Kitten's ear cut while grooming. Will it heal or need vet care?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it would be best to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Usually traumatic injuries like bite wounds can become worse with time if not treated appropriately. Also, sometimes the external wound is just the tip of the iceberg and there is more to it internally or locally. Dog bites can also result in infections and antibiotics are often recommended depending on how deep the wound is. Good luck!

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that this is an open wound and will require further local therapy with debridement, cleaning, stitches, antibiotics and pain control medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment as these wounds are painful and can get infected easily. Good luck!

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.

He will be fine. You’ve already applied the medication so don’t clean it as you may break the scab and start it bleeding again. This is a common injury and it will heal in a few days to a week. I recommend using clippers rather than scissors to trim the fur as it’s safer. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Max.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Willow has a cut on her ear. It is possible that she caused it herself by scratching, but if you did not observe it happening, she could have traumatized it on something else, or been wounded by another animal. Based on your description of the wound, I recommend bringing her to your local veterinarian to have her evaluated. At the very least, the wound likely needs to be cleaned and flushed with a sterile solution to prevent infection. Depending on how deep or infected the wound is, it may require more extensive management such as surgical closure of the wound, or bandages. Willow likely also needs an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent her from further traumatizing the wound. Unfortunately, dogs like to scratch at their ears and can make it very hard for wounds to heal. If the wound is superficial and Willow is otherwise healthy, you may be able to apply compression to the wound to get it to stop bleeding, and monitor it closely at home for signs of infection (redness, swelling, yellow-green discharge, foul odor). If you see any of these signs, Willow should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian. Just a reminder, NEVER give dogs any pain medications that are intended for humans, as they can be lethally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

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!