Content
- Torn and broken nails
- Insect stings or bites
- Animal bites or wounds and perforations
- General first aid
Cats have a very wild essence and love activities that require a certain amount of risk. And although they are very intelligent and cautious, it is very common that accidents happen that cause them certain injuries.
A good human companion must know that this type of event can happen, so he must be informed and have all the necessary knowledge in first aid, in order to heal wounds or prevent them from getting worse before going to the vet.
The good news is that most of these wounds can be treated directly at home. Next in this PeritoAnimal article, we present you a list of wounds in cats, the most common and their corresponding First aid.
Torn and broken nails
Cats' nails are very important, it is one of the traits that most identify them and allow them to play, hunt, jump, mark territory and even walk. A torn or broken nail is considered an injury that must be treated and healed.
It is an injury that at first sight can draw attention, depending on its depth, as it causes the little or a lot of blood output. If you notice that your cat is limping, leaves drops of blood as it passes, chews its paw or licks itself too much, it is because it has a torn or broken nail. cats' nails are very delicate and they have many nerves, so to the slightest discomfort or injury, the feline reacts electrically or quite aggressively when treating it.
If you want to cure, you should do the following:
- stop the blood flow
- Dilute peroxide or betadine solution, clean the wound and then remove all the remaining chemical from your pet's paw.
- Apply baking soda, astringent powder or flour to dry the region
- If necessary, bandage it for 12 hours.
Insect stings or bites
Although it doesn't seem like it, insects can also bite other animals, especially cats. And like humans, this can cause them a lot of discomfort. If your cat is bitten by an insect such as a bee or wasp, first aid is based on the following:
- Patiently search for the stinger and then remove it.
- Apply a cold compress to the area that is inflamed to reduce swelling.
- Watch your behavior and progression to see if you're not too low, if inflammation increases rather than stops, or if you have respiratory problems as an indication of an allergic reaction that warrants a trip to the vet.
If everything is under control you can make an oat paste, flour and water and apply it to relieve the itching. You can also use magnesium milk or aloe vera.
Animal bites or wounds and perforations
Dog-cat fights are common, but cat-cat fights are even more popular. In these fights, some cats come out with strong and dangerous bites that end up in perforations in the animal's skin. The same happens if they are punctured with some glass on the floor or if they accidentally fall on something sharp.
In these cases, the most important thing is to check the cat's entire body to find the wounds, since if they are not identified in time, they can form uncomfortable abscesses, something that is perfect for lodging. all kinds of bacteria. Upon finding the area in question, the first aid protocol is as follows:
- Thoroughly clean the affected area
- Apply antibiotic ointment or cream and continually check for signs of infection such as redness, inflammation, increased pain, wound secretion and even difficulty moving the affected area.
- Deep wounds may need sutures and oral antibiotics, for these cases, do not try to do it at home and go to the vet.
General first aid
To make you feel even more prepared in the event of an accident, we give you a letter.list of general recommendations, depending on the case. Write this on a sheet and stick it on your fridge like a grocery shopping list and keep it in sight:
- In case of major bleeding, cut the bleeding by compressing the wound. Do not use a tourniquet unless it is a serious injury, which should be placed between the wound and the heart, relieving it every 10 minutes at most.
- Before disinfecting the wounds, cut the hair around it so it doesn't touch and stick to it.
- Always have an Elizabethan necklace at home, in case you have to put it on so that the cat does not lick or bite the wound.
- If the injury is near the eyes or other sensitive organs, don't do too much, just cover the wound and run to the vet.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.