Help Please!

[catnapper]

Pouncer jut feel off the balcony and ripped his claw to the bone. Its a bloody mess and I'm sure it's going to need to be removed. But what can I do now? We are so broke. Emergency vet is out of the question. I don't even know if/how we could afford the vet. I am so upset... crying so hard I can't see. Sorry if I am rambling. I need help as to how I can help him in the meantime til I can find a way to get him the proper medical care.

[moosmom]

Has the bleeding stopped?? If not, you need to get him to a vet ASAP! I'm sorry but a ripped claw can be VERY serious, i.e., blood loss and infection. That's not something I'd fool around with.

[sirrahbed]

Kim - can you get him and yourself calm enough to wash it off and wrap it up firmly to stop the bleeding?? - also to prevent him from biting or yanking it off and causing further damage??This is all that occurs to me right now!

[catnapper]

Bleeding has stopped. Should I wrap it and make a makeshift cone so he won;t lick? he's starting to try to lick it now.

[catnapper]

Can I put some abntiseptic on it? If so, Whjat? We have limited supply.... basically neosporin & Rubbing alcohol. I'm going to hunt down some cotton gauze I know we have soemwhere

[sirrahbed]

I would wrap it to keep him from biting and damaging it - I don't know about ointments! Don't think so

[lat192004]

Wow! Cat licking is sorta antiseptic. I have used triple antibiotic creme on a cats rump, but not around anywhere it could be licked. If the claw is still in place and not ripped out from it's socket, and bleeding has stopped, you might be OK.Keep the cat inside, you have to make the call on the vet, but I have seen a few of what looked horredous wounds on a cat heal by themselves. Post a picture, I'm sure some on-line vet here can help.....

[catnapper]

I can't find the big first aid kit! All I've found is the Box of 200 bandaids!

Good news is that its not bleeding at all anymore and he doesn;t SEEM in pain, but we all know a cats ability to hide pain. He'll let me look at it, but pulls away when I try to squeeze the way I wuould when I trim. Darn me for not trimming them yesterday as I wanted! I know that he wouldn't have gotten it so badly caught if I had!

This is the week from heck. Hubby's broke his finger, I got a concussion, now my daughter has a bladder infection... we hoomans haven't gotten medical attention due to finances and my heart won't let me ignore Pouncer. Hubby's peeved beyond belief because we've denied ourselves... yet will be taking Pouncer. Ctying really hard now... ignore the typos. I'm nt seeking pity or anything... just venting my own heartache.

[lat192004]

Looks like ya got lucky . Cats are so tough!!Keep that guy off the balcony!Re: heartache, this is a good forum for that...real kind people here. Good luck......Lat19 hawaii

[catnapper]

Ok, not the best picture... kinda hard with a squirming cat and a crying mom.



All it basically shows is a br red area. this was taken before the bleeding stopped.

[sirrahbed]

I am still here Kim - I sent a PM to leslie flenner - thought she might be able to help...

[sirrahbed]

drat! she is offline and PM unread - sorry!

[sirrahbed]

if it is NOT bleeding, that sounds good - and he is still licking with no bleeding? does the claw seem to be detached? can you actually see bone? what does it LOOK like??? is he walking on it? limping?

[lat192004]

Good luck to you. From what I see there should be no problem. The cat will lick this all through the night. Sunday if not improved, go to the vet Monday. I would keep any medications off his paw as this would be toxic to the cat. I have seen this wound on farm cats, and they healed by themselves.....

[catnapper]

Walking a-ok. He's currently hiding out in the towel cabinet as if nothing's wrong. No bleeding at all. I see the whole vein uncovered, the nail itself is bent back at a 90 degree angle from where its supposed to be. I wonder if I can just clip the whole nail part off and let a new one grow in its place? I'm sure only a vet can determine that.

He's not licking anymore... and when he was, it wasn;t blleding.