Split nail

mommytobuck

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So as I mentioned, my cat split a nail down to quick at the vet on Thursday. I managed to get the bleeding under control but once I allowed my cat to not have the elizabethan collar... he went at it and early took the  scab off. I woke up to blood all over my house (I am still finding it). 

So I put the e-collar back on and the bleeding is under control. I got some antibiotics and my cat seems in good shape. 

My question is, how long should I leave the e-collar on?  When will it be likely that he can't open the wound again?

I asked this question of my vet and as usual.. she didn't answer (probably doesn't know) I was thinking 7 days would be enough. But I would prefer to leave it on long enough that there will be no chance at further injury. 
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Gosh, can you not press your Vet for an answer?  If not, then perhaps you are just going to have to look at the nail and judge for yourself as a little more time goes by.  I would just have a little stiptic powder on hand in case. 
 
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mommytobuck

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She has ignored the question twice when asked point blank. She obviously isn't going to answer because she doesn't really know the extent of the damage because she clearly just threw my cat in the carrier and then noticed the blood afterward.  I was thinking 1 week but I don't know if I am going to make it that long. My cat keeps trying to scratch at his ears with the e collar on... making me worry he will catch his toe on it and cause new bleeding. I think I am going go try to keep it on him as long as possible. 

If he causes new bleeding the cycle starts all over again not to mention I am STILL cleaning up blood all over my home.  I can't have another bleeder. 

I might see if I can put a bandage on his paw. 

ETA: I was thinking that tonight my cat has been super active. This may mean that his foot is feeling better and healing. Of course, it may also mean that he finally has recovered from his horribly exhausting trip to the vet. 
 
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mommytobuck

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Just in case this comes up for anyone else... 

I went to an online vet (like just answer) and she said I should keep the e-collar on for a week.  I think I will give him breaks to the best of my ability. 
 
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mommytobuck

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After getting the opportunity to look at the nail more carefully I am unsure that the story the vet told me is true. The entire paw is completely mangled in a way I am not sure will not cause future problems. Such as an ingrown toe nail. One nail seems like it is sideways now and naturally that way. I am so angry. I can't 100% tell what is the deal until I get my cat to clean the area out. But it clearly looks like one of the nails is sideways and I can see that growing into the foot.  I might have to take him to another vet to have surgery on the paw to fix it. This just shouldn't have happened. 
 

mrsgreenjeens

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What happened in the first place?  How did the nail split?  I don't see how that could cause a different nail to grow sideways into his paw, not already...they grow fast, but just since Thursday?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying. 

But if you don't trust your Vet, then by all means, find another.  You need to be able to trust the person taking care of your fur babies
.
 
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mommytobuck

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No I am saying it looks like the nail next to it was mangled. In theory this happened when they had him in a towel and probably when the pulled the towel off him and put him back into the carrier. 
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Gotcha.  Sorry I misunderstood


I had a cat once whose dewclaw got too long and grew into her pad.  I felt so bad that I hadn't noticed it.  The groomer caught it and gently pulled it out and clipped it.  As luck would have it, she (the cat) was already on antibiotic for something else, so we felt ok with just keeping the area clean and watching it for any inflammation.  It healed up with no issue. 

I would hope if it isn't too long this might be able to be handled inbasically the same way
 
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mommytobuck

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Well, we will see. Perhaps once the wound is cleared it will be clear what it is.

I don't know .. if I have to send him back to the vet for anything... it will be horrible. He will have to be sedated so they can work on him and I don't want that.  So far when we just do the light sedation it doesn't really knock him out and if we do the Kettimine he is so messed up for so long.  I can't really look at the paw (my cat won't let me look for anything but a moment)  so I can't imagine anyone just doing something to the claw normally. 

Never should have happened. 
 
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