then I put peroxide on it. He is acting a little strange, very needy, sleeping a lot, lethargic and he has diarrhea. I don't have any money to take him to the vet. His shots are current, I adopted him from the SPCA four months ago. Is there anything else I can do for him at home?
2007-03-04 09:48:28 · 19 answers · asked by baby 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I adopted Karma from the SPCA and took him to a vet within the first week for a check up that was included in the adoption package that I recieved. When the vet missed a very obvious case of ear mites, I contacted the SPCA to ask for a new vet voucher so that I could take him to see a competent doctor and they denied my request AND any responsibility of adopting out a cat with ear mites. I ended up treating him myself. By the way, I have found and nursed 3 different cats back to health, including bottle feeding and giving one enimas. I took an animal health care class in my twenties, I know a thing or two about cats.
2007-03-07 16:46:01 · update #1
Karma is back to his old self. The wound is completely healed and he is back to running out the door before I can get through it, and going nose to nose with me. Thank you all for your advice. And to those of you who said he WILL die without treatment......well, you were wrong! This kitty ailment was probably the most minor of all that I have home treated. And I've never lost a patient.
2007-03-07 16:57:45 · update #2
Your cat's infection is probably systemic by now and the only solution is a course of antibiotic which can only be gotten from a vet. Unless you want him to suffer further or die from the infection you MUST take him to a vet for proper treatment.
If you are not willing to take this responsibility he must be returned to the shelter where he can be treated and hopefully find a more responsible home.
I am sure you signed an adoption agreement specifying that you would give this cat any necessary medical treatment he requires. If you want your cat to not have these problems you should know that keeping him inside will prevent any future incidents of this sort.
2007-03-04 09:58:29 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a complicated question. I am an MD, not a vet, but the bottom line is that there is very little you can do other than to make sure the cat gets fluid.
An abscess needs to be completely drained, as in making an incision and cleaning it out with surgical instruments and irrigating it with sterile saline.
If the bacterium that caused the abscess has spread elsewhere through the cat's bloodstream it could have caused an infection somewhere else, or caused infection of the blood (bacteremia).
There is also the question of why the cat got an abscess in the first place. A foreign body like a splinter would cause this in a normal animal, but if there is no obvious cause, the cat could have had some other disease that has harmed his immune system.
If you are serious about saving this cat and he does not get better on his own now that you have drained the abscess, you need professional counsel from a licensed veterinarian. Sorry.
Dr. Bob
2007-03-04 18:04:09 · answer #2 · answered by XOUT 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Where is the abcess located? He sounds very sick, and more than likely he needs antibiotics. Can you contact the ASPCA for help? They know you want to do the best for this kitty and I'm sure they will be able to provide vet care at low cost or even free. Many other vets will accept payments on a bill if you're low on money right now. This cat really needs vet care soon, otherwise the infection can spread and the cat can get "sepsis" which is an infection in the blood which is fatal. PLEASE find a way to get him to a professional for antibiotics, you've done everything else just fine but he needs medicine. I know you really love your cat, you saved his life by adopting him. Good luck!
2007-03-04 17:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by ladysashya 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you did was good, but he really does need to see a vet.
It is very likely he has an infection and needs antibiotics. If you are able take his temperature (daily until he is acting his old self). Normal for a cat is 100.5 F to 102.5 F (38-39 degrees C). Anything over 103.5 F should see a vet asap. Many vets will offer a payment plan for urgent care, or maybe you could borrow from a family member or friend.
If his temp is normal you can keep warm compressing the wound several times a day to promote circulation and cleaning any discharge, but dilute the peroxide with some water (straight peroxide is good for flushing a wound but is harsh on skin cells trying to grow). Keep him warm and be sure he is eating and drinking.
Good luck
2007-03-04 19:15:44 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is good that you were able to drain the abscess, but the cat most likely has an infection that will not heal on it's own. At this point is sounds like he just needs a dose of antibiotics from the vet. Usually the most expensive part of an abscess is the lancing and draining of it as cats sometimes have to be put under an anesthetic to do it (depending on the location of the abscess) but since you did this, you will most likey only have to pay for an office visit and medications. So, you should definitely bring him in as if the infection is bad it could kill him.
2007-03-04 21:08:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You did well... just keep cleaning the wound. Thing is, he may need some antibiotics... but I have known many cats with abscesses which have healed without the use of antibiotics (including my cat). He may be running a bit of a temperature since you may assume that his body is fighting bacteria right now - hence, he is lethargic and a bit "sukki." Make sure he drinks water and eats well. If he worsens, you need to take him to the vet for antibiotics. Crush 1/2 of a 250mg Vit C (human grade) into his food to hep his immune system.
If your kitty has a naturally strong constitution, he can kick off the infection without antibiotics. If on the other hand he has been a rather sickly kitty, his immune system may not be able to cope. So, you need to factor this in.
2007-03-04 18:31:27 · answer #6 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fact that he has other symptoms suggest that he needs extra treatment, I really would take him to the vet. Tell the vet you are worried about money and they should do their best to keep costs down, but he sounds like he really needs a course of antibiotics. If the infection gets into his blood it could be very serious, and if you wait and he gets worse the vet bills will be even higher.
The Blue Cross (http://www.bluecross.org.uk) or PDSA (http://www.pdsa.org.uk/index.html) will give you free vet care if you're on a limited income, you can phone them and ask if you qualify for free care.
P.S. Sounds like you did the right thing to start with, although a solution of salt water would be less irritant than peroxide.
(edited to add: I don't think the antibiotics mightycrib mentions are available over the counter in the UK, they have to be prescribed by a vet.)
2007-03-04 18:11:54 · answer #7 · answered by theindigorat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat that had such a bad abcess (it was in her neck) that it was so deeply infected and had to be operated on. I think the infection was there a lot longer than I knew. Her blood became infected and she died. You really have to get help and the longer you wait, the more likely it is that there will be bad consequences. Some vets can offer discounts or even payment plans. I suggest you at least ask and then you will know for sure. What is certain is that your cat is not going to get better without help.
2007-03-04 23:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by ineeddonothing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of what may be causing the problem for the cat, he needs to be seen by a vet immediately. He obviously has an infection and this is spreading through his body rapidly. He will die very soon by the symptoms you have stated if you do not receive medical assistance from a professional immediately. Payment issues aside, take the him to a vet. The SPCA will definitely treat the cat for free or at a discounted rate if you choose not to go private. You do options on receiving treatment for him but it is your responsibility to obtain needed medical care NOW. GO NOW!
2007-03-04 19:20:05 · answer #9 · answered by Janet M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He has an infection and will DIE if you don not take him to a vet. The vet will probably give him medication. It should not be too expensive. You are probably only talking $20 - $30 for the vet visit and another $10 for the medication. The longer you wait, the worse it is going to get! You will either have a larger Vet bill if you do decide to take the poor little kitty or he will die. Your cat is very SICK and you can help him if you take him to the VET ASAP! If you live near the PHILADEPHIA AREA, I will pick up your cat and take it to my vet and pay for it.
2007-03-04 18:01:00 · answer #10 · answered by BR 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋