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KH25 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Cambridge
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 Topic: Should I take him to the vet?
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:39pm |
My rather annoying cat has been fighting with the neighbour's cat again. He's about 9 and has always been a fighter (he is fixed) so of course has had many bites and abcesses (sp) etc. I take him to the vet every time and end up with antibiotics "just in case". So tonight I go in our bedroom and he is lying on the bed with an awful smell and I see he has had yet another abcess burst on his head. It's kinda between his ear and eye. The side of his face is all swollen and there is stinky gunk coming out of it. He is cleaning it though. So do I need to take him to the vet or should it just heal on it's own? He doesn't seem sick or anything, still eating and drinking etc. Last time it happened the vet said he would have been in pain before it burst (which I haven't noticed  but after it has burst, all the bad stuff is coming out so he just gave antibiotics "just in case" again (and a big vet bill of course). What to do?
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Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11)
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sem
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:43pm |
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I'd keep an eye on it for a day or so. Make sure the wound is open so it can drain and heal. You might need to squeeze it a bit to drain all the puss out of it.
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Here we go again, another baby on it's way! 
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KH25
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:46pm |
Ewww  it's really stinky I'll probably vomit lol!! Wonder if I can convince DH to do it  Seriously though, there does seem to be alot of muck coming out so it must be open. I think I will just keep a close eye on him, I have a busy week this week, not to mention a birthday party to host on Saturday so don't really have the spare $ atm!
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Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11)
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Mucky_Tiger
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:47pm |
have you got a man friend handy?
get him to hold the cat and gently slice the abcess (very tiny nick) and squeeze out the goo
i only ask for a man to do it cos as a female im all "ooh i cant hurt the cat:" but it does help it.
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KH25
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:48pm |
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OMG that's even worse!!! And DH is a big wuss when it comes to things like that lol, no way would he do it!!!
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Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11)
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amme_eilyk
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:53pm |
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try rinsing it with a very weak salt solution when ever you have a chance, also swabbing it with a sterilised cotton bud in salt solution will help.
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hannibal
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:57pm |
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Sorry but I take the cat to the vet, especially if your pregnant too.
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ALittleLoopy
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 9:00pm |
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Hey hun, im a trained vet nurse, what i did to my mums boy was squeeze the puss out and rip off any scab as that will open it up, then make a salt solution and flush it as much as you can, then let it heal over, try and keep him inside till the scab heals over and goes hard to prevent any further infection.
if he gets lethargic, or goes off food or water get him to the vet as hell need AB's otherwise should be fine, works for our cats everytime, never taken them for CBA
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AngieBabe
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 9:16pm |
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Yep, I'm another who doesn't bother with the vet in cases like this with my cats, I just do the salt-water solution and flush out the wound thing and seems to work a treat.
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High9
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 9:24pm |
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We always go to the vet if they seem 'off' or not their usual self!
We do the salt-water solution too, have never had to squeeze anything as too much of a wimp haha, but it will help it heal faster.
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kiwi2
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Posted: 14 June 2010 at 9:46pm |
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Do you have any antibacterial ointment like bactroban (human) hanging around. Or any rawleighs yellow ointment. Do the salt flush and clean it all up. If you have some ointment put in on or just keep cleaning with salt water 2 times a day.
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MindyW
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Posted: 15 June 2010 at 11:46am |
I'm a def "take him to the vet" type of person if my little boy is unwell! Yes he is a spoilt cat but he's my responsibility...... though Bam sounds like the expert!
Esp if you are pregnant you wouldnt want any gunk etc oozing out not worth any risk
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My Beautiful Little Emily
We've Waited for You Forever!
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tictacjunkie
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 9:58am |
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As a former vet nurse I second the salt solution (I've found sea salt works best), and as an amateur herbalist I'd suggest powdered black pepper- it's anti-septic and you don't have to touch anything! Just season the cat's head & try not to sneeze! Don't use Dettol- really bad for cats. And if you know what fumitory is (a weed) that works great too (i use it on our pets & children). The key thing with abcesses is to keep them open. Hope he gets better soon, =)
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Should I take him to the vet?
