HELP PLEASE! Cat flesh around nail sunk in and paw smells bad

ofkings

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I only recently found noticed over the last week or so that my cat very occasionally lifts his left paw up for a few seconds before running off somewhere.

When I went to check his paw I found most of one of the nail's body could be seen when his paw was relaxed and a closer look I found that the flesh around the nail seemed to have shrunk in or just dissapeared (he wouldn't let me get a proper look before jumping away) and the foot smelled of a strong odour.

I am really worried that it is infected but he hasn't shown any signs of distress or pain apart from when I tried to clean it with warm salt water. It was heartbreaking to hear him in pain from the slightest touch of salt water.

PLEASE HELP if you can give me any advice on what to do. I doesn't seem like a large wound and isn't bleeding but the smell is really worrying me and If i can treat it at home it would save me a lot of money but if the vet is needed i will go. Just want to know if it will heal on it's own in time or if i can buy anything to help him. 

MANY THANKS
 

janneb

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Aww poor kitty :( this kind of stuff is frightening. The fact that it's smelling makes me think it's rotting or badly infected. I can't think of any home remedies I would do for infected wounds even for myself aside from saltwater or hydrogen peroxide when my ear piercings get irritated. I think it's best to go to a professional. If it can't heal on its own, it's probably getting worse and you don't want them to have to amputate.
Maybe somebody else has heard of this and knows?
 
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ofkings

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Thanks, well he doesn't seem to be in pain when he is walking or running and isn't limping at all. Touching the paw overall is fine too, it's all confusing.
 

artiemom

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It sounds like an infection..if it is stinky with the skin retracting, I would definitely  take him to a Vet. You do not know how long, or how much it hurts him, or how deep the infection has gone.

He needs antibiotics, a through examination of that area along with a professional cleaning.

Cats hide pain; so you really cannot go by, " Well it does not seem to be bothering him".  I have done that in the past and regretted it...

sorry.
 
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ofkings

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Thanks for the reply, I think I will take him to the vet soon and see what they say. :)
 
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