Should I seal my cat's open wound near her tail or let it breathe?

Tails can be very difficult to keep wrapped or bandaged. Consider an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking and to allow healing. That wound in the image should be addressed by your veterinarian. Ideally, the hair around it should be clipped to prevent contamination. The wound itself should be gently cleaned. Sutures may be indicated if it is a fresh wound or deep wound. Antibiotics and pain management may also be indicated.

Please trim the fur so you can keep an eye on the wound and so the fur doesn't get stuck in it. Clean the area with hydrogen peroxide. I can't tell from the photo but if there is dirt in it you can flush the area with warm water. I wouldn't put anything topical on it if Truffles is licking the area. Using a restraint collar will stop the licking and then you could apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it, not deep into the wound. Keeping the area open and draining for a few days will prevent an abscess, a puss pocket under the skin. If Truffles stops eating or the area is very red and painful then he will need a veterinary exam and antibiotics. These wounds are not usually sutured as that traps in the infection. Cat wounds usually heal quickly when they are clean and open to the air. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Truffles.

This looks like is may be a bite wound abscess that ruptured. Ideally, it should be addressed by your veterinarian. Surgery may be indicated to clean and flush the wound. Antibiotics and pain medication may also be indicated. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking until he sees the doctor. You may need to confine him indoors until he is healed.

It looks like there is good granulation tissue in the wound. Leave it alone, make sure Luna does not lick the wound (e-Collar) and it should heal fine. It may or may not form a scab. If it oozes a lot of yellow or green pus (which it is not at this time), you should take her to the vet for a a recheck.

Ouch, poor Kora! That is quite a large wound on her leg. You are doing the right thing by changing the wrap a couple of times a day, and I would keep the wound protected and covered until the wound itself starts to close. You need to keep it clean and dry, and keep her from licking at it. I would also have her seen by a vet for it. There is a potential that a wound this big may not heal at all or could become infected, and it really needs to be evaluated by a vet. I would take her into the vet on Monday. I hope this helps!

Hello. Tail wounds are notoriously difficult to heal. A slow healer is not unexpected however if the scab appears inflamed or infected it should be seen. I would leave the E-collar on until it is completely healed. Good luck with Archemedies.

Unfortunately, only an x-ray or a bone sticking out of the skin will tell you if it is broken. Tail injuries can be very serious, even if there is not a broken bone. Since they are very far away from the body, there is less blood flow that creates a condition for poor healing. I would strongly recommend seeing a vet. Depending on the amount of skin that is damaged, the vet may recommend amputation of the damaged part of the tail to help with healing. If you choose to treat at home, you need to try to clip the hair away from the wound so it can stay clean. You will need to prevent all licking, since this will delay healing and spread bacteria. You should clean it 2-3 times per day with water and a mild chlorhixidine wound soap. You can apply neosporin after cleaning the wound. Do not use alcohol or peroxide.