Kitten has a red, swollen neck wound. Is it serious before the vet?

Surgery may be needed to clean the edges and see if the wound can be repaired. Often times, this does require some times for the tissue to declare itself before this is done to see what tissue will be healthy to save. All you can do until it is ready for surgery is keep it clean and stay on antibiotics to prevent an infection. Rechecks should be frequent to determine when surgery would be best. Cats are the best at healing and granulating in new tissue as long as the infection stays under control.

The picture doesn't look like a very serious wound to me. I would continue to watch it. If it starts bleeding, if the swelling gets larger, if there is a creamy yellow/white/green discharge, or if Venus is not eating well, she may need to see a vet for treatment.

Oh no, poor Thor! He could have been injured or could have been bitten by another animal. Given that the area is now swollen and red, it sounds like it infected and Thor has to see a vet as soon as possible. He will need the area cleaned and oral antibiotics for the infection. Please take him into a vet asap.

Poor Coco! Gently clean it 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 she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You could try to keep it clean but aside from that, I am afraid that he will need veterinary care. Puncture or bite wounds can get infected rather quickly and result in a fever which may be why he is not eating. They can form abscesses that require local treatment and antibiotics. You could perhaps consider taking him to an emergency veterinarian who is open over the weekend. Good luck and have a great day!

Please have your kitten seen by a vet right away. That wound looks extremely painful and will require pain medication and antibiotics. The kitten will need to have the wound cleaned out by the vet and will likely need sutures/bandaging of the area. Pain medication meant for people can be toxic to kittens and should not be used without checking with your vet. If you cannot keep the kitten and don’t know anyone who will take on his care and vet expenses, please contact local animal shelters and rescue groups so that he can get vet care asap. Thanks for trying to help these cats!

I would get him in sooner than Friday to have that seen. The fluid can be drained with a needle so that the swelling can go down without compromising the suture line. I worry that if it continues to swell, the skin could slough and leave him with a large open wound. Call your vet tomorrow and find out if he can be seen.