My cats wound won't heal. Staples and sutures don't keep it closed. Any suggestions?

Question

The wound is on her neck. She has had a cone on frontward and backward, gauze dressing and low stick paper tape around her neck, and her nails have been clipped. But she still manages to scratch and open up the wound again. She is on antibiotics and I think the vet is beside herself too. This is the 3rd week since her surgery.

Answer 1

Some wounds are supposed to stay open in cats to avoid absesses. I would not cover the wound with anything. If she is not dripping blood you might just want to see what happens in leaving it alone. Maybe there is a possibility of absess and the cat knows and feels it. Since I don't know what the surgery was for and since I can't see the wound I can't be 100% so ask your vet what she thinks. Good luck.

Answer 2

Some cats can be a real challenge about this. One other trick we use where I work is to fold a hand towel or dishtowel lengthwise till it fits snugly between the cat's chin and shoulders. Then wrap it around her neck loosely enough that she can breathe and swallow but snugly enough that she can't pull it off over her head, and wrap wide plastic tape (like you use on boxes for shipping) over it enough times to make it stiff.

We use this home-made collar instead of an Elizabethan collar or cone because it doesn't obstruct the cat's vision, which really upsets many cats, and it makes it easier for the cat to eat and drink since it is not in the way.

But since your cat's incision is on her neck, this may not be suitable in her case.

Answer 3

Does the vet use any 'glue' for closing wounds? That may be the best thing at this point to hold the edges together long enough to heal shut.

Answer 4

I use a mortar to grind MSM really fine.
Then I sprinkle it on the wound. It is great.

I tried to find the pics of my kitties head -- really bad.
I kept it clean and used the MSM only. It was all healed up in 8 days.