My cat's infected scratch: Is Dettol safe? Will his hair grow back?

Question

my mum has been cleaning my cats infected forehead scratch with dettol his hair appears to have been burnt off i'm not sure if this is okay, should i apply cream? will his hair grow back? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 24 years and 2 months old

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It appears that Dettol contains alcohol, pine oil, and castor oil. These ingredients can be very irritating to cats and I would recommend that you discontinue using this disinfectant. Instead, you can look at the pet store for a wound cleaner that contains chlorhexidine. It is hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like there is swelling underneath the scab. It is possible that Maci is getting an abscess, which is caused by bacteria that the body is trying to wall off. If the swelling continues, I recommend that Maci see a vet for evaluation and possible surgical draining of the abscess. Your vet can also prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as needed. If there is minimal scarring, the hair around the wound should grow back, although it may take weeks or months.

My cat's infected scratch: Is Dettol safe? Will his hair grow back?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

My pet keeps scratching its ear. What's causing this problem?

My degu has a white bump in its fur. Should I take my pet to the vet?

My rat is losing weight and has breathing issues. What should I do?

My pet has worsening sores and scratches. Could it be an infection?

My dog's matted fur bled after cutting. Should I take him to the vet?

Share