HELP! Cat has "wounds" that keep coming back!

cheeqz

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One of my cats got out a few months ago and came home with a huge wound an her side (a long straight cut down her side). We took her to the vet, where she was stitched up (including a drain), given antibiotics, and sent home. She seemed out of it, but we were told that the anesthesia would do that. When we took her in to have the drain removed, she was still "not herself". Again, it was assumed that healing was just taking a bit out of her.

Her wound was not healing at the rate it should, and after several check ups, she was kept at the vet for observation. It appears that she had some sort of infection that was preventing her from healing, and causing new little "wounds" to appear. After spending a MONTH at the vet, they sent her home with some antibiotics (Clamavox and something else) and we were told that she was finally doing fine, and to continue the antibiotics until they ran out. She had been doing ok, eating and drinking fine, but she wasn't gaining any weight back (she weighed 7 lbs by the time we got her back from the vet). After about two weeks of being off the antibiotics, I noticed the "wounds" had started to reappear. Evidently, whatever this infection was, it was not killed off.

So, today, she is back at the vet. They want to perform surgery to remove the necrotic tissue, and put her on more antibiotics.

Has ANYONE seen anything like this before? She is now just over 5 pounds despite eating regularly, and I would hate to have her stuck at the vet for another month (not to mention the bills associated with all of this) if they are just going to do the same thing over again and end up with a sad, sick cat in the end.

All help is appreciated....

~Sad Owner
 

cearbhaill

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That sounds extreme all right. Like it turned into a really nasty abcess that they kept almost knocking out, but then more pockets would develop.

Opening her up, cleaning everything out, and doing a really clean close should end all of it, wouldn't you think?? Will they be doing a culture & sensitivity on the infection to be positive and choose the correct antibiotic? At this point I believe I would insist on it. What's one more test $$, right?

Did you ever get any clues as to how she had been hurt in the first place? Did it look like a blade/mechanical cut or a bite rip tear sort of wound?
I ask because we have some very nasty bacteria here in Florida and scads of nasty animals as well. If she was mauled by something with excessively toxic or rare mouth bacteria that would help explain it.

Please keep us updated!!

And welcome to The Cat Site

It's a shame it had to be for this reason...
 
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cheeqz

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They did do a culture last time and did find some sort of bacteria - so the antibiotics they chose were based on that information. However, it seem that those didn't knock the bacteria out like they thought it had. After doing some research I asked the vet if they had tried tetracycline, as it is indicated for the bacteria they found, and is the only thing that will kill L form bacteria, which will not show up in a culture (but have shown the same symptoms as what is going on with my cat). So this time around the vet is going to try the tetracycline. Sasha (the cat) is having surgery this afternoon.

As far as her cut, my guess would be some sort of blade (maybe she crawled under something she shouldn't have?) as the cut was very clean. Someone told me raccons can slice a cat in the same manner, but I would have expected her to appear more "Beat up" if it had been another animal.

I will keep everyone posted, as I would hate for anyone else to be going through this. And if anyone else reading has seen anything like this, PLEASE give your words of advice.

Thanks for the welcome.
 

spiritedstef

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There was a feral cat I befriended at our old house who had a bad abcess in his neck. After much work, I was able to treat it (you can imagine how fun that was, his being feral!) by cleaning it really well and adding antibiotics to his food bowl anytime he came around. It looked like it had healed, then it returned. Some of the bacteria had entered his system and that antibiotic (amoxicillin) wasn't doing the job. Another stronger antibiotic like tetracycline should work, but I would guess that it would have to be a longer term treatment than the standard 7-10 days. It sounds like you and kitty have been through an awful lot, and I hope you see a total recovery this time around! Best wishes to you both!!
 

mowsluver

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This may or may not have anything to do with cats BUT you never know...my daughter (human of course!) got s small cut which ended up pretty bad---not nasty, pus-sy or anything like that, but bad. They had her on antibiotics and it would get better only to keep coming back. We ended up at an urgent care and the doctor there took a 'special' culture and gave her more antibiotics....then he called the naxt day saying to STOP the meds, that she had a 'drug resistent staph infection' and the meds were only mimicking that she was getting better. He prescribed 'Bactrim' which is a sulpha drug and not used for this kind of stuff....but he was right on and she healed and was fine.
Now I know we are talking 'feline' here, not human, but you never know! I don't know if this will help or anything but .....

Good Luck!
 

calamintha

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Some years ago one of my cats got an abcess wound that turned septic and we went through the exact same thing that you are going through now. The vet tried twice to stitch the wound up but the stitches would not hold because of all the seeping fluid and necrotic tissue. He had one of his colleagues try also and that didn't work either.

After 3 failed surgeries the vet decided that it might be best to let it "granulate" in. The wound was in his stomach and he had a big hole there for a long time but eventually it did heal. He did have to be on antibiotics for quite a while and we had to keep him inside so that it would not get more infected. The vet changed the antibiotics from time to time. The cat was quite sick for a while but he did recover. He is 19 years old now.

The vet did not know what had caused the wound but I did a lot of research and my theory (which I can't confirm) is that I believe he was bitten by a venomous snake. We do have rattlesnakes in the area. Good luck with your cat.
 

nelle

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Poor kitty, and poor you!

It is weird, but my son was just yesterday diagnosed with MRSA, (google it if you want be frightened) which is basically a staph infection that won't respond to many antibiotics. It is a nasty, aggressive thing and becoming common among children (!) It used to be confined to hospitals and nursing homes but is now out in the community.

In doing online research last night, I saw that it is of some veterinary concern, as well, having been found in dogs, horses, pigs, etc. ( I looked specifically for cats and did not find, but that doesn't mean much.) Your vet may want to do another culture to ensure the right antibiotic.

I hope your kitty makes a speedy and complete recovery!
 

kitzcha7777

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Try talking to a homeopathic vet. There are other treatments that do not disturb the good bacteria in your cats gut. 
 

cindysb

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An old fashion remedy that some human hospitals are going back to when all else fails is: 1 part water, 1 part Betadine or Provadine, 1 part white sugar. bring just to a boil to dissolve sugar. Store in a sterile bottle. Apply to the wound with a gauze pad and bandage the wound. I've used this on my husband who had an infection in his toes and has peripheral arterial disease. It worked where antibiotics couldn't get to the foot due to almost no circulation. I've also use it on my mother who have had cellulitis with success. How it works is the bacteria feed on the sugar rather than the flesh and the iodine kills the bacteria. Nursing home use it for bed sores with great results. Hope this helps and hope your kitty feels better soon.
 
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