What happens if my cat goes outside before finishing antibiotics?

In general, it is recommended to keep a cat inside until they are finished with their medication and the wound is completely healed. However, an unneutered male cat will commonly get into additional fights once they go back outside, so Ollie will be at risk to have another bite wound, so your vet may have been encouraging you to keep him inside long term. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Lilly! If she was missing all day, she could have done something to cause the wound to open up more. When a cat has a wound and is on medication, it's best to keep her confined to allow her to heal correctly. I see she has stitches, and cats with stitches need to be kept quiet so the area can heal properly. I would keep her indoors while this wound is healing to prevent her from opening it up more, as well as disappearing and potentially missing times when she needs to take her medications. Set up a litter box inside for her along with food and water. Once the wound is fully healed and her stitches are removed, she can start going back outside. I hope this helps!

Hi, if your vet has recommended antibs it is best to complete the course. Either by hiding the tablets in some smelly food such as tuna or sardines, or by giving it with easy pill or vivitreats (some treats where you can hide tablets). If the above is not working, you could ask to your vet if Kitty can have a long acting antibiotic injection. Hope this helps !

Snoops' wounds look great! He looks completely healed, so no worries about flies and maggots. The shaved areas may get sunburn, so keep him indoors during peak sun hours. Just leave that scab alone if it isn't bothering him. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear that Oliver was sick but I am glad he is feeling better now. Your vet probably told you to keep Oliver inside for a week so that he is not spreading disease to other cats outside. Either that or your vet did not want his immune system stressed with all the potential pathogens that he could encounter outside. Even when they are better after a few days they could still be contagious to other animals. I would wait the entire week before you let him outside like your vet recommended. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If the antibiotic is causing some stomach upset, contact your veterinarian and request a different antibiotic. You can also ask for an injectable antibiotic, such as Convenia, which will bypass his gastrointestinal system. Subcutaneous fluids can be adminstered to maintain hydration. Warm his food slightly or mix in some plain baby food to stimulate his appetite. If he won't eat, you may need to syringe feed him. If there is an abscess from the bite wound, it needs to be lanced and drained. Pain medication may be needed. Do not medicate him with any over the counter medicines. Many can be toxic to cats.

That is awesome news! I am so glad your kitty is feeling better. Just remember to finish the antibiotics for the duration of time that your vet prescribed them to ensure he doesn’t rebound and get sick again. Also always give the antibiotics with food and report any adverse reactions (vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy, etc) to your vet rigth away if seen. Hopefully everything goes well from here on out. Best of luck to you moving forward and thanks so much for the update. Take care!