I have a cat with a severely infected paw. I haven't quite determined exactly how he has injured it but it is infected and swollen. It went almost two weeks without getting better so I decided to try to help. I soaked it Sunday and put peroxide on it. That seemed to help but it is getting bad again so I did it again today (Wednesday). Anything else I can do to help it heal?

-- kathy (davidwh6@juno.com), January 16, 2002

Answers

I would take him to a Vet. He probably needs an antibiotic for the abcess.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), January 16, 2002.

Go to the feed store and get some terriamicin for bees in powderd form, sneak it in to the cat food. A small amount about the same cubic amount of a grain of rice, for about 10 days.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 16, 2002.

what is the injury, is it the pad or a cut? Peroxide will slow a wound from healing. Put some betadine or iodine on it after cleaning it good. You might have to wrap it with gauze and tape.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 16, 2002.

After cleaning out the wound, be sure and coat it with a good layer of Vitamin E oil (Try using a soft pointy art paintbrush to do the job with - less pressure and it gets into the little crevices pretty well). Not only will this speed healing, but will give them someting "safe" to lick off and will dilute and encase the cleaning agent in a layer of oil when they do ingest it.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.

Hi, Depending on where the cut is. Pad vs the upper part of the paw where there is fur. If the cut is on the pad keep the site clean, you can use warm water and ivory soap, iodine or betadine, or peroxide. Clean is the key. be sure any foreign material is out. If the cut is on the upper part, where the fur is the cut also must be kept clean the same way BUT cats will form a false scab and the infection will fester under that scab. Clean the cut at leat 2 times a day if you can and try to keep a scab from forming. Oozing in that case is good the cat will usually lick itself. I would not bandage the cut. Neosporin or Bacitracin can also be applied but only enough to lightly coat the site. Hope this helps. Also it may be of interest to find out what or how the "cut" came about. ie. fighting with another animals (beware of rabies) or climbing a fence. Good Luck

-- Kelly T (NY) (packldr1101@yahoo.com), January 16, 2002.

you must try to keep wound open so absess doenst form. if it is swollen you may be able to open the wound by soaking it in 1/2 cup epsom salts to about 2 cups of water as hot as the cat can stand at least 5 or 6 times a day. our cat relapsed and had to take it to the vet. he lanced the paw it was the outer pinky paw and it had swollen up to the size of the others. he had to give him a shot of novocain in the paw. then he stuck a hypo just the needle part w/out syringe in the paw and moved it around and let it bleed off the table. then he gave him a shot of penicillin and then amoxicillin for 2 weeks. 1 ml of amox 2 times a day for 7 to lo days.see old posts for more ideas under pets.

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), January 16, 2002.

oh yeah my vet only charged me $37 bucks. he said if it wasnt better in 2 weeks he might have to take off the claw. but it healed nicely.i spilled some of the amox and i went back to get another bottle, a small bottle was listed as $3 on bill, but he had some already mixed up for some other cat and the owner didnt come get it, so he gave it to me free. he said it would only be good for about 2 weeks since it had already been mixed with water...so he was going to pitch it if he didnt give it away.

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), January 16, 2002.

I'd go with the peroxide. I've used it on cats, once for infected paw and once for a really deep head wound with really good results.

-- linda skountzos (skountzos6@netscape.net), January 16, 2002.

My male cat (fixed) is getting bit regularly by another cat. the wound(s) seal over and then the area gets infected. Trip to the vet - 50 - 80 dollars. I know now how to treat it. A hole in the cat's body has to heal from the Inside-out. Have to keep the scab off for a few days to let it drain. I squeeze triple antibiotic ointment into it and keep it soft. I had some eye ointment - neosporin or something and that is good too. Annette

-- a.eadie (a.eadie@mailexcite.com), January 16, 2002.

We just had one of our cats with a very infected paw. He must have gotten into a fight with one of the other cats. Anyway, he got bitten between his toes and had a horrible absess. I consider myself an expert on dealing with and treating absesses. Cats are natorious for getting them. If you can find the enterance and/or exit wound (usually scabbed over, pull the scab off and drain the puss. The cat usually will scream, I am sure it hurts but you have to drain it. If it is not ready to be drained or if you have been sucessful to this point. Get Dreft (powder only) or Target makes a baby detergent(also powder) and works too. There is an enzime that is amazing with infection. Make a solution with as hot water as you think the creature can stand and as much of the powder as will desolve in the amount of water you have. Add small amounts at a time. Soak the wound as long as possible perferably until the water cools. Dry and put an antibiotic or Carona cream on it and leave it alone. Do this once or twice a day until it stops draining.

The thing with Dreft or the like is it draws the infection out. I have used it on my horse and on myself. I actually used it on myself first and watched as the puss was drawn out. The wound heal really quickly. Ask any pharmacist too! It has to be the powder I guess the liquid doesn't have the enzine in it.

Good luck, I have saved alot in vet bills. But if these things don't work then I would take the cat in.

-- Susan northern MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), January 17, 2002.

Kathy, I have soaked paws for over 15 years working as a vet. assistant. You need to soak that paw twice a day in iodine for 5 to 8 minutes for 5 to 7 days. Squeeze paw during soaking to open up the wound. You want it to heal from the inside out and not to seal over the infection by healing where the oxygen hits first. Dry the paw. Keep confined in a cage until the soaking cycle has ended. This keeps kitty from jumping off furniture or running around in the dirt on open wounds. Shread newspaper and use as litter and replace after every use. If no improvement in to 3 days of treatment consult your vet for some oral antibiotics. Two weeks have already past. Your kitty may have a disease that inhibits immune sytem. A simple blood test can rule out 2 common diseases. Good Luck! KC

-- kc (crawford.ink@att.net), January 20, 2002.