape. If it's open, draining, or larger see your vet. Either way watch for infection or swelling within the next 7-10 days as fight wounds sometimes abcess.

so peroxide is better than ointment....even if it's an ointment the vet gave me?

[Catlady711]

so peroxide is better than ointment....even if it's an ointment the vet gave me?


If the vet gave it to you then no. At the vet they have a number of different ointments for a variety of ailments and the vet knows which one is best for what and which is safe for your pet.

I said 'ointments' in a general way because at work we WAY too often see people constantly putting bag balm, and neosporin on everything before finally relenting and bringing the pet in when the condition gets worse instead of better. Some things just aren't able to be treated with ointments and will require oral antibiotics, or there may be another underlying medical problem that has to be treated first.

[moosmom]

You might want your vet to ruleout ringworm. There's alot of that going around and it is CONTAGIOUS.