My stray cat has a wound. Is it serious? Does he need a vet? Is it infected?

Question

Hello, I was wondering how serious this cat wound seems to be? Is he in need of vet assistance? Is it infected? He is a stray and is afraid of other humans so I'm not sure what to do with him. Thanks! Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 10 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

Ouch, poor Eddie! Unfortunately, it's impossible to fully assess this wound's severity from a picture alone. The wound itself looks fairly large and appears to be covered in a hair-crusted scab. The challenge likes in how deep the wound goes under the scab, and if it penetrates into the tooth roots, jaw, or salivary glands. To answer your question, yes, Eddie does need veterinary attention. Since he's afraid of people, it's likely that he will need to be sedated in order for your veterinarian to examine this wound. Your vet will need to determine the depth of the wound, and at a minimum, will need to clip the hair around the wound and clean it with an antiseptic cleanser. I fully expect that they'll prescribe an antibiotic or give a long-acting antibiotic injection, as it's likely that this wound is also infected. Try to get to the vet as soon as you can - preferably within the next day. Until your vet appointment, be sure to put an e-collar (cone) on Eddie to prevent him from scratching at this area, as that will make matters worse. Best of luck and I hope that he heals quickly!

My stray cat has a wound. Is it serious? Does he need a vet? Is it infected?

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