More advice really needed please (UPDATED)

poppie123

I posted on here the other day about my cat having had an abscess removed and the problem i was having keeping him in.

Well that turned out to be the least of my worries because yesterday he kept cleaning the wound which then made it really bleed.
After a trip back to the vets i was told not to use hibiscrub anymore and she gave me some iodine stuff to dilute and also she put a buster collar on him to stop him getting to his leg.

Well guess what.. after was what a relatively quiet night in which he even used his litter tray:jafter breakfast he immediately started to clean his leg. Yep he can still get to it with the buster collar on so now he has made it bleed again.

I don't know what to do, obvioulsy i will have to ring the vet as soon as they open and i have kept the collar on him for now but it seems a bit pointless when he can still lick and clean his leg.

Anyone got any advice??

Morganarla

You've been given a buster collar that's too small, if he's been able to get to it. It should be at least 2 inches past the end of his nose to be the right size.

Ask your surgery to fit him with a bigger size after they've done whatever they might need to do to his leg again, if anything. In the meantime, if it's bleeding heavily (don't know the previous history or what the problem is!) apply pressure with a clean gauze swab or other non-fluffy dressing until you get to the surgery.

Sounds like he will need to watched and supervised closely, even with a bigger collar on. Hope he doesn't have to have it on too long for you! But please make sure it does stay on, 24 hours a day.

MrsMcLaren (stressed, harrassed, overworked, tired vet nurse )

poppie123

Thanks so much for the advice.

It isn't bleeding heavy at all he just opens it up again when he cleans, then it scabs and then he does it all over again. At this rate it is never going to heal.:(

I have an appointment at 9.10am so i will see what the vet has to say.

Thanks again

poppie123

Back from the vets.

I saw someone who i haven't seen before but he was lovely and took his time with him. The area which my cat is making bleed isn't where the abscess was although it is close to it. He had a good look squeezed it alot and concluded that there is no pus at all left inside, that is was only a tiny abscess. He showed me where the abscess was and it is actually smaller than a grain of rice.
He told me to let him out and that he doesn't need to wear the collar anymore.

He said that keeping him in isn't helping just stressing him more and was confident that the area he is licking would heal up by itself even if he does lick it.

He gave him a steroid injection which he said should make his leg feel more comfortable and he said it should help him not to lick the area as much.

I do hope he is right as the nurse who i saw last night who gave me the collar was adamant that he should not lick it. I feel slightly confused by it all.

Mankysteve

We had an Castrated ginger tom who still used to fight a lot and got the odd abscess. Never had to turn him into a moving side light, he seemed to heal up fine though did end up with a bent ear. Just need to keep an eye on the area.

If the vet felt it wasn't required I would be happy with that.

Morganarla

Glad you've seen the vet.. can understand why you're confused though! Wouldnt like to say myself without having seen him though to be honest..


Best advice is to call the surgery and just double check, tell them what the nurse told you compared to the vet and see what they say then..

poppie123

Morning all.:D

A much better night all round. I left the catflap unlocked so the cat could come and go, pleased to stay he mostly stayed in all night.

I have checked the area this morning expecting the worst and although it does look like he has licked the area, it hasn't bled at all and looks better than yesterday.

I am still watching him like a hawk but i feel more positive than i did yesterday.

shelly

Quite awhile ago now we had to take Lily to the vets with a bite wound on one of her back legs. She had it cleaned and a couple of injections were given and we were given hibiscrub to clean it at home with.
She was never given a collar to wear and like your cat OP she licked the wound.
I kept an eye on it but it did heal up fine itself.