Hot spot healing...

Hi there! I'm new to this site after only just signing up recently, but I thought it was about time I joined as I'd like a place to talk and discuss all things feline, especially for when I get worried about mah babies.

My family and I currently have 2 cats who we adopted from a shelter a few years ago. They're both boys, one called Scarfy and one called Franklin. Franklin is currently the source of our plight. A few months ago he was hit by a car and dislocated the left joint in his hip. He had surgery to remove the ball from the socket. Thankfully the nightmare of all that is mostly gone: the scar is barely visible now and he is doing very well now, as he can move quickly and jump when he wants to and has full run of the house. He is very happy that he is no longer confined to the laundry, part of his earlier recovery process, and is content to spend most of the day sleeping on my bed, lol. The movement of his walk is still a tiny bit off, not a limp but more of a...sway? 

Anyway, that's not the main problem. The main issue right now is that Franklin has developed a "hot spot" on his back, near where his tail starts. I could post a few photos, maybe? I heard it's good to keep the area dry and cool, shaving the surrounding area being helpful. Half of his backside was shaved from the surgery a while ago, and the fur there hasn't grown back fully, so I thought that might be good. I thought maybe we could bandage it somehow, but apparently it is better to not do that. 

I guess I feel silly for wanting advice, because we've already been to the vet concerning this issue and there's also plenty out there on google. It's just that with the treatment we're giving him, (oral antibiotics, betadine antiseptic liquid and an anti-lick liquid being applied to the wound) it seems to be taking a while for the hot spot to go away. I mean we can't monitor him every single minute of the day, but I'm not sure the anti-lick stuff works - it doesn't seem to deter him. The area still looks very red and raw. It would be great if we could put an Elizabethan collar on him, but the one we have doesn't seem to be big enough - Franklin still manages to lick the area with the collar on.

I think that's about it for now, any advice would be appreciated!
I guess I'd also like to talk about minor personality/behavior things concerning both our cats, but I'll save that for another day  

Welcome! Goodness, Franklin has been through so much and is very lucky to have you!! Your doing great. One of my feral cats had an awfully bloody baseball size hot spot on his back last Spring. I managed to trap him and get him to the vet. He received a shot of Covenia and a steroid shot as well. He was then released back out in my yard. It did take a couple of weeks to start healing over, but it did and I was amazed how he was able to heal on his own. For Franklin, I would recommend shaving the hair surrounding the hot spot. It is extremely important NOT to cover the area and let the air get at it all the time. Willow, my feral, also licked his as I saw him doing that. Even if you put an collar on Franklin, the spot (depending on how bad it is) will take a couple of weeks to heal over completely and he will go back to licking it when the collar comes off. So he either would have to live in the collar for up to three weeks or just let him be. You can also put Colloidal Silver 500 PPM on the wound. That is what I use. OR you could try this wonderful wound healing spray Vetricyn VF There is a smaller bottle too on Amazon. I have the four ounce sized bottle. I hope this helps. Also, Prednisone, a steroid will help very much too. Ask your vet about the steroid to aid in quick healing.

Well, I too was going to suggest Colloidal Silver.  Wsn't aware of that other spray Lauren suggested.  Sounds pretty good

Hopefully one or the other will help your little guy!