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QUESTIONS TO THE CAT EXPERTS:
| Date: Dec 7, 2007 | |
| Question: I let my cat in last night. She had this huge hairball matted into her fur, and I cut it out (don't worry, I didn't cut into her skin, I always trim the hairballs out o her fur very carefully). Anyway, underneath the hairball was a big hole in her skin, about a inch around. it had a really bad smell, which I think means it's infected. I don't think it's going to heal by itself, and I'm really worried about my cat. I know you are going to tell me to take it to the vet, but I can't aford it. I'm only 14, and my parents have financial difficulties,especially around Christmas. I have about $40-$45 Canadian, and I'm hoping someone can tell me about some kind of ointmant or something I might b able to get in a local pet shop.I'll have to wait untill tommorow to get anything, so is thee anything I can put on her tonight that I might have around the house.Someone please help me, because I love my cat alot, and don't like seing her hurt like this.Does any one know what could have made the hole (in the center of her chest)? Please help me because I would be so sad if she died from her injury.Would it hurt to wait until monday and go to the vets office and explain it to the vet, and she if she can sell me anything to put on it? How much would it cost canadian to get her vt care? Jade This could be an abscess, but without a proper examination by a vet it cannot be said for sure. An abscess is an infected area swollen with pus. It is derived from bites and scratches sustained during a cat fight. These lumps is hot and painful for your pet. The size of the swelling varies. Due to the infection, your cat may become feverish, lethargic and experience loss of appetite. You need to bring it to the vet for treatment. Surgical treatment uses lancing, draining and flushing the abscess with antibiotics. Oral antibiotics may be fed to your cat. Follow up treatment involves use of topical cleansers and antibiotic ointments to heal the abscess. Treatment for an abscess depends of whether the abscess has ruptured. For abscesses that have not ruptured, an area of the skin over the lump is cleaned and the abscess is lanced. Pus will drain from the lump. This procedure may require heavy sedation or general anesthesia for your cat. At this point, treatment for ruptured and non-ruptured abscesses is the same. After a majority of the pus has been removed from the abscess, a disinfectant solution such as povidone iodine or chlorhexidine is used to further flush the abscess and remove additional pus. After a thorough cleaning, antibiotics are generally prescribed to hasten healing and eliminate infection. Home care for an abscess is aimed at helping the body's immune system fight off the infection. This may include the application of warm compresses for about 5-10 minutes 3- 4 times per day to help increase the flow of blood to the area. This in turn will increase the white blood cell population within the abscess, to better fight the infection. If the abscess has ruptured, thorough cleaning is recommended. Often the wound is left open to drain during the healing process. During healing, it is imperative that your cat does not lick or chew at the abscess. Saliva is contaminated with bacteria and will only prolong and prevent healing. If you cannot keep your cat from licking at the area, an Elizabethan collar may be needed. Antibiotics should be administed as directed by your veterinarian. If you really care for your cat, you will find a way. Explain the situation to your parents. Call your local vet(s) and explain the situation, maybe they are charitable. |
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| Expert: Ms. Wisecat About the expert: Ms. Wisecat is the resident expert of Catpert. |  |
| URL: www.catpert.com | |
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