Back again -cat neck wound

[jvmay1703]

I’m back with another post about this same issue of neck wound. To recap cat had abscess in May, started scratching under neck I think bc hair was growing back. Took to vet, went through all kinds of steroids etc nothing worked. Gave him covenia. I had to take him back because it didn’t get better and he’s lost weight but is always starving. The gave him covenia again and did all blood work. Came back and said he had heart murmur and anemia. I swear that’s because of covenia (but anyway). So now he’s had another round of veraflox. I’m going to take him to another vet tomorrow but what could possibly work? He keeps scratching and it’s never healing. I feel awful. Vet said he has some disease that is causing him to not heal (but yet All organs are healthy). Anyone have any idea or what could they do to quickly fix this? Also it doesn’t help that he’s extremely hard to deal with in vet setting so they have to knock him out to give any shots and he can sense any meds in his food. Thanks for any suggestions.

Scratching neck issue

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi, is the new vet a specialist, or would be willing to consult with a university medical veterinary department?

 

[jvmay1703]

Hi. Not a specialist just another vet in my hometown, which is very small. What type of specialty would I look for? Honestly, I’m willing to work with anyone that will help. I just feel like I’m not getting anywhere and we are trying two rounds of same meds back to back.

 

[Furballsmom]

See if they'd be willing to consult, that might be a better approach.

 

[jvmay1703]

Thank you

 

[Furballsmom]

Let us know what happens, that neck wound looks incredible.

 

[silent meowlook]

You would most likely need a dermatologist and internal medicine specialist. I would look for a specialty hospital that has both.

That is a nasty looking wound. There are food allergies that can cause severe head and neck scratching, but this looks pretty bad. I suppose there could be a foreign body like a foxtail or something in there.

I would not let them continue to just throw different antibiotics at your cat without knowing what they are treating. I would imagine either a culture and sensitivity or biopsy would be in order.

Make sure any vet you use is aware of the low blood count/anemia, before they sedate.

How is your cat if you handle him for the vet? Gabapentin can be helpful for vet visits but you would have to be able to give him a pill.

If he is hard to handle at the vet, you might be if it from a feline only practice. They are usually much better treating cats that don’t care for vets. Also much quieter.

You can also look for practices that are Cat friendly. Below is a link to search for them.
You are being redirected...

 

[silent meowlook]

This all started as an abscess that healed and then he started scratching where he was shaved. I wonder if this is a weird bacterial infection that is resistant to the antibiotics he has been given?
Has he been tested for FELV/FIV? If so, how long ago and has he been out since the last test?

 

[jvmay1703]

Update on the situation: went to a new vet. The most patient and kind vet ever. Took the time to listen. We have him a steroid shot which may cause complications-but I’m willing to do that at this point. She said it was large but looked healthy not infected. He got a shot and she gave me veraflox again to try. I also got some kind of powder to puff on the neck (she normally doesn’t rec for cats but she said worth a try). I haven’t used it yet just seeing how the shot does first. Night and day so far. He’s not scratching as much. Looks to be healing or scabbing quickly. She told me it may take a few rounds. Going back in two weeks. Thank you all for your suggestions.

 

[Furballsmom]

Thank you so much for the update!

 

[Taylor0614]

Can u ask the vet if u can cover it with something like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BQZ3L67/?tag=thecatsite
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XXVJLYQ/?tag=thecatsite
so he doesn't scratch it anymore if

 

[jvmay1703]

Update: went again today for follow up. Was actually looking better scanned over. An hour before we got there he scratched it off and we are back to the raw bloody neck again. The vet gave him another steroid but we can’t just keep doing shots every week. Possibly will have to put him down if he doesn’t heal in the next two weeks.
the first picture is yesterday. The second picture in the carrier is him with blood everywhere after scratching.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. Have you seen a dermatologist yet?

 

[jvmay1703]

Hi no. We live in a very small area. I’m not sure how I would go about finding that service.

 

[silent meowlook]

If you are in the US. There is a website you can look up one in your area or ask your regular vet for a referral.

 

[silent meowlook]

acvd.org | Home | Veterinarians with specialized training in skin, ears, and allergy

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi, how are things going?

 

[jvmay1703]

Update January 2024- Boo is finally healed!!!
thank You all for your concerns and suggestions. It took a total of three steroid shots with about two weeks in between. One thing that helped was as it scabbed over we took a tiny comb and just rubbed the hair away from the scab with our finger and comb. That’s what was making him itch and kept scratching causing it to be worse. It’s been may to January -9 months to get us to where he’s finally healed!! Honestly I would never do covenia ever again, my opinion. I watched my cat drop 3 pounds and supposedly get anemia and heart murmur after that. It took time, but we gave it a chance and he’s healed!! Thank you to our vet for being patient when the first vet insisted something was wrong with him internally. Here’s a picture of our journey. The middle photo is him now. Thank you all.

 

[Biomehanika]

Just seeing this thread for the first time now and I’m so happy it ended with this update, Boo looks so much happier, he must be so relieved.

 

[Furballsmom]

You're fantastic ! Thank you so much for coming back and letting us know