Kitten has bloody neck sores and fleas. How to treat and prevent?

That wound on his foot looks swollen which is concerning for a deeper infection or a wound to the bone structures in the leg. I recommend to get this examined since a physical exam is the first step in determining the extent of the injury. As for the fleas, top products for cats are topicals such as Revolution and Cheristan. There is also an oral product called Comfortis that both dogs and cats can take. You will need to switch all the pets over to a good flea product. Make sure to discuss these products with your veterinarian first. These products are generally safe for all pets but there are some conditions which are contraindicated for the oral products. Cleaning up and treating the house and yard will also help but it will not clear all the fleas. The main control is making sure the pets are on good products. This is what will ultimately stop the infestation. Also remember every female fleas lays about 50 eggs a day and it could take up to 6 months before the eggs hatch. Therefore, you will need to treat for at least 6 months. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor kittens! These lesions could be a result of injuries from playing and subsequent infection/abscess formation, ringworm, or mange. If you feel adventurous, you can carefully try to use clippers to clip the fur around these lesions on both kittens and then clean the areas with an antiseptic solution, such as dilute chlorhexidine or dilute betadine. However, both kittens will likely need to go to the vet for further evaluation to determine if diagnostic testing and/or oral antibiotics are necessary. If the kittens are scratching at themselves, be sure that they are wearing e-collars (cones) to prevent further skin damage. I hope that all goes well!

This type of wounds must be considered always infected. A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It's good that the area has stopped bleeding. I would keep an eye on it for now. I would gently clean the wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. 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 Nick will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You need to clean it twice a day with antiseptic solution. 4% chlorhexidine would work best, you should be able to buy it at pharmacies or online. Also, make sure that that your Kettey is not scratching that area and that the other cats are not licking the wound. It should go away after a few days, but if not, she will need to be put on a course of antibiotics.

I am sorry to hear of the flea issues you are experiencing. That is certainly an unusual response to Capstar and it would be worth reporting this to the veterinarian that you purchased it from. You are right not to put the advantage onto the scabby skin, it could worsen the irritation. A safe way of helping to remove some of the fleas is to give your kitty a bath with blue dawn dishwashing detergent. Whilst it has no protective effects it is safe and gentle to use. Capstar is only one effective for about 24 hours so it may actually have worked, it just isn't helping longer term. Environmental treatment for fleas is always very important too. Wash all of your cat's bedding and any blankets etc that she likes to sleep on. Your own bedding too if she is frequently on your bed. Consider steam cleaning all carpets and rugs in the house, and any fabric furniture too (like couches and chairs). You may need to resort to a 'flea bomb' product or call an exterminator if the problem is not easily controlled. You can also look on your cat's body to see if there is an area of skin that is NOT scabby, where you could maybe apply the advantage instead. The back of the neck is preferred since the cat cannot lick it off, but you can certainly apply it elsewhere if needed.

Poor Rocky! Those areas do look quite sore. It was a good idea to bathe him and apply flea medication as a first step, since fleas can definitely cause skin issues like this. If the skin issues do not start to improve within the next 2-3 days, it would be best to go ahead and take him to the vet, as there may be something else going on - allergies, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, etc. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.