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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3979.0. "Barkley had an Abscess" by WILLEE::MERRITT () Thu Sep 06 1990 12:29

    
    Well Mr. Barkley got into another cat fight...and had to go to
    the Vets.  He has an abscess in the underneath section of the
    base of the tale.  It had burst on Sunday and at this point
    it looks pretty clean.  The Vet gave him a shot, gave us some
    pills, and told us to put vasoline on it.  He asks us to keep
    a close eye on him and call him next week.
    
    Well Barkley is still eating like a horse and it does not
    appear to be bothering him to much...except for he cleans it
    quite a bit.  
                         
    When I was little we had a kitty who had an abscess on the top
    of his head and if I remember correctly it took almost 6 months
    for this thing to heal.  Is this normal or should I expect
    Barkley to be healed within a week? month?  Do I need to keep
    an eye on anything else?  Should I be putting Peroxide on it?
    Any help would be appreciated.
                                                                    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)
    
    Ps..On Sunday I searched my house because I smelled something very
    weird and I thought one of the kitties had an accident....well now
    I know what the horrible smell was.                                                        
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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3979.1poor kitty!WMOIS::P_RIVETTSThu Sep 06 1990 13:4521
    
    
        About 2 or 3 months ago, my male cat was in a fight or something
    and got an abscess on the side of his face.  I took him to the vet when
    I noticed his face starting to puff up and I saw a scratch there.  The
    vet drained it and made a hole in it and I had to put peroxide into the
    cut 2 times a day with a syringe (no needle on it).  I also had to give
    him penicillin twice a day for 10 days.  After that we decided to make
    him an indoor kitty.  He wasn't thrilled a first, but he's doing much
    better now.  
    
        You probably should use the peroxide on it to keep it clean.  Since
    it burst you don't have to have it cut open.  Since your cat goes
    outside you should check him everyday for scratches.  If you find any
    make sure they don't change, i.e. start to puff up.  If they do, (this
    sounds sick) pull the scab off.  Then start putting peroxide on it
    3 times a day. 
    
    Hope this helps!
    
    
3979.2WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityThu Sep 06 1990 19:034
    I am curious as to why the vet told you to put vaseline on the wound.
    Vaseline isn't sterile, and has no antibiotic properties.  Weird.
    
    Jo
3979.3it might keep the wound from sticking and closingTOPDOC::TRACHMANEmacX Exotics * 264-8298Thu Sep 06 1990 21:104
    hmm, it might keep the hole from closing up - vaseline is gooey
    and if the wound is oozing, the goo would prevent the goo from
    sticking together.  intersting treatment!  sort of like packing
    the hole?? maybe?
3979.4WILLEE::MERRITTFri Sep 07 1990 12:1517
    My hubby is the one that brought Barkley,,,but if I remember 
    correctly it was something about keeping the top layer of the
    skin soft so the abscess could clean out before the skin grew
    back.  Well we put it on twice a day.....and Barkley takes it
    off.  The Vet said vaseline is not harmful to the kitty if lapped
    off. Do you agree???  I'll ask him for more specifics about the 
    vaseline when I call him back.  
    
    The boo boo is looking pretty good...it definitely hasn't gotten
    any bigger.  How long does it normally take abscesses to heal?
    We're keep a close eye on him...but he's still eating like a pig,
    running like a nut, and still guarding the house like a dog.
                                                                
    Sandy 
    
                                    
     
3979.5we *hate* abscessesFRAGLE::PELUSOPAINTS; color your corralFri Sep 07 1990 12:3619
    How big is Barkley's abscess?
    
    Nippa had one, and before the vet did all the stuff he did....I really
    thought one of her toes was bitten off....I could see everything...it
    was bogus!  And is was quite large, the entire topside of her paw was
    affected.  She had 6-10 stiches (not sure how many she pulled out, and
    never remembered to ask the vet).
    
    I thought she had another one (few notes back)and asked my vet about
    what to do....and she said wait it out, and then to call her.  It would
    probably require some sort of treatment, but she didn't think it would
    need to be stiched up.
    
    My vet told me I could vasoline as a substitute for Laxatone, for
    hairball remedy.....I think she likes it just as much!
    
    I hope Barkley heals well and quickly...abscess are NASTY!
    
    Michele and Nippa (where the Laxatone!) 
3979.7WILLEE::MERRITTFri Sep 07 1990 12:4916
    excuse the last note...Barkley's abscess is about 1 inch long and
    about 1/2 inch wide.   The fir is completely gone but the boo boo
    does not appear to be wide open.  It's was real red before...but
    looks like it is getting pink. It does not appear to be oozing at
    all like it was on Sunday.   The Vet did give him a shot and he is taking 
    1/2 pill twice a day.  Don't remember exactly what the name of the
    pill is,,,but its white and has two letters (DM maybe??) on one side.
                                                    
    Abscesses are pretty gross looking....and the smell on Sunday was
    terrible.  How long did the abscess take to heal on your baby.
             
    Sandy
    
    
    
    
3979.8FRAGLE::PELUSOPAINTS; color your corralFri Sep 07 1990 13:0317
    Nippa abscess was probably 1" X 2"  It literally covered her entire
    paw.
    
    She was supposed to have the stitches in for 7 - 10 days.....but
    because she was such a little brat about the whole thing she had to go
    14 days.  After 14 days, the wound had completely healed up.  In fact
    I can't find the scar.  The vet was afraid where it was so large, and
    and in a flexing area, that if he didn't stitch it, it would get
    infected and scar badly.  She also had a bubble gum flavored 
    antibiotic for the duration as well.
    
    It sounds like Barkleys is much smaller and neater.......hopefully it
    will heal quickly.
    
    
    Michele & Nippa (who has a *nice* white collar she can give to barkley)	
    
3979.9TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Fri Sep 07 1990 18:3210
    The thing to keep an eye out for is if it seems to be
    closing up with an infection (pus, etc) building up underneath
    it in some area.  You should be able to tell because it
    will seem a little swollen, etc. in that place.
    
    I don't recollect how long it took Pussycat's abscesses to
    heal when he was an outdoor kitty.  i expect it's like
    any wound, a couple of weeks or so from the time treatment
    starts.
    
3979.10Keep the wound open.XCUSME::QUAYLEi.e. AnnSun Sep 09 1990 21:3821
    Re a note or so back, one *doesn't* hope an abscess will close soon
    since it can easily trap infection therein.  When The Mighty Thor met
    Cat the Ripper (I presume) his resulting abscesses yielded, over time -
    quite a long time - to antibiotic pills (from the vet) and twice or
    thrice daily soakings.  I would soak a paper towel in hot water, then
    squeeze it almost dry and apply to Thorcat's head, repeating until the
    wound reopened and the foul-smelling gunk poured out.  Then I gently
    clean the infected matter and repeat until only blood or clear liquid
    showed up.
    
    I also kept him in as much as possible during the healing time.  I know
    it hurt him, but he would rest in my arms and lay his head on my breast
    or shoulder and patiently endure.  He was a sweetheart, and I miss him
    sorely.  Clarification:  he recovered completely from the abscesses,
    with small neat white scars to show for it, but he was struck and
    killed instantly by a car last summer.  If I'm up to it sometime, I'll
    enter that story since it, although a heartbreaking event, showed
    people in a wonderful light.
    
    aq
    
3979.11CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313Mon Sep 10 1990 12:326
    Ann,
      According to my records Thor was never comemmorated with the Silver
    Lining Memorial awards.  Let me know via vaxmail if you would like
    his name added to this quarter's list.  If you don't know about
    the SLM award read note 2228.
      Nancy DC
3979.12WILLEE::MERRITTTue Sep 18 1990 16:4821
    Barkley's abscess looks great.  It looks almost completely healed
    with just a little scar.  I beleive there is no infection left inside
    because when the abscess first broke...Barkley wouldn't let us near
    his tail.  But now he lets me grab the tail with my hand and run
    it down the length....without even a dirty look.  (ya know that
    look!!!)
    
    Well my guess is that I better start looking for bite marks on Barkley
    every night...so I can catch any cut before it turns to another
    abscess.  Barkley loves to guard the house and fight all creatures
    who try to come in the yard.   I would love to break him of this
    nasty habit....but being a stray....my guess is he fought for
    territory his whole life and now that he found a home...he plans
    on keeping it that way.  I've seen him chase a dog out of the yard.      
    
    Thanks for all your help 
                         
    Sandy (Tamba and Poco...buy Barkley we live here too...knock it
           off Macho man!!)