First-aid kits should always include Neosporin. It is a triple antibiotic ointment, and it’s great to have in your medicine cabinet, but should you use it on cats? The short answer is no. Neosporin can irritate their skin and cause allergic reactions in our feline friends.
If you want something to treat your cat’s wounds, you should always get an ointment from a professional veterinarian. You could also get a few other essentials that are great for feline first-aid.
There are also some at-home remedies that you can pull out in a pinch that your little buddy will surely be grateful to you for.
Seeking Proper Help And Paying Attention To Signs
It cannot be stressed enough that you should always consult a veterinarian with any issues involving your pet before we get into what these are. Trusting their expert opinion when caring for your pets is always best. They are professionals for a reason.
You can use these tips and tricks immediately to help your pet. Still, bringing them to a veterinarian is always a good idea, especially if the problem is more serious. If your cat is actively bleeding, apply gentle pressure to the wound with sterile gauze.
Your goal here is to get the bleeding under control with the right topical ointments. Once you do, check your cat for any minor wounds. If they’re in too much pain, rush them to a professional vet immediately.
If you find old wounds on your cat that are no longer actively bleeding, these are easier to deal with. So long as they aren’t deep or too big, you can clean them with a dilute antiseptic solution like povidone-iodine. Afterward, you can clean the wound with sterile gauze and saline solution.
Suppose you find superficial wounds that are deep or look like puncture wounds, clean them with an active ingredient like a saline solution. Next, bring your furry friend to an emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Building A First Aid Cat Kit
No one wants to see their pet in an emergency, but we should always be prepared for it. Cats need a first-aid kit, but placing Neosporin in it will probably not help. The first thing that should always be there is the number of the closest veterinarian and emergency clinic in your area.
Having all the information on your cat is vital when getting their proper treatment for a speedy recovery and healing. You should have their vaccination history, important medical records, a photo, and their microchip number if they have one.
For your at-home first-aid cat kit, stock it with sterile gauze squares, clean cloth, pain medication, and non-stick or telfa pads. You should use blunt-ended bandaging scissors if you intend to keep them there.
Povidone-iodine and saline solutions are important for cleaning wounds. The last thing to have for external injuries is an e-collar or pet cone to keep them from messing around with their wounds.
Additional equipment that you could look into getting includes a rectal “fever” thermometer and a water-based lubricating gel for using it. When using it, remember that cats have a normal temperature of 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep An Eye Out
Much information is floating out there about how to care for your pets properly. You can provide your hairy companions with the care they need and deserve by keeping yourself informed and aware of the dos and don’ts.
Read through our resources at Be-Safe to know more about peppermint oil and its effect on fleas for useful pet owner tips that could help.
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