Abscess in cats jaw

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guynoir - 25 Aug 2006 16:22 GMT

This is a very nasty looking hole in a cat's jaw:

http://www.spiretech.com/~guynoir/livestock/fork.jpg

The wound is quite deep. It is partially covered with a flap of blood
matted hair. It is not tender, it doesn't appear to be infected. I'm
keeping the cat confined and keeping the wound filled with antibiotic
ointment.

I plan on taking him to the vet tomorrow. Is he likely to get
stitches? Will the vet do anything besides put him on Clavimox?
Assuming it doesn't get infected and starts healing today, is it even
worth taking him to the vet?

John Kimmel
guyXnoirATspireXtech.com

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sighthounds & siberians - 25 Aug 2006 16:38 GMT

>This is a very nasty looking hole in a cat's jaw:
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>Assuming it doesn't get infected and starts healing today, is it even
>worth taking him to the vet?

1) You describe this as an abscess. An abscess is infected.
2) Because your jaw isn't the one that has this hole, you can't state
with certainty that it isn't tender.
3) Unless you are a vet, you cannot state with certainty that it
isn't infected.
4) Assuming that this isn't a sick joke or an attempt at trolling,
then yes, you should take the cat to the vet.

Mustang Sally

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22brix - 25 Aug 2006 17:12 GMT

> This is a very nasty looking hole in a cat's jaw:
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> John Kimmel
> guyXnoirATspireXtech.com

If he were my cat, I'd take him in. A topical antibiotic is not
sufficient--especially in a deep wound. As to stitches--I don't know. If
there's an infection, they may want to leave it "open" so that it can drain.
Do you have any idea how he got the wound in the first place?

Good luck.

Bonnie

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guynoir - 25 Aug 2006 18:14 GMT

> If he were my cat, I'd take him in. A topical antibiotic is not
> sufficient--especially in a deep wound. As to stitches--I don't know. If
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie,

The wound looks like an abscess caused by a claw injury from fighting,
but since it's not tender, swollen, oozing pus, and the skin is not
red, I think it's just a big hole. If it were my cat, I'd take him in
too, but if it were me, I'd treat it myself and wait until I developed
a fever before I went in. This is a semi-feral cat. He gets limited
medical benefits because sometimes I can catch him, usually when he's
hungry, cold or sick. I've taken many cats in who had similar injuries
and infections. The treatment has always been what I'd have done
anyway if I hadn't taken him to the vet. I'd rather save the money for
the really serious injuries like broken legs, surgery or renal failure.
I could get at least two and probably four cats neutered for what it's
likely to cost me to treat this one.

John Kimmel
guyXnoirATspireXtechDOTcom

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buglady - 26 Aug 2006 00:15 GMT

> The wound looks like an abscess caused by a claw injury from fighting,

........that's what it looks like to me - an abcess that burst. They
usually leave these open so they can drain. Sometimes they get injectable
antibiotics, though I don't know if this is strictly necessary.

This is a semi-feral cat. He gets limited

> medical benefits because sometimes I can catch him, usually when he's
> hungry, cold or sick. I've taken many cats in who had similar injuries
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I could get at least two and probably four cats neutered for what it's
> likely to cost me to treat this one.

.......since you're helping a lot of ferals and strays, is there no way your
vet could sell you some oral antibiotics (assuming the cat would take them)
without seeing the cat? Some vets will work with feral rescuers. Might be
worth a shot, especially if you've been going to the same vet for a while.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / August 2006

Abscess in cats jaw