My cat keeps licking ointment from his inflamed rear. Is it safe?

In general this is not advisable since human products are not made to be ingested. Cat grooming themselves very frequently and thus are likely to get the product in their mouth. Most treatments for cats will be systemic. Otherwise the veterinarian will carry pet safe ointments and sprays. Most of these cats will also wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, sorry to hear about Felix. He could get sick from licking this medication depending on which type it is. You can place a cone or e-collar on him to keep the area protected and make it unable for him to lick at. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pixie! It is ok if Pixie licks a little of it. It would be best to consider an E-collar to prevent all licking and to give the skin a chance to heal. I do recommend that if her skin isn't better in a few days that you have a Vet look at her. Hope this helps!

No, I would not use Bacitracin on Napa. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. It's great that you've gotten a collar to keep her from licking at the scab! Keep an eye on it while it's healing, and if the area becomes red, swollen, warm to the touch, or has pus, then I would have Napa seen by a vet for antibiotics to treat it.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Chandler. This won't be good for him to ingest, it's a mild corticosteroid, but it's not hugely toxic to him. I would wipe it off of him with a damp cloth to keep it him from licking it. I hope this helps!

You have discovered the biggest problem with using topical treatments in pets! While a small amount of ingested iodine is likely safe (although may cause irritation to the mouth or hypersalivation), you won't be doing any good putting the iodine on the wound since Khora will just lick it right off. If you want to continue putting topical treatments on the wound, then you will need to cover them with a bandage (that is changed frequently to stay clean) or have Khora wear an e-collar to prevent her from licking the ointments.

That looks very angry. Curious needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times. This is the best way to prevent licking. I do not advise to start any type or oral steroid without first checking with your veterinarian. Get him into the veterinarian as soon as you can. I hope this helps.