My cat's wound bandage is bleeding. Should I change it or air it?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some pets bleed a little longer after a blood draw than others. When stressed pets bleed a little more. As long as the bleeding stopped I wouldn’t be concerned. If your pet had a blood draw yesterday the bandage needs to stay off now. Kisses to your pet!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree, the abscess appears to be very open, which in a way is a good thing. This allows the wound to drain openly, so Lilly doesn’t get an accumulation of infected fluid under the skin (an abscess) again. I think the answer to your question about having her seen sooner depends on how the wound has changed since your veterinarian last saw it. Each veterinarian manages these wounds a little differently. If how it looks now is similar to how it looked at your last veterinary visit, and Lilly is otherwise acting healthy at home, she may not have to be evaluated sooner than her next appointment. If, however, the wound had changed dramatically (is more open, has a different colored fluid exuding from it, has a foul odor) then I recommend Lilly be seen sooner. The only bandage I would recommend would have to be placed by a veterinarian under light sedation, and this is called a “tie-over bandage”. These protect the wound from becoming increasingly more contaminated, and allow for relatively simple bandage changes while the skin in the wound heals. I hope this is helpful! If you have any further questions, please feel free to enter into a consultation with me; I would be happy to assist your further.

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.

Thank you for the picture, it's very helpful. The bleeding may be due to you cleaning the area, as it should not be washed while healing as that disturbs the scab and the healing process. Also stitches should not get wet. In the picture, the skin around the area does not look red or swollen. Please feel the area, and make sure it does not feel warm to the touch; if it does, that means it is infected and Charlie has to go back to the vet now. When the vet said keep the area clean, it means keep the area dry and away from dirt and debris, not to wash it. Please do not wash it again, pat the area dry, and since there was only a bit of bleeding, just monitor it for now. If you see redness, swelling, pus, the skin is warm to the touch, she becomes lethargic, and/or she has a loss of appetite, she needs to see a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Hi there. From what I can see in the photos, this doesn't look too bad at all - but if it's been bleeding a bit, it's always a good idea to have it checked by your vet to make sure everything is okay. Until then, you can have Cezare wear a baby onesie or something similar to help protect it, especially if he has been scratching at it or attempting to lick it. it's also fine if you want to clean it with some Betadine solution, or apply a small amount of topical Neosporin to the area. Other than that, I would just leave it alone until your veterinarian can take a look.