My cat has raw skin and hair loss. When should I see an ER vet?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Harley! Sometimes there can be a dermatitis or an infection under the mat of hair. You can clean the raw spot well with warm water and a mild soap, dry it well and then apply a topical triple antibiotic twice daily as long as she can't lick it off. It is never wrong to have Harley looked at by a Vet. She may need antibiotics, with out seeing her or a picture I couldn't say. But if you want to try the above first since she feels fine then I think that is ok. I hope this helps and I wish you and Harley the best!

Hi there! What you're describing sounds more likely to be a skin problem of some kind (allergies, etc.) vs. an actual wound or something more serious, although of course it's always hard to say without being able to see her in person. It does sound like this is something that should be seen by a vet, since skin issues in cats that are severe enough to cause hair loss and raw spots will virtually always need prescription meds to treat effectively. But if she's acting normal otherwise (eating and drinking, relatively active, no other obvious symptoms), then I wouldn't consider it to be an emergency. It should be okay to call your regular vet's office and get an appointment scheduled for her when you're able to, hopefully within the next week or two. :)

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Key and for providing a picture, it's helpful. No, I don't think she needs to see the ER vet tonight, tomorrow will be fine as long as she is eating, drinking, behaving normally, and it's excessively rubbing at the area. I do wonder if she may have ringworm; that's highly contagious and if she does have it, her siblings and mom will also have to be treated. You would need to check out for spots of it on yourself, as it's contagious to humans too. Take her into the vet in the morning. I hope this helps!

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Thank you for providing images. The area does not look severe enough to arrant an immediate visit. Keep the spot clean and dry. You can place an e-collar (cone) on Lavender to prevent rubbing or pawing. Monitor for increasing redness or hair loss, bleeding, discharge or lethargy. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian sooner rather than later.

Poor Dahlia, it does look a bit raw. She may have been scratching herself causing this and that can be a sign of an ear infection. I don't think it's an emergency, but she should see a vet. Give her vet a call to see if you can get her in on Monday. You can gently clean that area with warm water and antiseptic soap. I would put a cone on her to keep her from scratching at it more. You can buy one at a pet store. I hope this helps!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very hard to tell from the photo what is going on. It is uncommon for cats to get general wounds just by rubbing up against something or scratching themselves - usually a wound is due to direct trauma like a bite from another cat. If he goes outdoors this could very well be the case. This wound may turn into an infection (abscess). At this stage I would just monitor the wound. Do not put anything on it. If you notice any of these things then you need to get him to your vet ASAP. * swelling around the wound * discharge coming from the wound * wound is hot to the touch * Casey stops eating/drinking or becomes lethargic * vomiting or diarrhea Hope this helps. Best wishes.