Cat Burns

Most of the burns are produced by warm liquids, fire or heat, but some of them are by chemical products and to the electricity. The less serious only cause superficial hurts and can treat directly in house. The most serious inflict deep hurts, can originate a shock - sometimes even after a few days and need immediate veterinary attention. Do not underestimate the gravity of the burns, although they affect to corporal relatively small zones, they can be mortal.

Monitor Possible Shock

• Pale or whitish gums
• Agitated breathing
• Weak and accelerated pulse
• Coldness in the extremities
• General weakness

Has the hair been fallen-or detached easily- in the burnt zone and the skin is blackish or translucent? (Have or not pain)   YES
Serious, deep burn (of the third degree) .go to the veterinarian. NOW

Is the hair adhered and the skin has a reddish dye, is inflamed or has contracted? Is it singed and of brown color?
Does this zone hurt him?    YES
Deep burn (of the second degree) go to the veterinarian    NOW.

Is the hair adhered and the skin has a reddish dye? Does this zone hurt him? Are there blisters? Is hair singed?   YES
Superficial burn. Treat it in house.

Does the cat segregate many salivation? Does he ask for food but later he doesn't eat? Does he have for the mouth a disagreeable smell? YES

Probably burn in the mouth.

• Do not apply ointments, creams, butter or margarine in the burns. It will not use as anything.
• If the burn has been caused by chemical products, put on rubber gloves to be protected the hands.

If the cat has burned for a heat source and is intact (first degree burns)

1. Immobilize the cat.
2. Wash as soon as possible the zone affected with abundant cold water; for it, introduce the animal in a bath or use a hose or hand shower regulating the faucet in order that the water jet is soft. (As soon cool the affected zone, so less will be the hurts.
3. Put in the burn a cold compress (a bag of vegetables frozen) during 20 minutes.
4. Cover the zone affected with a not adhesive bandage. The bandage protects it and prevents that the cat licks it Change it daily. If it's smelling, go to the veterinarian within 24 hours.
5. Telephone to his veterinarian to ask for more instructions.

If the skin has burned with a chemical product and it is intact

1. Take the necklace out of the cat if it is contaminated.
2. Wash profusely the zone during 20 minutes, taking care of the chemical product swept out by the water doesn't burn any other place of animal's body. Use a detergent or soft shampoo. If you know that the burn is due to an acid, rinse it with bicarbonate (a teaspoon for a half liter of water).
3. (If the burn is inside of the mouth, tend the cat sideward, hold him and put some glasses of water in it. Another alternative method is washing it with a hose of garden).
4. Cover the superficial burns with a non adhesive bending.
5. Phone to the veterinarian to ask for more instructions.

If the zone of the skin is partial or totally deeply burned (Burns of second and third grade)

1. Look for shock symptoms; if there is, treat it.
2. Apply a clean and dry dressing on the burns. Do not use cotton or any other material that has adhered fibers in the wounds.
3. Bending the zone of burn with strips of blankets or any other soft material.
4. Take the cat immediately to the veterinarian.

Reduce the risks of burns and scalds. Do not leave your cat in the kitchen without vigilance while you fix his meal. He could to put the leg in a frying pan full of boiling oil "to "fish" some morsel!. If you have a chimney, use a screen to prevent that he approaches too much the fire.