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Summary: Applying hot compresses to a bite or scratch wound can assist a cat that has abscesses. Learn more in this free video.
Views: 5,849 | Tags: video, first, aid, cat, pet, fleas, cats, bleeding, broken, bones, abcesses, cat first aid, pet first aid
About the Expert
Dr. Greg McDonald Dr. Greg McDonald earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ohio State University in 1979. Since then he has continued his education in areas such ... read more
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Questions & AnswersHi, I’m Dr. Greg McDonald, and I am here for Expert Village.com, and we are talking about emergency care of your cat. Today we would like to talk a little bit about abscesses in cats. Abscesses are very common, especially if cats are going outside. Cats are very territorial. They don’t like other cats coming onto their property, and if there are male cats that are out there that have not been neutered, they are marauding around looking for animals to breed and oftentimes create problems in this area. The other thing that we find is that abscesses happen a lot more in the springtime than in the fall because the breeding seasons, even cats that have been spayed or neutered are still moving around at a lot higher rate during that time. The reason that abscesses happen in cats so frequently is because cats have the ability to heal their skin very quickly. So if a cat gets a puncture wound from a tooth or a claw, the bacteria gets injected under the skin; the skin heels over, but yet the bacteria are still in the animal. And again, the type of bacteria that is frequently on a cat’s mouth or their claws is one that is not taken care of very well by the immune system. If you have noticed that your cat has been in a fight, it is always good to talk to your veterinarian immediately because you can prevent your cat from getting an abscess if you put them on antibiotics right after the fight. About three or four days after the fight based a little bit where the cat had the bite wound or the scratch, you are going to start seeing some swelling. Sometimes these open up and drain a little bit, and the draining actually has a very foul odor to it, so these are the ways you can tell. If your cat is bitten in a foot, for instance down here, the leg will swell up, and your cat might start limping. If your cat has been hit in the head with a nail or bitten, you can see some swelling up at the top part of the head. Again, the head and the front part are the areas where your cat gets the abscesses mostly if they are very aggressive cats and they are out looking for a fight. We see a lot of abscesses on the back end over on this area over here in cats that are a little more timid, and they are running away from a cat that is beating up on them. The other thing that is interesting about abscesses is if you get a puncture wound on the top of the head, gravity is pulling down into the animal, so that is very unusual for them to be able to heel that on their own. Conversely if there is a bite under the ventral side of the head here, or on the ventral side of the animal, gravity is pulling away from the animal so that they often can heel those on their own. It would be very important if you can get your cat to hold still for some hot compresses as soon as you notice any swelling. Once again, it is very important to understand that is probably what is happening if you know your cat has been in a fight and getting them on some antibiotics again, because this bacteria is growing inside of the animal, and the only way to really kill the bacteria is with an antibiotic. Sometimes the animals cure them on their own if it is on their ventral side and gravity is helping to pull the bacterial away from the animal while the immune system kicks in, and sometimes they open up, and some of this abscess drains away from the animal. So keep your cat inside, and he won’t get abscesses, but if you do see one on your cat, apply a hot compress. One way you can do that is with a hot wash rag. You put it over the leg if your cat will allow that or over the spot. Sometimes again you speed up the animal’s circulation, and they can get rid of it with their own immune system on some cases.
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Thank YOu, I called 8 vets, and got more info frm this video, than all eight of them combined. My cat was in a fight, and has a mouth and tounge, injury, a bite hole in the side of the gum and was looks like a bite on the tounge, or scratch. I have been terified that my cat was in serious condition, I imediatley, obtained some, amoxil, and ace, and I am trying to treat him at home, because he is very sensitive, and the vet visit would have stressed him out. Thank You for your help.