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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Post surgery infection - how do I stop cat licking the wound?!

14 replies

arialultra · 29/09/2013 22:20

Hi,

My poor cat had an op on his leg a few weeks back and has external pins fitted. One of them got infected and he is now on antibiotics :(

Took him to the vet as soon as I noticed and they gave him the antibiotics, said to clean it daily and to keep the cone on him the whole time. I was doing this anyway, but the little bugger can still reach the wound! It's the one at the top of his leg so he is doing some serious contorting, but he still gets at it to give it a proper lick.

Obviously this is not great and can make the infection worse. I'm hoping to phone the vet as soon as they open but I am worried sick and can hardly sleep. Any cat loving mumsnetters have any advice?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 29/09/2013 22:27

Put a baby grow on him. One with built in socks.

But you won't be popular.

poachedeggs · 29/09/2013 22:28

Ask your vet for a larger collar. Another inch will sort the problem out.

Hope he gets better soon :)

cozietoesie · 29/09/2013 22:28

I'm wondering if they've given you the right size of cone. If he'll wear one, maybe you could ask the vet for a bigger one?

How does the infected leg look?

FarOverTheRainbow · 29/09/2013 22:29

He needs a bigger collar if he can still reach the wound. Hope it gets better soon

cozietoesie · 29/09/2013 22:30

PS - and keep him by you and distract him/reprove him if he has a go at it.

Original poster
arialultra · 29/09/2013 22:34

Haha fluffycloud, he hates me already

The infection doesn't look great, it's weeping a bit and is red, but it smells even worse! He went for a check up on Wednesday and they didn't notice anything, they cleaned it but said it wasn't looking bad at all and he was doing really well. So I think it came on really quick in the last couple of days, we only noticed yesterday.

A larger collar sounds like the best plan. I feel so bad for him :( I won't be able to get one until after work tomorrow, I spend all my working hours worrying about him! Hopefully he can't do too much damage in the next 16 hours or so... I watch him all day when I'm here but he is on his own when we are all at work. It is so stressful!

Thank you all!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 29/09/2013 22:35

I'm never going to see a cat in a baby grow am I?

How did he hurt his leg so badly he needed pins?

Original poster
arialultra · 29/09/2013 22:41

Hehe I wish I had a babygrow to hand, no babies in this house though!

It was a "very unusual" type of fracture apparently, it was kind of on the ankle area rather than a large bone so it involved intricate surgery worth nearly three grand. Not sure how he did it, possibly hit by a car, in which case maybe he got off lightly. Honestly this is the most stressful period of my life...

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 29/09/2013 22:58

I hope it goes well tomorrow - although I suspect that the vet may take him in for a night or two. Just a 'may' though.

Let us know how he gets on.

sashh · 30/09/2013 06:21

Gets some sticky wound dressing from the vvet, wrap this around another leg that is easier to get to - then cover with cat treats and wrap another layer, keep going.

Hopefully he cat will go for the easier leg - front paw would be ideal - and take so long to get the treats the other leg will have chance to heal.

Fluffycloudland77 · 30/09/2013 07:47

sashh that is genius.

Original poster
arialultra · 07/10/2013 22:13

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for your advice.

Puss now has a selection of cones in various sizes and colours... I've been so so paranoid but he went for another check up at the vet and I am happy to report that the experts are not overly concerned, they think the infection is clearing up ok and he is fine, but they have given another course of antibiotics to be sure. I was nearly in tears a few days back as it smelled really awful and I thought he must be so uncomfortable, but it is not as full of pus and doesn't smell as pungent today, so he is definitely on the mend.

He now has a giant collar which looks like it was made for a bloodhound, I will put that on him when he is not supervised.

I am mighty relieved! He hates me more now though...

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/10/2013 22:16

They all hate you when they have to wear a collar. It goes with being hated for making it snow and rain or for making it cold.

The upside is that you'll get the credit and the love when the collar finally goes.

Glad it's improving.

ZebraOwl · 07/10/2013 22:29

Very glad that he seems to be healing up now - hope he carries on healing both well & quickly. Smile

Have visions of cat staggering about in collar designed for a Mighty Hound, cursing in catspeak...

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