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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Tunch Has an Infection

Tunch Has an Infection

by John Cole|  July 7, 20104:57 pm| 97 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Dog Blogging

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I think Tunch may have gotten attacked the last time he sneaked out. I just noticed an open sore on his butt that I think is in the early stages of getting infected. I cut away the hair the best I could before he bled me and called the vet. He is going in tomorrow morning first thing. Would it be ok to pour a little hydrogen peroxide on the wound for now?

I guess this would explain why he is no longer waiting by the door to sneak out every time I walk the dogs. Before, he would sit there and try to get out when I would hold it open for the hounds. Now- not so much.

And no, it was not Rosie- she has never been alone with him ever.

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97Comments

  1. 1.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 7, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    Oh, poor Tunch! I am no help as to whether or not to use HP on the wound, but I just wanted to send ‘heal fast’ vibes to my beloved Tunchie. Keep us updated.

  2. 2.

    merl

    July 7, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    I think you’re supposed to bleed him not vice-versa.

  3. 3.

    Staging a Comeback

    July 7, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Poor Tunch. My old cat got into a fight the last time he snuck out and ended up with an abscessed jaw. Several hundred dollars later…

    Peroxide really won’t help it any, and is nasty on uninfected tissue. Just keep it clean until he sees the doc.

  4. 4.

    Ben

    July 7, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    You should see the other animal; he WISHES he just had a scratch on his ass.

  5. 5.

    The Dangerman

    July 7, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Hold the damned phone; he bled you for snipping a few hairs off his ass…

    …and now you want to pour peroxide on his wound?!!

    I recommend setting up a video camera so there is no doubt about the conditions that led to your demise.

  6. 6.

    Ed Marshall

    July 7, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Some antibiotic ointment would beat the peroxide if you want to do something.

  7. 7.

    licensed to kill time

    July 7, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    I think the hydrogen peroxide would be fine, perhaps a dab of antibiotic ointment too, even though he’ll probably lick it off. It’s good you are getting him to the vet right away just in case. Poor Tunchie! Smacked in the butt by The Outside World.

  8. 8.

    noncarborundum

    July 7, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Tunch called the vet himself? What a cat.

  9. 9.

    Seanly

    July 7, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    before he bled me and called the vet

    If he bled you, why would he call the vet? :)

    Probably better to apply the HP with a cotton ball.

  10. 10.

    RoonieRoo

    July 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    No, I would not put hydrogen peroxide on the wound. It can damage the tissue. You only use that for an older wound that has some scabbing/pus and then very diluted – like 1 part hp to 5 parts water.

    You clipped away the hair. Now, just wash it with clean tap water. You can put some antibiotic ointment on it but since you are taking him in tomorrow, I would wait and see what they want to do with it.

  11. 11.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    I’m not sure if it was kosher or not, but once we put some neosporin (or generic equivalent) on a nasty-looking cat cut the cat couldn’t reach, and it seemed to have a positive healing effect. But I don’t know what a vet would recommend. Why not call the vet and ask about peroxide?

  12. 12.

    ulee

    July 7, 2010 at 5:05 pm

    Didn’t Tunch have ass rabies at one time? This has got to stop.

  13. 13.

    Chris

    July 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    It probably is or will become an abscess (bite or claw wound, the skin rapidly heals over—it fills in via “granulation”, technically speaking—but bacteria can grow in space under the wound, then eventually it breaks open again and drains). You can use H2O2 on it but that’s not the best thing. Depending on the size of the thing and degree of infection, he may need a drain put in, or not. Diagnosis uses visual inspection plus temperature, pulse, and respiration; cure usually involves antibiotics.

  14. 14.

    Zandar

    July 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Would it be ok to pour a little hydrogen peroxide on the wound for now?

    Sure, if you like your blood on the outside of your body.

  15. 15.

    Kyle

    July 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    @Seanly: With the cotton ball on the end of a 10-foot pole.

  16. 16.

    RoonieRoo

    July 7, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    Since some people are saying Okay on Hydrogen Peroxide, I will reiterate NO. Do not use hydrogen peroxide straight. Please, for Tunch’s sake :)

  17. 17.

    Pauline

    July 7, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    If he got attacked by another cat, an abcess is pretty common. You are lucky, at least, that it is an open sore. Some abcesses don’t open until the cat is very ill. What Ronnie Roo has posted above is a good reasonable way to continue. Wash it gently and keep it clean. He should make it fine until tomorrow.

  18. 18.

    bkny

    July 7, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    oh, poor kitty… you sure do seem to spend an awful lot of time heading to the vet’s office.

  19. 19.

    Punchy

    July 7, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Good luck with the H2O2. The cat will likely react with a fierceness and anger you cannot imagine. Between the pain the cat feels, and the foaming action it incites on scabs, the look, feel, and sounds of your cat will likely put you in tears.

    Go with the ointment, or just let the vet give him antibiotics.

  20. 20.

    Alice Blue

    July 7, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    Get well soon Tunch!

    I agree that putting a dab of antibiotic ointment on it wouldn’t hurt. We’ve used neosporin on the cats, dog and llamas with no ill effects.

  21. 21.

    Jeff

    July 7, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    @RoonieRoo: I agree
    Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to tissues– for humans, dogs and cats. That fizzing thing it does clues you in to the damage its doing to the tissues.
    If there is an abscess, keeping the wound clean and warm packing it(yeah– I know , this is a cat we’re talking about) will help the wound to drain.

  22. 22.

    Quicksand

    July 7, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    I’m not sure if it was kosher or not, but once we put some neosporin (or generic equivalent) on a nasty-looking cat cut the cat couldn’t reach, and it seemed to have a positive healing effect.

    From what I understand, Neosporin (or equivalent) is OK for cats, even if they lick it, but Neosporin + Pain Relief formula is toxic.

    But I’m not a vet, so take that with a grain of salt.

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    July 7, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I think our vet used to have us put bacitracin ointment on minor kitty wounds, but it looks like Neosporin or something similar would be fine, too. Tunch won’t be thrilled to have you smearing grease on his butt, but it won’t hurt him, either.

  24. 24.

    Chris

    July 7, 2010 at 5:19 pm

    @quicksand: you’re correct.

    (To everyone who’s anti-H2O2: you’re right, but the point of using it in an emergency is that while it kills some of you, it kills more of the infecting bacteria. Thus, it uses much the same technique as chemotherapy. And is about as fun, albeit on a shorter term schedule. :-) )

  25. 25.

    Chat Noir

    July 7, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    @RoonieRoo:
    @Alice Blue:

    I’ve used Neosporin or hydrocortisone on my cats if they have some sort of nasty looking scratch and it has always helped.

    Hope Tunch is OK!

  26. 26.

    tesslibrarian

    July 7, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    Jack often gets into fights, and we’ve had to keep some pretty deep, nasty-looking wounds clean. (Let’s just say I’ve seen farther into my cat than I ever intended.)

    Do NOT use hydrogen peroxide. The cat will go nuts, and it won’t do much good. We’ve always been instructed to use a sterile saline solution; our vet just gives it to us in a bottle to keep handy, but you can also buy it at drug stores. It cleans out the wound without further aggravating the torn tissue.

    Given that Tunch has a vet visit in the morning, you really don’t need to do a whole lot. The vet will probably shave the area, clean it out with saline, and see if any of it needs to be cut out to heal cleanly. They’ll also give him a good exam to look for other wounds, and make sure they are all cleaned up properly. He’ll probably need a week of antibiotics, but should be fine.

    It sounds like Tunch was trying to get away from whatever got him, which is good to know. Jack’s wounds are always on his front. Our vet says he may not be starting fights, but he doesn’t ever back down. I wish he were more like Tunch.

  27. 27.

    licensed to kill time

    July 7, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    I have to admit it wouldn’t have occurred to me to put hydrogen peroxide on a cat, but since Cole asked…I didn’t think it could harm Tunch. I defer to the others who say it will, however.

    I went through a crappy experience with a cat and puncture wounds which I will not relate because I don’t want to freak Cole out, but getting Tunch in to the vet for to check out the sore ASAP is a good thing.

  28. 28.

    Rosalita

    July 7, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    The fact that the abscess is open is a good sign and he will clean it himself better than you can. Leave it alone and see what the vet says. As long as it can drain itself, he should be okay.

    I had a cat that broke out regularly and I would wake up to him sitting on my chest with a golfball sized abscesses on his neck at regular intervals.

    Ah, pets

  29. 29.

    Ash Can

    July 7, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    before he bled me and called the vet

    “Ohai, iz dis da vet’s ofice? I wants ta report a ded-ass fukkin DAID hoomin. He messed wif mai ouchie butt. Did ai mention hiz ass iz DAID?”

  30. 30.

    Chris

    July 7, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    @Chat Noir: don’t use hydrocortisone, it’s an immunosuppressant. (It can still be used in specific circumstances but only after making sure the immunosuppressant effect will not be a problem.)

  31. 31.

    schrodinger's cat

    July 7, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    Poor Tunch, hope his wound heals quickly. My friend’s cat once got into a fight with a racoon, she was badly wounded and lost her tail. Outdoors can be hazardous to kittehz.

  32. 32.

    Seitz

    July 7, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    @noncarborundum:

    That was almost exactly the first thing that popped into my head.

  33. 33.

    Mnemosyne

    July 7, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    Also, be prepared for the vet to shave a HUGE swath of Tunch’s fur and for the hair to take forever to grow back. Cats don’t like to clean bare skin so the vet will usually shave a really big patch around the wound to keep them away from it.

  34. 34.

    ErinSiobhan

    July 7, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    At least once a year our cat manages to get into a fight that results in an abscess. Bites from other cats are the worst because of the large amount of bacteria in a cat’s mouth. When she arrives home with a new cut, we watch for a couple of day to see if an abscess forms. If it does, it’s off to the vet to get it lanced, cleaned and receive a dose of antibiotics. Our vet gives us the option of a single antibiotic injection or pills. Because we fear for our lives, we always take the antibiotic injection. Generally the whole bill is under $150.

    If your appointment is tomorrow, I’d lay off the hydrogen peroxide and just make sure the area around the cut is clean. Cat wounds tend to seal over quickly and if it is infected, surface treatment is not likely to do much good. It usually takes 2-4 days for the abscess to form so it’s likely the cut is sealed.

    Nice that Tunch took a bite on the butt…. I guess he was running away?

  35. 35.

    schrodinger's cat

    July 7, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    @Ash Can: I had a human, but I eated him (after bleeding him, first).

  36. 36.

    nonie

    July 7, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    NOT peroxide! Warm compresses to clean it out, and then a wee bit of Neosporin. (Years of experience here.)

  37. 37.

    schrodinger's cat

    July 7, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    @ErinSiobhan: Giving kittehz pills is dangerous business. I barely survived that experience.

  38. 38.

    Captain Haddock

    July 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Give him a slug of whiskey and tell him to man up.

  39. 39.

    A1

    July 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Yes, pour peroxide on it. And set up a web cam. preferably with a live feed. The world does not have enough funny.

  40. 40.

    WereBear

    July 7, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    @Ash Can: Damn, I got hysterical over that. Nearly fell off the bed.

    I think it was the “ouchie butt,” but the whole thing was hilarious.

    Perhaps this is just as well; it’s turning out to be a good way to keep Tunch away from the door.

    Cats have a lot of confidence; it comes with their challenges as lone hunters. But it can get them into trouble, especially if their previous challenges were easy prey…

  41. 41.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    Tunch Has an Infection

    Have you tried more cowbell?

  42. 42.

    Loneoak

    July 7, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    Betadyne or some other iodine based formula is a much better choice than hydrogen peroxide. Apply it with a q-tip or cotton ball. It doesn’t hurt and doesn’t damage tissue. It’s not as if the peroxide is internally toxic, but it does slow down healing by scrubbing out even healthy tissue. Neosporin and those creams are okay, but don’t penetrate all that well and are better for keeping the surface clean. The problem with iodine is that it stains–don’t let him sit on anything nice until it dries.

  43. 43.

    schrodinger's cat

    July 7, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Jokes aside, but did Tunch bite you? Cat bites can turn nasty quickly, so be careful.

  44. 44.

    Loneoak

    July 7, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    @A1:

    If you take A1’s suggestion, hide all the knives first.

  45. 45.

    neill

    July 7, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    neosporin…

    also have the vet check Tunch’s digestive tract for whatever it was that scratched him on the butt…

  46. 46.

    Rey

    July 7, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    Whatever you do Tunch will still hate you.

  47. 47.

    Comrade Mary

    July 7, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    Nthing no peroxide!

    Just keep the area clean. Maybe spritz on some saline, which you can find in the right concentration in the first aid aisle (it’s good for human scratches and scrapes, too).

    Poor Tunch. You’ve told us he’s really a gentle, mellow kitty at heart, not a bruiser, so I really feel for him.

  48. 48.

    Keith

    July 7, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    My suggestion: call the vet and ask what to do in the meantime. No offense to anyone here, but you’re going to get varying answers to your question, and it’s just not worth the risk to be wrong. Better safe than sorry, and it’s a trivial question for the vet.

  49. 49.

    You Don't Say

    July 7, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Be sure to let us know how the vet visit goes tomorrow. Get well Tunch!

  50. 50.

    harlana

    July 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    John, they will probably prescribe antibiotics. From my own traumatic personal experience of trying to get a pill down a cat’s throat, I would suggest you buy some Greenies Pill Pockets . Your vet may carry them.

  51. 51.

    Meg

    July 7, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    @Ed Marshall:
    That’s what I gave my cat last time when she was hurt (she sneaked out at night one time).
    I used the one with pain relief from CVS.

  52. 52.

    suzanne

    July 7, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    Awwww, poor Tunch. :(
    Maybe he becomes an indoor cat?

  53. 53.

    Ash Can

    July 7, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    In all seriousness, I do hope poor Tunchie gets well soon, and is back to throwing his weight and catttitude around in no time.

  54. 54.

    WereBear

    July 7, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    @Loneoak: You’re saying iodine doesn’t hurt?

    Really?

    That has not been my experience.

  55. 55.

    Mary G

    July 7, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    I also vote against hydrogen peroxide, but checking with the vet is the best idea. Get better soon, Tunch!

  56. 56.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    July 7, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    HP works as does Neosporin provided it does NOT have the painkiller in it (edit: Per my vet).

    It’s a good thing you caught it when you did. The big dumb cat got bitten by something and I couldn’t see the wound until it got kind of nasty. As best I can tell it took less than a week to go from a bite to something bad enough that surgery was required.

  57. 57.

    TaMara (BHF)

    July 7, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    FWIW, I’ve always used HP for the first treatment, just to get things good and cleaned out. Then neosporin. Also, the vet had me use Bactine spray on a wound that would not heal (deep bite – probably a canine).

    Never had any ill effects and my vet(s) seemed to be on board. I avoided a lot of antibiotic pills shoved down their throats this way.

    These were all for single bite wounds, never had anyone who needed stitches or anything, this would not apply to that situation.

    EDIT: Get better soon Tunch. You’ll be bragging about this to your friends when it’s all over.

  58. 58.

    debbie

    July 7, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    I don’t know if animal physiology is the same as human, but the other day on The Doctors (tv show), they specifically advised against using peroxide on a wound. They said it kills good as well as bad bacteria.

  59. 59.

    QuaintIrene

    July 7, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    As been said before, Neosporin. Good for man or beast. Used that on Kate when one of her claws split nearly up to the quick. Slathered it on overnight. By morning the nail had sloughed cleanly away.

  60. 60.

    WereBear

    July 7, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Oh, I’m a Neosporin fan. And such wounds can often be taken care of at home… with a cooperative cat.

    But this is a Cat Hannibal Lecter.

  61. 61.

    Jean

    July 7, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    @WereBear: Neosporin has my vote. Have used it on cats and dogs over the years.

  62. 62.

    DrDave

    July 7, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    Is the wound near his tail or next to his anus?

    Flushing the area with warm water and then applying neosporin will help a little until your vet treats the wound (bite wound likely if near the tail, anal sac abscess if next to his anus) and gets him on an oral antibiotic.

  63. 63.

    wmd

    July 7, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    You do know to wrap Tunch in a towel to immobilize his paws before doing any first aid, right?

    I’ve had a few minor infections to treat on my cat, RC Gizmo. Towel, cut hair away, then I use alcohol wipes. He hasn’t had vet treatment due to lack of $ for vet. Each time his immune system plus the 2X daily disinfecting has worked. Oh and I keep him indoors until he is symptom free. Two wounds on legs, one on face all healed fine.

    He does get his vaccinations.

  64. 64.

    J Dougherty

    July 7, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    Don’t use hydrogen peroxide, iodine, mercurochrome, kerosene, whiskey or other spirits, acetone etc. On wounds, human or animal. They often have interesting visual effects but are poor disinfectants and don’t “draw the pizen” or other folk ideas; they just damage tissue.

  65. 65.

    Pasquinade

    July 7, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Never tried the Greenies Pill Pockets.

    After one cat continually spit out the pills (she would hide them in her mouth), I asked the vet for liquid Amoxicillin. It was a lot easier to pry her mouth open and squirt in the antibiotic.

    She was was gentle cat. With Tunch, perhaps you should purchase some Kevlar gloves.

  66. 66.

    asiangrrlMN

    July 7, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    @Ash Can: My god. I was rolling while reading this one. For me, I think it’s this part

    I wants ta report a ded-ass fukkin DAID hoomin.

    combined with the LOLspeak.

  67. 67.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    July 7, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    @Ash Can:

    Literally LOL with tears in my eyes. Thanks for that.

  68. 68.

    atlliberal

    July 7, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    I find it much easier to give cats liquid antibiotic than pills. Even if they get a little frisky and you miss,they just lick it off.

  69. 69.

    leinie

    July 7, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    @ Ash Can

    I’m at work, trying to explain the tears-in-my-eyes hysterical laughter when I shouldn’t be anywhere NEAR THE INTERNET.

    Nicely done. It’s a classic.

  70. 70.

    KRK

    July 7, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    I second the recommendation of Greenie’s Pill Pockets should Tunch need antibiotics. My Gus is terrible at talking pills or drops (the vet has repeatedly commented on what strong jaw muscles he has), but he now has to have a daily pill for hypertension and the pill pockets are a godsend. He LOVES them.

  71. 71.

    EHutch

    July 7, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    I’m a vet. As Roonie Roo said, Hydrogen Peroxide will kill some of the bacteria in there, but will also damage Tunch’s tissue making it more susceptible to whatever survives. We two-leggers like to use it because it bubbles and makes us feel like it’s working; mother nature as marketing genius. Antibiotic ointment will be fine and innocuous until you get to the vet tomorrow.

  72. 72.

    Steeplejack

    July 7, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    @Ben:

    He wishes he still had an ass.

  73. 73.

    farmette

    July 7, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    Poor Tunch! Just my thoughts based on experience with my gangster cat that could never pass up a good fight:

    1) No peroxide. Clean with warm water. A little neosporin ointment would be ok.
    2) To the vets he goes. The vet will shave quite a bit of fur from the surrounding area. If it is an abscess it can be quite extensive under the skin and surrounding tissue. He’ll be placed on oral antibiotics, probably amoxicillin or clindamycin for kitties.
    3) Cats have an amazing ability to heal. My cat not only healed from a wound debrided down to muscle but grew back every strand of fur. Amazing. Like my vet says, put a broken bone in the same room with a cat and the bone will heal.

    Hope all turns out well.

  74. 74.

    Elie

    July 7, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    Its a good thing that you are taking him to the vet. I find that these seeming small cuts or sores are much bigger once they get cleaned out and inspected by a vet less interested or impressed with cat hysterics.

    That is why I never let my cats out. They fight with other cats and with other critters and it literally shortens their lives. You know that and I know that he got out by accident, but he won’t stop trying so you have to figure out how to make it even less likely —

  75. 75.

    joeyess

    July 7, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    If he’s acting lethargic, get him to the vet ASAP, he probably has a temperature. If not, a little Neosporin will help.

  76. 76.

    Rosalita

    July 7, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    ditto this! I had no idea cat bites were so toxic until one of mine got me in the arm. big infection. go to the doctor right away–if he got you

  77. 77.

    Mnemosyne

    July 7, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    When Tashi had to get antibiotics after her surgery, they gave us liquid penicillin and told us to mix it with tuna to get her to eat it. The only problem was that it was a children’s formula that smelled like bubble gum and, once we mixed it with the tuna, she liked to let it sit and get really warm and stinky before she would eat it.

    She did eat it, and we avoided infection, but MAN that was nasty.

  78. 78.

    Maude

    July 7, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    I had a cat that broke his tail because he was chasing and trying to kill another cat. I used triple antibiotic on it. It healed fine.
    Another time he had an abcess trying to kill another cat. He went to the vet. Antibiotics.
    He used to chase big dogs and scare them.
    Peroxide kills cells. Water is good.

  79. 79.

    Keith

    July 7, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    Thanks to all who mentioned Greenie’s Pill Pockets. I’ve had to give my cats antibiotics on a couple of occasions, and I’ve got about a 60% success rate trying to get them to swallow pills.

  80. 80.

    RedKitten

    July 7, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    @Ash Can: That was just beautiful. “Ouchie butt”…heh.

  81. 81.

    YellowDog

    July 7, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    I’ve dealt with many bite wounds. No hydrogen peroxide. Clean the surrounding area if you can and put Neosporin on it if the cat cannot lick it off. Take him to the vet tomorrow. You will get a course of antibiotics–ask for the liquid kind. If that is not available, buy a pill crusher at the pharmacy and mix the crushed tablets in his food. The other option is a pill shooter, which you should be able to buy from the vet. I would recommend the pill crusher.

  82. 82.

    Annie

    July 7, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    Giving a kitty pills is almost impossible. We had to do it with one of ours for six months. It was a nightmare. We had all kinds of strategies — one was waiting until he fell asleep and then creeping up behind him with a towel. One person would wrap the towel around him, while the other through the pill down his throat. To this day, he runs when I carry clean towels up to the bathroom

  83. 83.

    Tim

    July 7, 2010 at 8:27 pm

    @Elie: Realize the outing here was accidental. But it bums me out when people let their cats out, for those reasons, plus they kill songbirds, etc. Not to mention that there are always a few budding serial killers out there ready to graduate from squirrels and frogs.

    The rationale of anyone I’ve talked to that lets their cat out seems to be “But they really really want to.” Alot of kids want to play in the street and use heroin too. I suppose this will start a huge flame war.

    We can all agree: Get well soon Tunch!

  84. 84.

    Tim

    July 7, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    @Annie: Harsh. I hated that when they did that to Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket.

  85. 85.

    Chris

    July 7, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    Betadine or iodine is less painful than H2O2, and superior, but with kitty going to vet tomorrow I would not bother with any of these.

    Some cats are better with liquid antibiotics (chances are they will give you Clavamox; note that both this and metronidazole can cause stomach upset) and some are better with pills, but if you have trouble with both, there is an injectable antibiotic that can be used instead.

  86. 86.

    Elie

    July 7, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    @Maude:

    Peroxide is an oxidant — so yes, you are right, it DOES kill cells by damaging their cell membranes. Some of those cells you want killed (bacteria) and some have already died in the injury to the tissue. For a superficial wound, peroxide foams up the debris and allows a little oxygenation to happen. This promotes healing but does not cause it. For most superficial wounds, water of course is just fine. If the wound is dirty however, you need to do more than water. If you want to avoid peroxide, iodine and the like, then good ol soap and water and a nice scrubbing agent (gentle wash cloth or the like), does just fine. Finish with nice clean dressing and keep covered but inspect regularly.

    In puncture wounds like bites, you are in different territory and neither water nor hydrogen peroxide are enough. You have to open that thing up or clean well enough to make sure that the bacteria driven deep into the tissue by the action of the bite, are evacuated. Some of the nastier bacteria love this deep, anaerobic environment with all that juicy, damaged tissue to feed on.

    Sometimes a good brisk bleed does the job and also brings in those good ol white cells and other immune factors to help. Sometimes that is not enough and that is when you need deep clean (soak for a while in warm soapy antibiotic water) followed by brush or cloth cleaning (vigorous – its gotta hurt) down in there AND oral antibiotics that attack the infection from where you were not able to scrub.
    ALL bites are bad because of this and all should be treated fairly seriously in animals and very seriously in humans too.

  87. 87.

    Tim

    July 7, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    @Rosalita: That’s how Komodo Dragons kill stuff too, y’know. They basically bite something with their very septic mouth, and then follow the thing around for a couple of days until the thing drops dead when the infection goes systemic. Works best during the dry season when critters ain’t feelin’ too good generally. YMMV

  88. 88.

    WereBear

    July 7, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    @Mnemosyne: I tried liquid antibiotic in the canned food with James Bond.

    I got such a look. A look that said, You have ruined Dinner.

    So it was back to squirting it between his clenched jaws, and then Dinner.

    FYI, try to get liquid, and ask about putting flavors in it.

  89. 89.

    Elie

    July 7, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    @Chris:

    Whether its liquid or pill, you just have to have the “attitude” — “kitty, you are going to take this medicine”. No matter how hard it is, no matter how many repeats, you dispassionately pick up the pill or dropper and do the deed/
    There is a gap on the side of the mouth between the cannines and molars that works just great for positioning the dropper approach. I have just insinuated the fully loaded dropper thing in that space (you have to work quick), and squeeze and that usually does it. Opening their mouths just leads to major wastage of liquid antibiotic everywhere and an escaped cat under some bed you can’t get under.

    Unlike dogs who generally eat anything, and can be fooled by mixed into food drugs, cats are always suspicious of even the most minor changes in appearance or flavor, so I don’t recommend that.

  90. 90.

    Booger

    July 7, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Heh. Peroxide on a cat. Good luck with that. Please post pics, of yourself, post-op recovery.

  91. 91.

    sukabi

    July 7, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    sounds like he tangled with another cat… one of my cats got into it with a neighbor hood cat early this spring… base of his tail swelled up quite a bit…

    took him to the vet the next day, they had to put him to sleep to check it out… cat bite on his tail turned into an abscess… they cleaned it, drained the pus, and gave him a long lasting antibiotic injection… he got better almost immediately, and you can’t even tell he had his ass shaved….

    Tunch will be fine after his vet visit.

  92. 92.

    Elie

    July 7, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    @Tim:

    I am totally with you and do not believe in letting cats loose for all the reasons that you mention…Cats are devastating predators and they kill everything from birds and bunnies on up. They also GET eaten or attacked.

    The last sentence brings to mind my cat Max who was killed by a neighborhood dog almost right in front of me many years ago… I couldnt get there fast enough and Max was mortally wounded in literally a minute. Where I live now, we have coyotes and they adore cats as a main course. Too many people I know have lost not only their pet cats but small dogs too.

    Previous to that, the many half killed birds, etc that he did not eat because he was not hungry but was hard wired to attack, just made me feel terrible…

    Buddy and Bill are indoor cats — Buddy since kittenhood, Bill by imposition later when he was an adult. Bill always tries, but the intensity has gone down a great deal over the years. Buddy freaks out outside…

  93. 93.

    Anne Laurie

    July 7, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    @WereBear:

    You’re saying iodine doesn’t hurt?
    __
    Really?
    __
    That has not been my experience.

    Betadine or the generic equivalent (povidine iodine) is only half the concentration of the “iodine” in those little bottles with the dabbers. So, yeah, it doesn’t sting, but it does disinfect.

    And it stains like a muthafukka, so don’t try applying it to a squirming animal anywhere within splashing distance of towels, rugs, upholstery, etc.

  94. 94.

    Chris

    July 7, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    @Elie (#89): Yes, I am actually pretty good at pilling cats. The worst for me was giving lactulose (a liquid, a very sticky liquid, that is basically an indigestible sugar that acts as a laxative for constipated cats, mainly used in cats with CRF). I am a Crazy Cat Lady Guy with (at the moment) five cats, so I get a fair amount of experience. :-)

  95. 95.

    WereBear

    July 7, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    @Anne Laurie: Thanks, good to know… but I’ll stick with the Neosporin :)

    Thought I gotta say, the worst I’ve felt is with the liquid bandage. It lasts less than a minute, but it’s a looooong minute.

  96. 96.

    Jackie

    July 7, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    It sounds like Tunch got an abscess, which is basically an infected wound. If it’s opened and is draining then peroxide won’t hurt and it may help. Before splashing on the peroxide, tho, attempt to apply a hot to very warm wet wash towel and see if you can get more drainage. Then peroxide.

    I’ve dealt with abscesses for 40 yrs (different cats) and just draining daily plus peroxide has done the trick. Once the vet taught me that and charged me $200+ back in the ’70s I’ve done on my own. Of course, if you don’t see improvement in 48 hrs, it’s time for the vet and antibiotics. I’ve gotten to just hrs before 48 hrs (after rupture) and suddenly complete turn-around. Most often, tho, within 24 hrs fever is down and cat is 80% normal and improves by the hrs after.

  97. 97.

    Mnemosyne

    July 8, 2010 at 12:54 am

    @Elie:

    Previous to that, the many half killed birds, etc that he did not eat because he was not hungry but was hard wired to attack, just made me feel terrible…

    I don’t know if this will make you feel better or worse, but if your cat is bringing you half-dead animals, it’s trying to teach you how to hunt.

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