Blood clot - what should I do?

twofatcats

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I was just wrestling with Red Cat to give him his medicine. I suppose I must have hit my finger against the edge of the counter or something when he almost got away. Anyway, I now have a big hard lump of a blood clot near the first joint of my forefinger, about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in width. (It makes typing just a bit difficult!) Is there anything I should do about this thing tonight? Like take more aspirin or something? I'm already on low-dose aspirin therapy, 81 mg. a day. Should I put heat or cold on it? I never can remember all these things.
 

ricalynn

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I would say cold and elevation to reduce the bleeding and swelling, and Tylenol for the inflammation, since you're already taking aspirin daily. You may need to call your family doc, the blood blister may need to be drained if it's interfering with movement of your joint. Red cat must be a real scrapper!!!!


*Disclaimer: the above advice is from an individual with NO formal medical training, but lots of practical experience from a parent in the health-care field. This post not intended to replace the advice of your doctor!
*
 

arlyn

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My mom would always just pierce the skin on them (I'm not recommending you do this, my mom was a nurse).
I would do just as already posted, cold, elevation and anti-inflamorties.
 
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twofatcats

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Yeah, I've never had kids and when I was a kid never seemed to have any of these problems. So I'm totally inexperienced in such matters. One tries to look up some of these little things in a web search and all you find are the big things, like strokes or severe injuries. I know sometimes the little things one does at first can make a problem better or worse.

The hard blood clot is not like a blister on the surface, it seems to be deeper in the finger.

Yep, Red Cat is strong and can put up quite a battle. I took him to a groomer to be bathed a couple of years ago. He went ballistic, scratched the groomer, and she told me never to bring him back.
 
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twofatcats

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I'm just thankful that it is on my left hand, not my right. At least I can write checks and sew this way.
 
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twofatcats

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Thanks for the help last night. It is much, much better this morning. Still have a big bruise there, of course, across the whole bottom of the finger and up over the side and to the top on one side. But instead of a huge bulging hard lump, there is relatively little swelling. I kid you not, last night it bulged up so high that the skin hurt from stretching so much.

So it was Red Cat-1, Carol-0 last night. He managed to spit the pill out several times, and made mush of it so there was no use trying to get that down him again. He was getting so angry with that bitter stuff in his mouth that I gave up. That was the last half-pill I had. He has managed to make mush out of four of them (out of 19), so I guess I'll have to go back to the vet's office this morning and get more pills to finish his course of medication. He still isn't over his colitis, though he is much better.

Cat "ownership" isn't all fun and roses, is it?
 

beckiboo

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There is something called "pill pockets" that is supposed to work. Or get empty capsules and stick the yucky pill inside.

Good luck, poor baby, and poor Carol!
 

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Sounds like RedCat could be nicknamed "Cougar"!
Maybe the vet can offer you some advice on your finger, when you stop by for the replacement meds. I'm sorry that RedCat has colitis - I've heard that it can be very miserable for cat or human. Keep up your good efforts
- that's the love of a true mewommy showing!


Originally Posted by twofatcats

I was just wrestling with Red Cat to give him his medicine. I suppose I must have hit my finger against the edge of the counter or something when he almost got away. Anyway, I now have a big hard lump of a blood clot near the first joint of my forefinger, about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in width. (It makes typing just a bit difficult!) Is there anything I should do about this thing tonight? Like take more aspirin or something? I'm already on low-dose aspirin therapy, 81 mg. a day. Should I put heat or cold on it? I never can remember all these things.
 
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