How do you take care of a puncture wound on the bottom of your foot?

Question

My cat attacked my foot while I was sleeping, and when I woke up, there were three puncture wounds on the ball of my foot. It is not red or swollen, but it hurts sharply when I put any pressure on it. I plan on going to the doctor next week, but how do I take care of it this weekend?

Answer 1

Clean it really well with hydrogen peroxide solution, slather it with a topical antibiotic gel, and put a band-aid on it. If you have any, you could preceed the above with a 15 minute soak in a warm solution of epsom salts.

The only real danger I forsee is the possibility of cat-scratch fever, which is unusual, but can be quite serious. If you develop a fever, you should see your doctor right away. Symtoms usually don't occur until a week or two and can sometimes appear months later.

Answer 2

Puncture wounds are bad, because the skin opens up, lets the germs in, then closes up immediately so that the germs cannot bleed out.

DEFINITELY go to the doctor... you may need antibiotics to help heal. For pin pricks and such, I might not recommend a doctor, but cat claws are notoriously germy and can cause serious infections, if left untreated.

For the meanwhile, I recommend hot, super hot, as hot as you can stand it (but without burning yourself) soaks... run hot water in the tub and soak that foot for 15 minutes at a time... keep hot cloths on it.... and try to keep the puncture area clean when you're not resting or soaking.

The heat from the soaks will draw your white blood cells closer to your skin's surface, and your white blood cells will get to work fighting those germs.

Answer 3

irrigate with normal saline (sterile). puncture wounds need to be irrigated for danger of bacteria getting pushed deep into the wound. If the cat made those punctures with his teeth, then you will need antibiotics (amox-clavulanate) because cats have lots of bacteria in their mouths and that bacteria in your foot can cause infection easily...especially in the foot. if you were wearing tennis shoes when you got the puncture wounds (which is unlikely if the cat caused the wounds), then you need different antibiotic coverage.

Answer 4

I would talk to a doctor ASAP. Cat attacks can be dangerous just because they can cause so many more diseases. What looks like a minor scratch could end up being very major. The longer you wait, the worse things could get, and the more potential for problems and higher costs. I would definitely go to the doctor as soon as I could.

Answer 5

Well wrapping it tight with adhesive tape with some gause and pain free neosporen,You sould be able to walk on it by monday. OH MY GOD SOAK IT IN HOt SALT WATER for at least 30 minutes every couple of hours that will definately take any infection out and soreness

Answer 6

Clean it really well with peroxide, to remove any impurities. Apply neosporin, or something of the like, a few times a day. If it weeps, apply a light dressing, change several times a day. However wounds need air to heal.

Answer 7

Wash it with antibacterial foaming soap, either that or "infection protection" Bandaid foaming cleanser. I wouldn't walk on it, though. After you're done washing it, pat it dry. I stepped on a pin(one of those thick ones) and it went through my foot once, and thats what my friend told me to do.

Answer 8

Cat bites can be very dangerous. Go to your doctor or the Emergency room now!

Answer 9

Soak it in Epsom salts and warm water, the put antibiotic ointment on it.

Answer 10

Soak your foot in warm soapy water and make sure you cover it so that you don't get an infection in it.