cat bite!

panda_181 · Aug 29, 2003

You need to get that checked out! I got bit on the hand by an outdoor cat and I didn't realize how DIRTY cat's mouths are. I left it in hopes that it would heal on its own. 4 days later I ended up picking of the scab and trying to squeeze out all the puss that was in it and I still wouldn't go to the doctor! If I hadn't gone to get antibiotics (which I eventually did) it would have abcessed. I could feel the fluid forming underneath it. The anestetist I was working with at the end of the week was then telling me how bad they could get...like osteomyelitis! Nasty stuff...

Amanda :)

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Aug 29, 2003

Originally posted by goodytwoshoes
As for the cat...anyone looking to adopt?? :)

You don't need to get rid of the cat, just remember why he/she bit you. Was she telling you she had had enough playing? We had one that wanted to be petted, but when she didn't want anymore it turned into teeth or claws. We learned fast!

dprayvd · Aug 29, 2003

aaaaa

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 30, 2003

how are you doing??? Update?

ERNurse752, RN · Aug 30, 2003

Saw a lady in the ER awhile back who was working as a vet tech. She was bitten by a cat in the a.m., and had a swollen purulent wound, with red streaks going up her arm by afternoon.

IV abx and sent to a hand specialist...

aimeee, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2003

My then 13 y.o. daughter intervened in a dispute between our Tom and a neighbor cat last year and got a dime sized opening in her forearm plus several sets of puncture wounds for her trouble. Fortunately, this was the one day when they were doing practically nothing at the pediatricians office so he had her come in and they cleaned it all out nicely and stitched it up and sent her home with some amoxicillin and we were spared spending the entire day at the ER. It was angry looking for a few days but it healed up fine.

CVnurse08 · Aug 30, 2003

My friend's mom was just bitten by her 23lb. cat (nope, not kidding). And she went staight to the er ~ they took her right away b/c it was a cat bite. It turns out the cat broke her finger and she has had to have 2 surgeries and now is taking iv antibotics every day. It was a really nasty one ~ cat bites are serious stuff. I heard you are worse off getting bitten by a cat than a dog in terms of infection.

nowplayingEDRN · Aug 30, 2003

At my facility....usually we cleanse it good with betadine and saline, give a tetnus and oral abx......however if the bit eis particularly nasty they may opt for inpt admission with IV abx.....I would urge you to go be seen. Cats tend to have a dirtier mouth than a dog....so the wounds get ugly fast.

renerian, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2003

My dtr when she was about 5 got horrible cellulitis on her arm s/p cat bite.

renerian

PennyLane, RN · Aug 30, 2003

Just the other night I was walking my dog and she stopped to sniff some bushes (the Beagle part of her LOVES to sniff sniff sniff). Then I heard a commotion, and 4 cats came out and tried to attack her. Without thinking I put myself between the cats and my dog, who just stood there cowering while these cats tried to kill her. Fortunately they just managed to claw the **** out of my leg....I went and got a tetorifice shot that night, the dr. looked at them and said they do all resemble scratches, except two which may be bites.

Needless to say I'm keeping a very close eye on them. 1 is a bit tender, slightly inflamed, but no infection spreading up or down from the site.

nowplayingEDRN · Sep 1, 2003

OUCH! Mel......hope it all heals up nicely with out incidence.

crissyb · Sep 2, 2003

I spent about 12 hours in the ER with my 17 year old after our indoor cat bit her in between the thumb and index finger. My daughter thought she'd give the cat a bath - he didn't want it!!!

Anyway, we cleansed it well and applied neosporin, in less than 2 hours - red streaks, swollen and couldn't move her fingers. They incised, irrigated, gave IV abx and splinted, and sent home on more abx and tylenol 3's - to the hand specialist the next day. looked improved and no need for surgery. Docs said the depth of the cat bite really makes adiiference - and that a cat bite is worse than most all other animals. Oh well, no more baths for that cat!!!