My cat pulled hair from tail, now has a cut. What to do before vet?

It will heal fine. Trim the fur so the air can get to the skin and then clean the area with hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection. Luckily cats heal skin wounds quickly if they stay open to prevent infection under the skin. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Ouch, poor Oscar! The most important thing is to keep that area clean. Use warm soapy water (Dawn dish soap works well) with a clean towel and gently wash to keep it clean of discharge, dirt, and crusting. Don’t use harsher products such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as they will be painful and can damage tissue in the wound. You’re right, that’s not a very easy area to wrap so I recommend leaving it open. You can dab a little neosporin on it as a barrier. However, I’ll warn you that bite wounds have a tendency to get infected, even if you’re doing everything right with wound care. Cat bites in particular are prone to infection. So, monitor it closely and if it’s becoming more red, swollen, painful, and has more discharge, that would indicate it’s likely infected and Oscar would need to see a vet and get antibiotics. Good luck, hope this helps!

Ouch, poor Peanut! Thank you for providing a picture of his tail, as it helps formulate my answer. It looks like from the picture that a scab may be forming, which means it's healing. Gently clean it once with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Stormy! I would shave the fur away from the wound then clean it well with water and a mild soap (avoid hydrogen peroxide). Then apply triple antibiotic ointment twice daily. The most important thing is to have Stormy wear and E-collar to prevent licking and keep him indoors. He should see a Vet as soon as possible to at a minimum get antibiotics but to also see if surgery is required to close the wound. I would call your local SPCA to see if they offer a low cost Veterinary clinic. I hope this helps and I wish Stormy a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is superficial enough that I think it is possibly going to heal on its own with more time. My concern is that it could also get infected. Try to keep the area as clean as possible and try to prevent her from scratching at it. If no improvement is noted in the next few days or it is worsening, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it would heal better and quicker if you did take her to the Vet. Clipping the fur in the area to evaluate it better and allow it to dry out would be best. Honey likely will need an antibiotic or a topical cream. If she is scratching she may need something to relieve the itch. Also check for fleas since she goes outside. It could be an allergy, in cats they can develop red plaques on their face, neck and belly with food and environmental allergies. I hope this helps and I wish Honey a speedy recovery!