Yikes, what should I do?

Today I had Caramel out on his harness and leash cause it was a beautiful day when all of a sudden our next door neighbours large dog (boxer) comes bounding towards us. I scooped up Caramel and started to go for the door. This dog is good around cats and Coco and him get along, he was just being curious but Caramel has never ever seen a dog and he lost it. He hissed which he has never done before (he is a year old) and growled/spit and wouldn't let me take him inside, he was fighting me. His tail puffed up and he began to scratch me. I finally got him close to the door and the dog was still following us, and Caramel was still fighting, when all of a sudden Caramel latched onto my forearm hard. I got Caramel in the house and realized he had sprayed all over himself and me but he was ok just a little shaken. I then noticed that my arm was dripping with blood! How could Caramel's little teeth do that! There are 4 pierce marks, and they are very deep. I washed them and all my scratches with antimicrobial soap and then rinsed them with alcohol. That was hours ago and I can hardly move my arm. I don't know if I should go to outpatients or just ignore it? I know that bites are dangerous because of all the bacteria in the mouth, and I know that you don't want to let an infection spread, but maybe my arm is just bruised? Im not sure what should I do?

I'm sorry poor Caramel was so frightened. :(
I personally hate going to doctors and would most likely get some over the counter stuff to put on it. But what I'd do probably isn't the best thing to do. The best thing would probably be to have it checked, especially if it's deep.

Since the pierce marks are deep, I'd have them looked at; you might not be able to clean them out successfully.

Better safe than sorry.

Thats what called Cat Scratch Fever and it can be serious.
If you arm isnt better in a day or so I would go to your Doctor.
I had that once from a Siamese Kitten Boarder and couldnt move my Hand for three or four days.
We Pray that your arms now better!!!

GET TO A DOCTOR NOW! I got bitten at the shelter I use to help out at, while my daughter went to pick up a cat at the vet for me and she told him I had just got bitten by a cat and that is what he told her to tell me. As a vet, he gets bitten often and he leaves immdeiately and goes to a doctor. If you don't, tomorrow you will wake up to some serious pain and infection. You need a injection of antibotics and a Rx....

A simple cleaning good will not do, antibotic ointment will do no good either. It requires medical treatment, they are nothing to mess with!

Be warned, they will need to report it to animal control and if your cat is not up to date on the rabies shot, they will have to take it and keep it for 10 days.

Anyone have the link to the thread when Magoo bit CCL?

OUCH! I'm sorry you and Caramel went through that.

Laura is exactly right! Gee thee to a doctor!

When I started volunteering, they told me that if I got bit, just go to the emergency room and start the antibiotics.

Because of the potential for an infection that could require hospitalization, the SOONER THE BETTER!

Please play it safe and let us know how you are.

GET YOURSELF TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR CLINIC LIKE NOW!!!!!!

Cat bites are very infectious and you will need antibiotics ASAP!!!!

This is NOT something that you hold off and wait to see what happens.
That is why you can hardly move your arm. Once a cat's bite is deep, instant infection sets in.

I pray that you are seeing a doctor at this moment, if not........

GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND GET YOUR BUTT MOVING RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!!!!

I just decided to go to the doctor and now reading this thread, Im sure I must go. Caramel is all up to date on his vaccines so I hope they can't take him away from me? I have to go now, Dad is calling to me so pray for me that everything is ok :(

Phew!!! I'm so glad that you made the right decision to get to a doctor today.

Prayers on the way that all goes well for you.

Also, gentle ((((((HUGS)))))) for you.

I will be anxiously waiting for your update.

Hope your tetanus shots are up to date - for you, not poor Caramel.

(and poor you too - hope you are better soon!)

Catty1

What Laura's Babies and rg_girlca said!!

The minute you get bit by a cat - get to a doctor, be it in an office or ER. Do not delay. I learned by personal experience.

Thank goodness my tetanus shots were all up to date and Caramel had all of his shots or else I would be getting some crazy shots! When I went to outpatients, the triage nurse who I know said it was good I came in and that I would need antibiotics. Anyways she was the head of the nurses for the province and she is a nurse practitioner so I trust her but the doctor turned out to be a real dummy. He asked me if the cat had its shots and why it bit which I explained and he was satisfied, but he failed to look at my arm. The nurse had already explained to me that because the wounds were so deep I would never be able to clean it well enough and that it would become infected and already appeared to be starting. It was swollen and the red aroud the wounds was growing. Anyways the doctor said nothing, didnt look at it or flush and clean it. I asked him shouldnt I have it cleaned or have antibiotics and he said wait till it infects, and I said well is it going to and he said yes. So basically I have to wait till my arm starts oozing and turns bright red. I know they dont like handing out antibiotics all the time because they are over used, Im a science student I get it but hello I cant move my arm, the red is growing and it is swollen. Anyways I wanted a second opinion so I went to see if the after hours clinic was open but it wasnt so now I just have to wait till it is infected enough for him. Im in so much pain right now it isnt even funny and Im not impressed.

On a lighter note though, Caramel is fine, he cleaned the pee off himself pretty good and I helped clean him up too. He didnt get touched by the dog so it was just a scare. He is back to getting treats and playing as usual! I just went and bought him a little mouse that I can control with a remote :D He really likes it and I got him some temptations! He is a happy boy! Poor lad! It was a scary experience for sure! I hope he doesnt start hissing though cause that was the first time that he ever hissed or growled :confused: Anyways all is good for the time being and I'll be keeping an eye on my arm. Thanks everyone for your advice and concern :)

I just can't BELIEVE you didn't get anitbiotics!

I got a nasty bite last year at the kennel where I work...and yes, if the punctures are deep enough, they won't bleed and clean themselves out.

One of the kennel owners got bitten by the same cat - and kept going into the city for IV antibiotics. Ooo!

Just keep your arm UP on a pillow or something...I hope you have some good painkillers.

The doc must have had his reasons, but I can't THINK what they are!

poor you!

Glad Caramel is better and getting treats! Now, who is giving YOU some treats? :D

hugs
Catty1

I can NOT believe that doctor! Ohhhhhhhhh!!!! I would have been raising holy heck! WAIT!! WAIT for WHAT? Darn, they gave me in antibotic shot in the hip within hours and a round of them to take for a week to be safe.. That really makes me MAD! :mad: Let it get infected and you suffer in pain makes no sense to me at all.....

WOW!!!! When Pouncer bit my mom this past fall, they gave her both an antibiotic shot int he hospital plus a prescription for antibiotics, and her hand STILL got infected. Lets put it this way, a cat bite as serious as yours has a 99.9% probability of becoming infected (I of course made up that impressive number, but you get the point)

Please take care tonight and maybe ice can help soothe the pain.