My cat had a small scratch on her upper back (right about where the scruff of the neck is) a couple of weeks ago but as it healed, she managed to reach. Now it's a large hairless patch ( a few inches wide) with 2 nickel sized open sores that she can scratch with her back paws and can sometimes twist around and lick. I tried a tea tree oil spray designed for hot spots on pets that is supposed to be soothing but didn't appear to be. I also put neosporin on it, which helped but just before it heals she completely scratches the scabs off. It seems not to bother her for a day or two, then she scratches the crap out of it.
Is there an over-the-counter product that I can buy that can keep her from getting at and scratching this spot? Maybe a hydrocortisone spray? At what point should I take her to the vet (which is expensive but will do it if necessary)? (I tend to over panic about pet injuries. When I get to the vet it turns out to be something I can take care of at home, that's why I ask.)
2007-04-23 05:38:36 · 10 answers · asked by ginsu_cat 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
You should take her to the vet.
If you're worried about expense, you've already made it more expensive for yourself by trying things that didn't work and leaving it to get worse. The sooner you go to the vet, the less expensive it will be. It doesn't sounds like an expensive problem anyway - although as it's reopened it's probably infected, which will be more expensive than if it had been seen right away. So, you can either waste more money trying stuff that doesn't work, while the cat in the meantime is still in discomfort, or you can take her to a vet to find out what is actually wrong and get the correct treatment.
Yes, the vet might prescribe something you can get yourself. But you don't just go to the vets to pick up medication- you go to find out what the problem is! Which no one on here can tell you because we haven't seen the cat or it's lesions.
Please don't try any more meds suggested by people on here. You've already proven that you need some professional advice, not more guesses at home remedies.
Chalice
2007-04-23 05:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First, DO NOT use tea tree oil on her anymore, it's poisonous to cats, if she were to somehow get it on her paw & lick it.
http://www.messybeast.com/teatree.htm
Go to the pet supply store & get some soft paws nail caps, and put them on her back claws. http://www.softpaws.com has information & instructions. They will prevent her from being able to scratch the area raw again.
You can watch it for a few days to see if it heals, but if it doesn't improve within just a few days I would take her to the vet. She may have a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin, or an allergy, and need testing and medication from the vet to treat it. Some fungal infections (such as ringworm) can be contagious to people, so don't let it go untreated if it doesn't get better VERY soon. And please never use a human or dog medication on your cat without checking with a vet first - several medicines that are perfectly safe for people & dogs can be extremely toxic to cats.
Hope this helps!
2007-04-23 06:46:46 · answer #2 · answered by Bess2002 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tea tree oil is just a natural antibacterial and won't get rid of the underlying problem. You vet may prescribe a different medication or (and this is what I would do) suggest you to take the cat off the cat food which contains corn or wheat. these are most notorious for causing skin allergies and digestive problems. I just put my three cats on Evo no grain. Not because of allergies, but because of the pet food recall. Grains are not neccessarily good for cats anyway.
2007-04-23 06:05:38 · answer #3 · answered by The Cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may be more of a problem then just a simple itch, in which case just healing the sores won't do any good. My suggestion would be to take her to the vet and have them take a look. She may have a skin problem, or a parasite.
2007-04-23 05:43:30 · answer #4 · answered by Gin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A phone call to the vet won't cost anything, until or unless they think it's infected. You can get one of those funny funnel Elizabethan collars that will cover it too. You're not panicking. Good luck!
2007-04-23 13:13:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, your poor kitty! You might want to call your vet and describe the injury. Maybe they can prescribe something over the 'phone. And, kitty might need an 'Elizabethan collar" to prevent her from scratching her owie.
2007-04-23 06:06:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should take her to the vet now-- it sounds like it will only get worse and whe it gets worse it's MORE expensive -- a pet will always be an expense-- and sometimes the best we can do IS to take the pet to the vet before it suffers even worse problems (like infection or worse)
2007-04-23 05:47:48 · answer #7 · answered by aattura 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call the vet, they may be able to help you over the phone. Otherwise you'll have to take her in.
2007-04-23 05:50:45 · answer #8 · answered by Vic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TAke her to the vet.... PERIOD.
2007-04-23 05:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
does your cat have a learning disability....?
2007-04-23 05:40:54 · answer #10 · answered by jake w 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋