Mary Allen
Cats have the extraordinary talent of landing on their paws almost every time. But our fur noses are not immune from injuries either. Small cuts on the paws in particular are not so rare. How can I help my cat if I notice an injury? We’ll show you how to properly deal with paw injuries in cats, how to put on a bandage, and everything that belongs in a first aid kit.
Rule Number One with Injuries: Keep Calm
If you discover an injury to your fur nose, the most important rule is first: stay calm and do not get hectic. Cats are very sensitive animals. If you panic, your darling will panic too. It is therefore very important to remain calm and calm down your cat.
If you can touch your cat, you can provide first aid yourself and put on a bandage. If you do not succeed in appeasing your velvet paw, do not hesitate and contact a veterinarian immediately. Because in exceptional circumstances – for example in severe pain – even the most beloved cats can bite and cause dangerous wounds.
How do I put on a paw bandage?
A paw bandage consists of different layers and is intended to stop bleeding wounds. It also has the task of stabilizing the joints and bones in the entire lower leg. If your cat is sufficiently restrained, you can put on a paw bandage as follows:
- Remove the coarse dirt and visible foreign bodies from the wound.
- Then clean and disinfect the wound and surrounding structures.
- Hair reaching into the wound can be carefully removed with a pair of scissors or a razor.
- Pad the spaces between the toes with gauze bandages so that no friction or pressure sores can occur later. Open blood vessels should be especially well cushioned so that the bleeding is stopped until you visit the vet.
- With the help of a bandage, you can now wrap the entire paw including the joint above it. The bandage must not be too tight or too loose. Two fingers should fit between the skin and the bandage.
- If you do not have a self-adhesive bandage, you can also fix the bandage with staples or adhesive strips.
- Water-repellent adhesive strips or a paw glove help temporarily against dirt.
How do I Recognize Paw Injuries in Cats?
Cats are tough. Often they manage to hide injuries from us cat owners for days. Incidentally, this behavior is completely normal. Because their ancestors were not allowed to show any weakness for their own protection in the wilderness.
Therefore, cats with paw injuries usually only become noticeable when they change their behavior. In addition to an increased reluctance to move, they often eat less. Gradually, however, clearer signs become noticeable. These include:
- Limping and pain when stepping
- increased licking of the wound
- visible signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, or accumulation of pus)
Severe Paw Injuries in Cats: Off to the Vet
Torn claws or deep foreign bodies cause profuse bleeding and pain in most cases. In this case, cats can rarely be touched by their owners. Therefore, if you have severe paw injuries, you should definitely consult a veterinarian. With the help of his team, he can fix the cat and take care of its injury. He treats heavy bleeding with hemostatic wound dressings or a pressure bandage.
Once all bleeding has stopped, the paw can then be viewed and palpated at rest. In order to make injuries inside the paw (such as broken bones) or deep foreign bodies visible, veterinarians use imaging methods such as ultrasound or X-rays. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, surgical measures may also be required.
Since paw injuries are also painful, the vet usually gives injured cats pain relievers. In addition, anti-inflammatory wound-healing ointments, which are applied to the wound, help. Antibiotic ointments, on the other hand, should only be used if the doctor has determined a bacterial wound infection.