My cat's paw is swollen and bleeding. Should I take her to the vet?

There is a good chance she could have an abscess. It needs to be opened and drained and then put on antibiotics for the infection. They can also give her some pain medications to help. If it is not an abscess then they may recommend doing an X-ray and make sure she didn’t break something. So I would have her looked at by tour vet. Hope she feels better soon

It looks like your cat’s toenail has been sheared off, probably from an injury, fight or being hit by a car. My best recommendation is to take your car to the vet where they will be able to fully clean the area around the nail, trim the nails if necessary, and give your cat an antibiotic and pain medication if needed. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I'm so sorry to hear about poor Peaches. That paw does look quite swollen. It is important that she get assessed by a vet to check for fractures or dislocations, or localized infection in the foot if there was a penetrating wound (possible given the evidence of blood). If it is a soft tissue injury only, I would expect swelling to decrease over the course of 7-10 days, but a vet can prescribe pain medication to help improve her comfort and also help reduce the swelling more quickly. In the meantime, a warm compress on the area for 10 minutes twice a day may help to recirculate the swelling. I would also try to minimize her activity by not letting her jump or run in the house.

I am afraid this is a serious condition. Please take Misty to your vet for a biopsy or removal of the mass, which , unfortunately , probably is a malignant tumor. While it is not possible to tell by photo whether a tumor like this is malignant or benign, experience shows that most tumors in cats are malignant. Your vet will also want to take xrays of the lungs as most masses on the paws tend to be indicative of tumors in the lungs as well. Please schedule an appointment with your vet ASAP.

Since he goes outside, he could also have an abscess/infection in his paw or he may have an injury. He should definitely be examined by a vet to determine the exact cause. He may need an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory to treat. Your vet can also take an x-ray, if needed, to help diagnose. There isn't much you can do at home until we know the exact cause of the swelling. Hope he feels better soon.

Unfortunately there are no OTC medications for this issue that would be safe to give Boots. The swelling could be caused by many things, including a small fracture, muscle strain, puncture wound, infection, insect bite reaction, problems with lymphatic flow, etc. Check her skin and between her pads for any punctures, wounds, or bruises. You can try gentle massage to help move any fluid present and an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel for 15 minutes at a time. If the swelling doesn't go down soon, she should be checked out by a vet.

Oh goodness, that looks like a deep infection. It could be bacterial or fungal, but I suspect more likely bacterial. He needs to see a veterinarian for an examination and treatment plan. However, in the meantime if he will allow you to soak his foot in warm water and Epsom salts that may be soothing and beneficial. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.