My cat's tail is bleeding from fleas. Should I take him to the vet?

Question

I have a flea problem that started almost a week ago. I am a cat owner. I have been doing my best to work at getting rid of them. It appears that my cat has been biting at the tip of his tail and now there is an open wound. Did not notice right away. It bleeds when his tail brushes up on something. Read that this could have something to do with the fleas. Afraid of infection, not sure if a vet trip is needed or properly handled from home. Also curious on average cost of caring for this at a vet. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 7 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

Prince may have caused damage to his tail from the itching with the fleas, or some other reason. Whatever the cause was, now that there is a bleeding wound on his tail, I would recommend that you have it treated by a vet as soon as possible. Tip of the tail wounds can be very hard to heal because there is not much blood flow to help with healing. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are often needed to help with healing, as well as special bandages to keep the tail protected. Prince may need to wear an e-collar if he is seen licking the tip of his tail, since licking spreads bacteria and decreases the rate of healing. The cost of veterinary care ranges drastically depending on your area and the clinic chosen. You may be able to call different clinics and ask for the cost of an exam, wound treatment, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories for cats to see what the average cost would be. I have worked in clinics where this treatment could range from $120-300.

My cat's tail is bleeding from fleas. Should I take him to the vet?

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