Ripped Off Scab [Torn Claw]

Hello, 

My 8 month old cat has a torn claw but the claw isn't torn off completely but the area around the claw looks punctured. 

Anyways I've been cleaning his paw in saline and spraying hydrogen peroxide and wrapping with a bit of antibiotic ointment and everything was going good and the smell was almost gone. 

Today my dad let Carl outside   into our fenced in backyard because he was crying at the door because he hasn't been outside since I found out about his claw. I usually let Carl out once a day into the backyard for about a hour when I have time to supervise him. He is up on all his shots and doesn't leave the large fenced in backyard. 

Well while I was washing his paw before bed and I noticed his claw looked black and hard and I though it was poop or dirt from outside so I picked it off. When I got it off I there was some pink 'stuff' underneath it and realized that I just picked off his scab... that was protecting his paw. Carl wasn't even moving or in pain when I was picking off the scab so was was almost positive it was dirt or poop. 

I FEEL SO BAD  that I just interrupted his healing process Now it is open AGAIN and exposed and I'm scared that I will get infected!!!!

How bad is it that I removed the scab? How long will it take to re-scab? 

We've all accidentally ripped a scab off of someone or something or bumped into someones stitches. If you are keeping it clean and it doesn't look infected and isn't bleeding freely I would just watch it. I'd let your dad know that letting your cat out might raise the risk of infection which would lead to money being spent at the vet.

My dad's dog Buddy has double dewclaws on his back feet and the lady who trims his nails missed them last time so they were long. He caught one on the couch and tore it out and bled all over before we noticed and cleaned it up. He got an infection and had to take a course of antibiotics, it was oozy, swollen, red and hot to the touch.

I'd just watch it for signs of infection and keep it clean like your doing. Keeping him in until it heals will make it a lot safer.  Best of luck!

Oh, poor you, it's horrible when you think you've done something that hurts your cat. You were trying to look after his paw and that was necessary to do.  

One of my tabbies declawed her own back paw on new years eve a good few years back.  She got a fright when I turned the hoover on and tore out of my sitting room leaving a claw in the carpet when she turned sharply to get round the door.     I only realized when I went to check she was OK and found the trail of blood.  Being me I panicked and took her down to my old vet at the time.  He cleaned it up and put a tight bandage over the paw to keep dirt and litter off it for a week or two. Poor Pal gave herself a fright every time she caught sight of the bandage and  would leap up in the air like she was being chased by a ghost. I felt so sorry for her.  The claw grew back fine and the only lasting effect was an apparent increased sensitivity when I was clipping that particular claw. 

I think you are doing everything the vet would do other than having put a dressing over to keep dirt out of the wound. As long as it isn't showing any sign of infection and you keep a daily eye on it to check, I'm sure it will be OK.

Glad to know I'm not evil lol! Carl's paw already started to scab again and even though he is feeling great I will make sure no one lets him out. My Dad thinks it torture to keep him inside because he grew up with horses, some other farm animals and cats in Africa so he thinks Carl needs to be outside. 

@MServant, I have been wrapping him up after cleaning and let it air out during bed time. I've just used a bit of EMT First-Aid Gel Ointment, gauze pads, cotton roll and then held together with some medical tape and vet wrap. I did lots of research and I think its paying off. Carl has a mouth exam and cleaning in a few weeks (his breath lol) so I hope everything goes good until then. 

Sounds like you're doing really well.  I cant believe you managed to do a bandage that stays on more than 5 seconds!  

Young cats, stinky breath and mouth exams: - in the nicest possible way,  I hope not to hear too much from you on that front  (i.e. Carl fine once he's been for his 'cleaning').   Loads of posts on this site about similar situations and I tend to read as Mouse had real problems with his mouth when he was about Carl's age.