My cat has a persistent neck scab. Why won't it heal or stop itching?

Have you put any medicine on that area such as flea prevention before it was noticed? Sometimes that is a sign of a reaction from a topical. Another area to check is his ears, sometimes they can scratch their neck instead and. Cause a wound if there is an infection or mites. If it doesn't improve then your vet can check for an infection or an allergy that could cause it

Ouch! Those are some major hot spots in that photo. I would recommend having Lili seen by your vet so the area can be clipped and cleaned and any medications such as pain or antibiotics can be given to help it heal a bit faster. I'd also keep Lili from scratching or pawing at it as this can introduce bacteria and more inflammation which can slow healing. If only Lili is affected and you're not noticing other issues like parasites, etc, it is possible there is an allergy underlying. She could be rubbing up against something causing the itchiness, or could have an ingredient allergy to something in her food (or a treat if the spots correspond with intermittent feeding of a treat or wet food). Other issues such as an underlying illness like an immune or metabolic issue can also cause scabbing and skin issues that affect only one cat in the household. A vet visit is a good option at this point both to treat the current scabs and to see if a food trial, allergy meds, or additional testing such as bloodwork to rule out any underlying health issues may be beneficial in finding the cause.

Skin cancer is unlikely at that age. It is more likely that there is an infection there which did not clear up as antibiotics are needed. Bite wounds must be considered always infected. A check up is needed. Your veterinarian will flush the wound first and prescribe local or systemic antibiotics.

From the picture I can only say this may be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. More investigations like sampling and bacterial swabs would be needed to determine the underlying cause more specifically. In my experience I have seen large wounds like this one from Poxvirus infection (but usually other wounds are present as well). I would suggest to handle this wound always with gloves (you are doing it anyway as I can see from the pic). Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello, my name is Dr. Elizabeth and I am happy to help. I hate to hear this lesion on Patch is not healing. I think the main thing to address is the licking. The first thing you need to do is stop the licking (since this can make it worse). Patches should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Remember that the collar must come out past her nose in order to be effective. Next, wear gloves to handle the lesion and be sure to wash your hands afterwards. Get pet wipes that contain Chlorhexidine. Cleanse the area twice a day. This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. Lastly, after the area is completely dry, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day. Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. Again, wear gloves or apply with a q-tip. Patches needs to be indoors at all times. Cats can't wear elizabethan collars outside as they are a choking hazard if they were to get hung up. She can only wear the collar if she is in a safe environment. If the spot is not much better in 1 week, if it gets worse at any point or if the lesion is not completely healed within 2 weeks, Patches needs to be examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nefesh. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to determine the source of the wound. Some cats will scratch this area if they have an ear infection. In the meantime, you will likely need to place an E-collar on her to prevent any further self trauma. I hope this information helps!

Poor cat. This looks wide enough where it should at the very least get a topical treatment. You can try an over the counter antibitoic ointment or spray from your local pet store. Ask a store representative as to what is available in your area. You should also clean this area with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water to help keep bacteria and infection at bay. If it doesn't seem to be healing well in the next few days, then a vet visit is warranted at that point. I hope that this heals up well soon! Best of luck moving forward. Take care. : )