Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Kate Richardson — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 23:27:26 GMT

Looks fab!

My experience with wounds comes from my early days in equine practice. Wounds need moisture and they need to not be disturbed.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Sarah Keir — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 16:39:09 GMT

well done!

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 00:43:05 GMT

Thanks guys :)

This was it this Thursday...nearly there

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Elivet — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 18:35:43 GMT

Looking great. Just a few more days and wound will be gone.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Emily Rainbow — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 12:21:43 GMT

That looks awesome!

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 22:09:50 GMT

Hi folks.

Just thought I would give you all an update on this cat's leg and thank you all again for your great advice!

I went with recommendations to stop antibiotics and try a tie over bandage with a hydrogel! Things have been going extremely well. Cat has been getting bandage changes weekly and the bandage is keeping the wound surface clean, healthy and moist. At every bandage change there is atleast 1-1.5cm contraction of the wound around most of the periphery and no sign of infection. Cat is fairly happy and comfortable and tolerating bandage changes conscious which is great!

Here are some photos if interested :)

1) Before started tie-over bandages

2) After first bandage change (before cleaning)

3) Second bandage change (before cleaning)

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Lindsey Edwards — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:45:53 GMT

my personal experience would be to apply manuka/tea tree if malodourous, an emolient if cracking/drying out and to bathe daily before using photizo light therapy q24hours; reapplying topicals are required

don't expect this to be popular...but would expect healing within 10days!

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

peter chalkley — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:25:15 GMT

our experience with the collagen has been in dogs but we have wound very comparative in proportional size in a saluki x greyhound. we were using standard dressings but the wound closing really slowly and very sore. we started using collagen and the wound healing has sped up and we are now free of pain relief and very comfortable. hardly a scientific study but has had a dramatic change in this dog, way to big a change to attribute to anything else.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Malcolm Ness — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 10:40:48 GMT

[quote user="peter chalkley"]we have had some great recovery with the collagen dressings that pioneer (they are on offer at the moment).[/quote]

Given that there seems to be some consensus that this wound, like many in vet practice, is likely to go on and heal adequately without/despite topical treatments and dressings, how are you assessing a benefit to using a collagen dressing and equally, how are others supporting their claim for the benefit of Manuka honey etc?

Genuinely interested as I have a feeling that we are at risk of causing some additional discomfort to the patient and some additional cost to the clients using treatments that have little, if any benefit.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

peter chalkley — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:48:15 GMT

hi,

we have had some great recovery with the collagen dressings that pioneer (they are on offer at the moment).

certainly worth giving them a call.

the wound library is worth a chat too.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Jill Butterworth — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:57:08 GMT

What a brilliant healing response already. Second manuka honey dressings, if you can keep them on. Would recommend dressing shirts for holding difficult dressings in place. Have used Granulflex for the wound too. I prefer sausage collars collars for long term use.

it's not like Martin to mention the spooky stuff, but he has got a point, both animals and humans who are nursed caringly, are know to recover better (cant remember the reference)...

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 17:10:45 GMT

[quote user="Samantha Kurt"]It is amazing what the body can recover from...especially animals![/quote]True enough the tincture of time is a powerful medicine. I'm sure the reason animals heal as well is because of positive thoughts, or at least lack of negative ones like some humans have. The will to survive is amazing, it somehow empowers the immune system and healing processes.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 09:04:40 GMT

Thanks for sharing the photos Samantha. Great illustration of the capacity of the body to heal a really severe wound , never fails to inspire awe.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:44:12 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

I agree it will heal, I wouldn't be keeping it on antibiotics. Once a granulation bed is there its very resistant to infection. I'd maybe give a 4 day course (2 X Betamox LA Q48hrs) and only treat with further antibiotics as required.

[/quote]

I would have had it on antibiotics initially but I also wouldn't have it on any now, I would monitor it for infection but would be surprised if it needed any further antibiotics.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 23:51:28 GMT

This is how this cats leg started out a week and half ago....

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 23:28:20 GMT

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 23:15:36 GMT

[quote user="Eilidh Corr"]

I remember a client phoning me in tears because his dog needed to be put to sleep urgently. The wound from her mammary lumpectomy had broken down and he rushed in from his home an hour away from the surgery thinking there was nothing to be done. Sure, it was a mess, but it healed beautifully over a few weeks. He took a lot persuading not to euthanase her though.

[/quote]

It is amazing what the body can recover from...especially animals!

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Eilidh Corr — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 22:40:55 GMT

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:36:57 GMT

[quote user="Eilidh Corr"]

In the very wise words of a now-retired colleague, "it's a cat, of course it's heal"

They are remarkable in their ability to heal and this will granulate and shrink down nicely with time. I find the panicking owners harder to manage than the wounds!

[/quote] Very true about the owners! That is where the challenge lies

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Malcolm Ness — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:44:28 GMT

[quote user="Samantha Kurt"]Never thought of a tie over dressing, great idea! Will give it a try! Thanks[/quote]

I agree with Evelyn. Leave it alone and give it some time.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Eilidh Corr — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:11:55 GMT

In the very wise words of a now-retired colleague, "it's a cat, of course it'll heal"

They are remarkable in their ability to heal and this will granulate and shrink down nicely with time. I find the panicking owners harder to manage than the wounds!

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

sophiematthews — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:52:23 GMT

Crate rest + bucket collar + time - and make sure that the bedding is a towel and not something fluffy that could stick to an open wound.

I had a wound over a tail stump post RTA that broke down and wasn't bandagable (was about 0.5cm from the cat anus) and will antibiosis and time healed very well

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Samantha Kurt — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:50:08 GMT

Never thought of a tie over dressing, great idea! Will give it a try! Thanks

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Elivet — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:34:12 GMT

[quote user="Samantha Kurt"]

This cat I suspect was attacked by a dog or similar and hind limb badly damaged.

At initial presentation, I performed surgery to debride and repair (highly suspecting the skin would necrose due to poor perfusion with such a large flap) then follow up surgery to remove necrotic skin yesterday which I have attached a photo of. We have really struggled to keep a bandage on him to manage the large open wound. Over night last night he got yet another bandage off and this last photo is how it looked this morning! The next photo is how the wound looks this morning.

My question is, do you think this will heal eventually if left open and keep him on antibiotics and cage rest?? There is no nasty infections after swabs taken at weekend. We are reaching limit on funds and amputation is my other option but owners are keen to save leg if possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[/quote] It's going to heal in a few weeks so long as it's not interfered with. I would use a tie over dressing with tension relieving loops on all sides. The dressing should be changed every 5days and I would apply some manuka honey before redressing.

RE: Large open wound on cats leg - can I leave open? Will it heal?

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:28:00 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Two questions are in your title.

1. Yes

2. Yes, either completely or to a much reduced defect that some skin surgery could cover.

P.S. That's not an area that you can bandage successfully, in my opinion.

Give it time.

[/quote]

I completely agree, leaving well alone is the best thing to do at the moment, and I suspect it will heal completely on its own without the need for any further surgery.