My cat has an open, bloody wound. Should I go to the emergency vet?

Question

I'm going to call my vet on Monday for a visit but I'm wondering if I should take him to the emergency vet this weekend. I was brushing him and though I have noticed some scabs on his back, I suddenly noticed he has an open, bloody wound, the size of a quarter on the side of his lower abdomen. I applied Hydrogen Peroxide. Should I be concerned? Should I take him to the emergency vet? Thank you for your time. Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | 18 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Ouch, poor Lola! I would not put any further hydrogen peroxide on it. That's because it can actually damage the tissues and prevent healing. With an open wound, it would require a visit to the emergency vet if the wound is deep, as then it would require stitches. If the wound isn't deep, then I would not take Lola into the ER vet, and it will be fine to have it examined by your vet on Monday. You can clean it yourself at home with an antiseptic wash, and keep the area dry and clean. I would put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking the wound, and I wouldn't put any antibiotic ointment on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed.

My cat has an open, bloody wound. Should I go to the emergency vet?

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