Persistant cat wound

My 10 year old cat went to the vet 2 months ago for some blood tests and they shaved her neck. She has since been scratching that bare area and since there is no hair to protect her neck, she is bleeding all the time. We have been struggling with this wound for 2 months and we are desperate for any suggestions. If her hair could grow back, it would probably protect her neck, but since it is just a large scab now, or bloody wound, the hair is very slow to grow back if it grows at all. We have tried covering her paws so she can't scratch but she always finds a way to get it off. We have tried covering her neck with a homemade cast of gauze and paper towel but when she extends her neck to scratch she can still scratch the wound. Sometimes it bleeds so bad that it sprays out, I am afraid for my cat and will try anything. We have been putting polysporin but she is still scratching all the time.Please any suggestions will help, my poor baby is miserable!

We have brought her back to the vet about a month ago, and they said that the itching was probably because her hair was growing back matted, so they shaved it again and gave her antibiotics just in case, things have been worst ever since. Her hair can't even grow back as much as it did before they shaved it the second time.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Hi, Have you heard of Colloidal Silver?
Take a look at this thread - it was a huge and very nasty wound.....
good luck!
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/240011/colloidal-silver-usage-for-cats-health-in-some-occasions

We have not used colloidal silver, the wound is quite superficial, but fairly large, covering from the bottom of her chin to about half way down her neck about 2 inches wide. It is pretty much a scab when she hasn't scratched the scab off. We believe that the wound is from lack of protection to her neck since she probably use to scratch the other side of her neck just as much but a wound hasn't formed since she has hair to protect it. Also we believe that the hair growing back made her itchier and now the scab drying up probably makes her even itchier again. We have been cleaning the wound very often so we are not extremely worried about bacteria which I believe would be the main use of the silver? (correct me if I'm wrong) Thanks for your suggestion, we may still try it since we are desperate for anything! 

You might want to consider getting her a cone to wear so she can't scratch anymore. It may help?

Draco said:

You might want to consider getting her a cone to wear so she can't scratch anymore. It may help?

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that too..... they do have soft collars that are more comfortable though......

I remember an episode on animal cops a cat that had the same issue. The new owner always had to supervise the cat and when she's not around, the cat has to wear a cone. Someone also knitted a thick and wide collar for the cat to wear too.

We have actually knitted her a collar, it was super cute! but still not very effective, and she kept getting caught in it when trying to clean herself. We have bought a few cones at our local pet store just to find out they were for dogs and she couldn't eat with it, but I plan on going to buy one from a vet tomorrow for cats. Any links on a softer collar? I'm sure she will be very unhappy with the cone, but better she be miserable for a bit and let it heal than miserable forever with that terrible wound. Thanks for the suggestions! 

Michakitty said:

We have actually knitted her a collar, it was super cute! but still not very effective, and she kept getting caught in it when trying to clean herself. We have bought a few cones at our local pet store just to find out they were for dogs and she couldn't eat with it, but I plan on going to buy one from a vet tomorrow for cats. Any links on a softer collar? I'm sure she will be very unhappy with the cone, but better she be miserable for a bit and let it heal than miserable forever with that terrible wound. Thanks for the suggestions! 

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Here are a couple: The comfy cone and ProCollar, Small

Thanks for all the suggestions. Would baby oil with aloe Vera and vitamin e be safe to put on?

I really can't see oil helping, and if you use Google you will find that Aloe Vera is toxic to cats.  It sounds to me like if you can stop her scratching enough it will heal.  Have you been to the vets with it again?  Suspect symptomatic treatment (anti itch, pain killers) might help.  Personally I would steer clear of the Polysporin as well.

OrientalSlave said:

if you use Google you will find that Aloe Vera is toxic to cats. 

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Aloe vera is only toxic in large quantities, and only a specific part (the cells right below the rind). At most, a cat would experience gastrointestinal disturbances if they ingested it. Pure aloe vera gel, without sodium benzoate as a preservative, is actually great for healing wounds. But no, I wouldn't use baby oil. 

Frankly, I'd be looking for a new vet.

Sounds like she needs an anti-itch type cream.

You can try neosporin with pain relief. This particular cream or ointment, while not anti-itch, will deaden sensation at the wound site, so she will leave it alone.

Or ask your vet for Animax ointment. Animax is very effective. I have a cat who sometimes licks a raw spot on her self. The Animax stops the licking and heals the wound. But it is prescription only, so you need to get it from the vet.

Welcome to the forum, please keep us posted on your kitty.

PS Does she have fleas?

Michakitty said:

 We have been cleaning the wound very often so we are not extremely worried about bacteria

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Just occurred to me: what are you cleaning the wound with, and how often? Perhaps it's interferring with the healing process.

Something like Vetricyn might be a good choice to help speed up healing.

I just thought about something.... There is a powder I have used in the past..... PURE MAGIC
You have to get it at the vet's office though, but awesome stuff It is called Neo-Predef - it is a combination of neomycin Sulfate, isopredone and tetracaine - so...... it has an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic/anti-itch..... it covers all basis.... she will stop scathing it helping to heal, and will have all the other properties you are looking for.... and because it is a powder, not a gel/cream, the skin still breathes, the wound heals/dries up faster..... This has been great for Bugsy.... Sorry I totally forgot about this! It is great stuff really - your vet should have it