Beat-up tom cat

kortmann

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A few weeks ago my neutered tom, Ed, was attacked by either a dog or a coyote and beat up pretty badly. He was able to somehow get home using only his front legs. I was pretty sure he was a goner. I am homebound but was able to find a vet who was willing to come and pick him up. He was at the vets for the better part of a week where he was cleaned up stiched up, and given fluids as he was quite dehydrated although he was missing for only a few hours. He was x-rayed and given anti-biotics IV. When he came home, he still did not have normal use of his hind legs but improved quickly. All went well for about a week at which time I noticed a small lesion of about  ¾ cm. on the back of his neck slightly right of the center line. It was weeping a small amount of clear fluid. There was no wound in the area from the attack. It dried up over the next 24 hours but grew in size to about 3 cm. very red with the skin quite hard but not a scab. A friend took him back to the vet where he got a shot of antibiotic with the vet saying he would be “fine”. A couple of days later, a similar lesion appeared next to the first but just left of the center line progressing in the same way and growing to approximately the same size. He seems to feel fine but I’m not OK by any means. I live in a small town so a different vet is not a viable option. My hope is that someone has seen this problem and can suggest a diagnosis. I have tried treating him with topical steroid  (betamethasone) and OTC antibiotic ointment. Neither seems to have any effect positive or negative. All other injuries healed well and use of all limbs is normal.


Thanks,

Ken
 

denice

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My first thought is an abscess that is opening up and draining.  The original wound could've been a bite that wasn't initially visible.  That happens a lot with cat bites because the original wound is a small yet fairly deep puncture wound.
 
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kortmann

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Thanks for the reply.
The sites look wet due to ointment on them. They have drained only a drop or two. If they are abscesses, should not the antibiotics have made them improve?
Ken
 

imacatexpert

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Same experience with one of my cats the first thing I did was put a warm cloth to make it not hurt to bad but if that doesn't work it could have been the other animals rabies that infected him and go back to the vet
 

pushylady

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I hope these start healing up properly. Your poor guy has been through the wars and has done well healing so far. To me it looks like two puncture wounds from the teeth of whatever got him, and the wounds are abscesses. The vet gave him an antibiotic shot - was this a long acting one? I would think your cat should be on a course of antibiotics to help him fight this.
 
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kortmann

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Denice,

Ed, was attacked by either a dog or a coyote. I went over him w/ a flashlight when he got home from the vet and found no wounds there.

Pushylady,

Yes, long acting.

Imacatexpert,

Ed tells me he is not in pain. This by his actions as I have not yet mastered the language. He was inoculated against rabies when he was neutered a couple of years ago. Is there something about the appearance or location of the lesions which suggest a reaction to rabies to you? Why do you mention this?

Thanks all,

Ken 
 
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