How to Clean Cat Wounds

It is possible that on having examined the cat, you find some wound that needs your attention. The wounds and injuries are in the habit of being painful. Try to discomfort the animal the least possible, if done sweetly the pussy-cats can scratch or bite when scared or in pain. Practice the first aids when your cat is relaxed, healthily and in shape, recognizing it in search of wounds and cleaning certain areas. The way you would do it in case a real injury exists. Both types of the most common injuries are the closed ones, in which the skin has not crushed, and the opened ones, in which it has crushed. Any of two cases can be accompanied by fractures. In the majority of the wounds the danger of infection exists.

Closed injuries: Closed injuries can be deceitful. Since no tearing has been produced in the skin, they give the impression that the harm is barely important. Do not underestimate any injury of this type, though it seems to be insignificant, it can hide behind serious internal damages, which scope sometimes does not turn out to be clear until a few days after. Even if it seems to be of little importance, phone your veterinarian and ask him for advice.

Symptoms of closed injuries:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Discoloration produced by subcutaneous contusions.
• Temperature over the normal thing in a certain area
• Superficial wounds, for example scratches in the skin.

First aids for closed injuries.

• Apply as soon as possible a cold compress on the disabled area. (A bag of frozen peas constitutes an ideal compress, because it is defrosted more rapidly than ice and it is molded better to the body).
• If there are superficial damages in the skin, as for example, scratches, wash them with salted water (a teaspoon full of salt for every quart) or oxygenated water diluted to 3 per cent.
• Look for other hidden injuries, specially if your cat has been knocked down or struck by a car. Get in touch with the veterinarian to ask him for more instructions.

Open injuries: When the skin has been torn, the subcutaneous skin is exposed to dirt and bacteria. There is a great risk for these wounds to become infected. Give immediate first aids to stop the hemorrhage, to reduce to the minimum the possibility that major wounds are produced and to relief the pain. Go to your veterinarian as soon as possible. Remember that, though the opened injuries can seem to be more serious, the internal wounds that hide the closed injuries can be equally mortal.

Symptoms of opened injuries:

• Tears in the skin, sometimes a small perforation.
• Pain.
• Hemorrhage.
• The animal licks itself or takes excessive attention to a certain body area.