Cat Puncture Scratch
One of the saddest things to see is a helpless cat admitted to our hospital after being shot or knifed. Puncture wounds can cause severe bleeding and injury to the internal organs. Veterinary aid is needed immediately.
If your pet was bitten by another animal, that animal should be quarantined for ten days to be sure it does not have rabies. If you know the owner and can ascertain that the animal has a current rabies vaccination, the quarantine can be done at home. If you do not know the owner or if the animal is wild, such as a bat, fox, raccoon, or skunk, quarantine is maintained at a veterinary hospital, a public health facility, or a local pound.
Embedded Fishhook
Cats are curious, even about things that may hurt them, such as fish hooks. All too often, a cat sniffing around a fishing camp or a cluttered garage can well get a fish hook caught in its lip or nose. Restraining the cat is necessary if you are going to remove the hook at home. Remember, just as a fish cannot escape a fish hook once it is embedded, neither can a cat. Therefore, the barb must be pushed through the skin and cut with pliers. The rest of the fishhook can then be removed.
Amputated Tail
If your cat’s tail is caught in a slammed car or house door or run over by a car, arrange to see the veterinarian immediately after you apply emergency measures.
Cat Punctures Treatment
Check the entry and exit areas of puncture wounds. If necessary, give artificial respiration. Check the heartbeat and pulse and control any bleeding. An amputated tail may require a tourniquet. Treat also foreshock. Bullet and knife wounds can fracture bones, so a temporary splint may be necessary.
The most common result of animal bites not rabies but simple bacterial infections. The skin is normally a strong barrier against bacteria, but if penetrated, bacteria, hair, and dirt can enter and cause a serious infection or an abscess days later.
Clip the hair around the wound with scissors; then clean the wound with soap and water and alcohol and remove any debris. Cover it with a gauze bandage or clean cloth. If the origin of the bite is unknown, quarantine may be necessary. Check with your doctor.
Your veterinarian will be concerned about three things: (1) controlling the bleeding (if this hasn’t been done); (2) cleaning the wound and possibly suturing it to avoid infection; and(3) in the case of an animal bite, identifying and confining the other animal.
Your pet may have to be given a tranquilizer and a local or general anesthetic in order to be cleaned and sutured. Antibiotics may be given to avoid infection, especially for dirty fish hook punctures. A rabies vaccination will be gave if it is overdue.
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