5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken below

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Kathy and Kitty

Kathy and Kitty

Member Since 2009
SEE UPDATE BELOW

I know I could post on health, but LL knows my Kitty.

Kitty has had a scrape that became a sore under his right ear. I was treating it with antibiotic cream, and it seemed to be healing enough that I thought we could make it through Memorial Day weekend.

Now it turns out I have to make an emergency family trip tomorrow, will be away several days, and the sore isn't doing great. It heals, but the scabs are itchy. Kitty scratches and opens it up. Then the drill starts again. I clean with saline, put on more antibiotic cream, etc.

Today, it looks fair. It definitely does not look infected, but there's a nickel-sized patch of no hair in front of his ear.

We're having his DPS stay with him, and she is comfortable continuing to add the cream twice a day. But I would hate to have her have to get to the vet with him. Kitty would probably end up spending the day there, and he wouldn't like that either.

Has anyone had any experience with sores like this? I think it started because his ears gets dirty, and he scratches. He probably just scratched up the skin in front of his ear. (We do clean his ears, but obviously not well enough. :sad: )

Advice, anyone? Thanks.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

It's certainly possible that as the scrape is healing, the skin dries and it gets itchy. If you have an ointment, rather than a cream, it may help if this is what's going on. Short of an E-collar, I'm not sure what to suggest.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

you could put an e-collar on him. I always hate to do that, but it helps. There are soft ones that look less uncomfortable than the plastic ones. I don't know if there is any place open to buy them today, though. I've never looked for them at PetSmart, but I assume they have them.

Cut his toenails as short as you can, too.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

what about the neosporin ointment with pain relief - maybe that would numb it a bit so he'll stop picking at it. plus the ointment would keep it soft and maybe make it less itchy.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

You are all great, thank you.

I've been using the Neosporin pain relief cream, but I'll try the ointment tonight. It has definitely helped the area heal. It gets nice and pink. It's just that he keeps reopening it.

I cut his nails as much as I dare. So afraid of that quick area.

I absolutely HATE to put him in a collar, especially when I'm not here, but it would keep him from scratching. Poor guy.

any thoughts about how urgent a vet visit is? I might be able to get them to see him before I leave. But other than a collar, I'm not sure what they'd do.

I appreciate the input. Thank you.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Kathy ....aloe extract is also great for this. I found a scab on Gracie's head where Tobey probably whacked her and I put the aloe extract on it. The vet gave it to me to put on Teddi's ears and above her eyes when she had a reaction to the methimazole. It's very soothing and has healing properties.

eta: aloe plant itself is toxic to cats so you want to be sure you buy a commercial aloe extract at a health food store....it's a liquid, not a gel. While humans can break off an aloe plant and put the gel on wounds, burns, I'm not sure if you can do it with a cat so I'd get the extract liquid.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

my gut reaction is that if it's not infected, and it's just that he's keeping it open and active, it's not really in need of a vet visit. but of course, you're the one looking at it so you have to make that call.

as long as kitty is keeping it aggravated nothing's going to help it - he needs to somehow leave it alone, so i would think that would be your first goal.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Hi, Kathy.. it seems as if it has been going on long enough.. if I were you.. I would take to the vet & get their professional opinion & plan of care for Kitty.. peace of mind is everything & it doesn't seem what you are doing is solving the overall goal - healing. I know it will be costly on a holiday - but well worth it in my opinion. Good Luck, give Kitty a huge hug & have a safe trip.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

would he tolerate something like gauze wrapped around his head to protect it?

also, there are claw tip thingies you can put on their claws to blunt them - they have some sort of adhesive inside and fit right over a claw. they don't stay on forever, but might be helpful. you get them at a pet store.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

I hate it, but he probably needs a collar.

I think I will take him to the vet in the morning, if I can get him in. Maybe there's a super medicine.

And LL pro's, what antibiotic do I ask for, if one is needed?

Thank you everyone. Why must kitty emergencies coincide with family emergencies?????????
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

julie1220 said:
also, there are claw tip thingies you can put on their claws to blunt them - they have some sort of adhesive inside and fit right over a claw. they don't stay on forever, but might be helpful. you get them at a pet store.
Click to expand...

Those are called SoftClaws.
http://www.softclaws.com/index.php?pet=cat

Sorry to hear about your family emergency. I hope the vet can recommend something that will help. It is probably better for your peace of mind to get it looked at before you go away.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Went to pet store, all they had were dog collars, way too big for even my big Kitty.

I did see the nail covers, but knowing Kitty, I think he would still rub and rub and rub at the spot, even with a covered nail.

So by process of elimination, it's the vet in the morning. It isn't any emergency, I don't think, and the emergency vet is much further. So I'll plead to get the vet to see him before I leave.

Thank you, all.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

kathy, awhile back we talked about Halo for Pets Herbal Healing Salve, but i don't know if you were able to pick up some. it's great for these kinds of scrapes/abrasions. a little bit goes a long way! Whole Foods and Kroger used to carry it around here. not sure if they still do.


ps --- if DPS needs anything, have her give me a call. i'm close enough...
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Jill & Alex said:
ps --- if DPS needs anything, have her give me a call. i'm close enough...
Click to expand...

Jill, how long has it been since I told you how great you are?? Thank you. I will.

I tried the Halo in the first few days. I think it soothed him, but he still opened it up again. So I went to the heavy guns, Neosporin pain relief, to avoid infection.

Right now, the skin looks okay, not red - but such new, tender skin. Maybe the Halo would be good as it heals, to stop itching. Kitty did NOT like the smell, though! :lol:
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Gosh, It almost sounds like Ringworm, a fungal skin infection.

Is there any chance you can get a picture up?
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

My Muddy had it when she came from the shelter. Round circular itchy patches that she would scratch until they bled or rub her face on rough things.

It was on her face and near her eyes, so they didn't want to use the cream on it. They used a black light for preliminary and cultured a few hairs from the edge of the bald spot. They prescribed IC Ketoconazole 1/4 tablet daily. Took a few weeks to clear up.

It is contagious to other cats and humans. If you've been fighting this a while make sure you inspect everyone in the house for the 'spots.'
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Just uploaded a poor resolution photo. The red spot in the middle is a scab. :sad:

He doesn't have this anywhere else, and he has had it in this one spot a year or so ago. At the time, I thought it was a scrap. Guess not. :cry:
 

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Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

He developed this late last week, and I thought I could handle it with the Neosporin.

Oh good grief, and I am about to travel to a family emergency. Last thing other people need!

He is the only kitty in the house. He has two human beans. He rumbles through the whole house.

Does it matter that it is only in this one place on him?
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Did it go away and stay away with treatment? Any tips on avoiding contaminating other people?

And I assume directly touching it, as I have been doing to put cream on it, isn't the right choice. :shock:

Sounds like vet visit time.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

I seriously hope this isn't ringworm. Ketoconizole is one treatment. I was soaking both cats in sulfur-lime dip weekly for 8 weeks. I had to disinfect the house weekly and had furniture and rugs professionally cleaned. Treating ringworm is something I wouldn't wish on anyone.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Did you get any impression from the picture I uploaded, Sienne? Did it look familiar? Not a good photo, but things are hectic here.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

If it's been there for a while, you can't really tell if it's ringworm. My vet took a sample and sent it out for culture. That's really the only definitive way to diagnose ringworm. (There are a couple of different varieties of the fungus.)

I think if you saw this start as a scratch, it's likely that's what it is. It could be anything - scratch, allergy, etc. Ringworm does spread. So if it's stayed contained to the one spot, I'd lean away from it being a fungal infection but there's no way to really tell.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

He had an episode in this place, on the other side, a year or so ago. So I will have hope that it is not ringworm, but is rather the itchy ears that bother him (yes, we checked for mites, none found) -- but I will hope the vet will see him in the morning. Thanks, Sienne.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice!

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for posting the picture. I sure hope you get in to see the vet, although it will take them up to a week to get the culture results back. My vet didn't prescribe anything until she had the results. Keto is an expensive drug.

This needs to get checked out. I was able to deal with Muddy and not catch it myself. Lotrimen creams work for humans.

And yes, as Sienne says you would have to clean and sanitize wherever Kitty goes or has been. The spores are viable for 13 months. I had to use a bleach solution on my hardwood floors. Dealing with ringworm is a nasty, nasty deal.

So our prayers that you get in to see the vet and paws crossed it is some other issue!
 

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Re: 5/30 Got to vet

We were able to see the vet this morning before leaving.

The vet does NOT think it is ringworm. Should have done the test, but he felt strongly that it was not.

Forgive me, Lantus Land Peeps, I did something I wouldn't ordinarily do: I let Kitty get Convenia. I believe I read recently that it was developed for skin problems, and that's what this is. We have to leave Kitty with the DPS now, and I just needed to deal with this situation. Kitty has had it twice before with no ill reaction.

It WAS infected. And he has not mites, but a bacterial infection. (I asked them to culture for this in February, was it done? didn't exist then? who knows)

This is a new vet to us, and I liked him very much. He NEVER uses Metacam anyway (not that it's indicated here). He expressed interest in knowing why the concern about Convenia. He respected my wishes about no steroid or steroid topical, and researched this alternative: Dermacool*HC.

The vet believes this is a repeated scratch/infect cycle from the bacterial infection in the ears. The Convenia should knock that out, and the Dermacool should be applied with a cotton ball 3 times daily - hope the DPS can handle that.

So that's that for now. Anyone who wants to suggest we try something else, please do! iPhones are rotten for web browsing, but I will check in to see.

T
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

My cat was just given convenia and seems just fine so fingers and paws crossed Kitty will be good and it will knock out this infection
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Oh, thank you! The Dermacool has hydrocortisone 1%. Is that a steroid??????

If someone thinks this is bad, I can ask DPS to pick up something else for a topical.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Yes. Hydrocortisone is a steroid (cortisone/cortisol are all steroids/corticosteroids).
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

I am so happy to hear that it is NOT suspect ringworm! Thank goodness!

As pointed out there is a steroid in that cream. Although it may be the only option available to deal with the itch and inflammation? It may be the lowest percent available. confused_cat
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Last word... vet will provide non-steroidal topical (I hope), DPS will pick up.

Thank you all for helping!
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Ok, forgive my ignorance.. What is DPS? (besides the obvious of: Department of Public Safety) LOL

Wishing for little Kitty to make a full and speedy recovery, too. :)
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

There are some over the counter cleansers for keeping the ears cleaned out - that could cut down on the scratching too - so long as there are no open wounds within the ear to be irritated (earatated?!)

I've a civvie who will claw his skin bloody - he'll let me use wet fingers to scritch (lightly scrape out, really) his ears, but when he sees cottonballs, he dives for cover. Still, I manage to trap him in the bathroom and use a cleanser I bought online for less than what the vet would sell it to me. I saturate a cotton ball, then insert it into the ear and massage from outside. Next I wipe with dry cotton or a tissue. That loosens up a lot of gunk. The more I get out, the less he digs at his ears.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Angela & Blackie & 8 Others said:
Ok, forgive my ignorance.. What is DPS? (besides the obvious of: Department of Public Safety) LOL
Click to expand...

Dear Pet Sitter
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

So sorry for this to happen at such an bad time..I'm sure Kitty will be just fine and the sore will heal all up!!
Prayers for a complete recovery for Kitty. Hope your famly will be well.
 
Re: 5/30 OT Kathy & Kitty need LL advice! - action taken bel

Hi Kathy,
I just read this saga (been mostly absent the last few days) and am very glad that it is not ringworm. Good luck with the antibiotics and the topical and I hope that your DPS will not have any problems while you are away. Try not to worry. I'm sure all will be OK.

Ella & Rusty
 
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