Please Help - 8 yr old Cat w/ Sore on Head

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Billy - 07 Aug 2007 01:04 GMT

This weekend we noticed our white/black *indoor* cat had a patch of
his hair missing from his head just over the right eyelid. It appeared
as a nail scratch from our other more agressive cat as they play fight
sometimes. I applied some peroxide on a q-tip to the area. The next
day, the area turned a pinkish/red color and grew to the size of a
dime. The area is flat, not raised or depressed, but it was becoming
bloody/crusty so I applied more peroxide on a q-tip. After only a
couple of days it seems to be moving down closer to his upper eyelid
but not yet there. We noticed new open wounds within that small area
that my wife thinks is the result of him scratching. I dont know if
it's a scratch, a growth, cancerous, eczema, etc. My question for the
vet will be, why is he scratching this - what is the underlying
condition?

I fear it may be some cancerous lesion, but my wife thinks it it just
the result of a scratch.

We will be bringin him to the Vet in a couple of days but any of your
expeiences/knowledge with the possibilities of this type of feline
skin irritation would be helpful.

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Billy - 07 Aug 2007 02:51 GMT

> This weekend we noticed our white/black *indoor* cat had a patch of
> his hair missing from his head just over the right eyelid. It appeared
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> expeiences/knowledge with the possibilities of this type of feline
> skin irritation would be helpful.

Here's a picture:
http://www.mywebnj.com/20070806.JPG

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buglady - 08 Aug 2007 14:19 GMT

The next

> > day, the area turned a pinkish/red color and grew to the size of a
> > dime. The area is flat, not raised or depressed, but it was becoming
> > bloody/crusty so I applied more peroxide on a q-tip

........as Matt said, don't keep using peroxide. Some don't use it at all,
but I have nothing against using it once to clean up the wound.

> > We will be bringin him to the Vet in a couple of days

........good. Anything developing this rapidly needs attention. I know
you're scared about cancer as you've mentioned it several times, but cancer
doesn't literally pop up overnight. If it's an infection that needs
antibiotics, the longer you wait, the more it gets entrenched.

......please post back and let us know what the vet said.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

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Billy - 10 Aug 2007 19:49 GMT

> The next
> > > day, the area turned a pinkish/red color and grew to the size of a
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> buglady
> take out the dog before replying

This was a trauma wound likely caused by our other more agressive cat.
She cleaned the area with warm water on a cotton pad then applied one
of those funnel collars around his neck. She believes that he was
scratching or pawing at it thereby self-inflicting repetitive wounds
by re-opening the scabbed area. I was really concerned this was either
Basal Cell Carninoma or Squamous Cell Carninoma. His wound looked very
similar to the orange/white cats head pictures on the site to follow
below - just a smaller version of it but exactly in the same
vicitinity of the head. For those with cats with skin problems, a good
resource of all summarized possibilities is listed here:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1338&articleid=202

***Lesson Learned:*** Do see a vet and dont try to self-diagnose, many
conditions similarly mimic others.

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Rocky - 07 Aug 2007 04:29 GMT

Billy <UseNewz@hotmail.com> said in alt.med.veterinary:

> I fear it may be some cancerous lesion, but my wife thinks
> it it just the result of a scratch.

It could also be a result of the treatment. Peroxide kills live
tissue. I'd no longer continue the peroxide treatment until I
consulted a vet.

Signature

--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / August 2007

Please Help - 8 yr old Cat w/ Sore on Head