Scratching after surgery
Discussion
Macavity, our big ginger beast of a cat, has lost an eye to iris melanoma. It was taken out two weeks ago, and he's had a buster collar on since then. He's managed to get at it twice - the first time he got his collar off while unattended, the second he barfed in his collar and had a good scratch at it while I was rinsing the sick out of the collar.
First time he did it had me running to the vet, as he'd turned what was a very neat job into a more obvious wound, but they had a look and explained that he'd just rubbed off some of the glue they used on the wound and made it bleed a bit and hadn't actually done any damage at all. Felt a bit silly for overreacting, but better safe. Second time I didn't panic
He's just been for his 2 week checkup, and the vet said he could have his collar off. He seemed very pleased about this, having been unable to groom himself properly and getting a bit down about it, and settled down to a thorough grooming session, but within an hour he'd got at it with his back claws and made it bleed again. I cleaned it up and had a look, and he's not done any damage beyond lifting the scab, but I've put his collar back on for now. I don't think he needs to see the vet again.
I'm going to let it scab over properly again and then try him without the collar, because I think a lot of it may be about the residual glue rather than the wound, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to reduce the damage he does. It's when he scratches at his face with his back paw that he does the damage, and I'm wondering if clipping his claws or maybe getting some of those "softclaws" things would help? I don't want the collar on him any longer than necessary, and the vet wouldn't have allowed it to be removed if she thought there was any risk, but I'm paranoid about him doing himself some damage.
First time he did it had me running to the vet, as he'd turned what was a very neat job into a more obvious wound, but they had a look and explained that he'd just rubbed off some of the glue they used on the wound and made it bleed a bit and hadn't actually done any damage at all. Felt a bit silly for overreacting, but better safe. Second time I didn't panic
He's just been for his 2 week checkup, and the vet said he could have his collar off. He seemed very pleased about this, having been unable to groom himself properly and getting a bit down about it, and settled down to a thorough grooming session, but within an hour he'd got at it with his back claws and made it bleed again. I cleaned it up and had a look, and he's not done any damage beyond lifting the scab, but I've put his collar back on for now. I don't think he needs to see the vet again.
I'm going to let it scab over properly again and then try him without the collar, because I think a lot of it may be about the residual glue rather than the wound, but I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to reduce the damage he does. It's when he scratches at his face with his back paw that he does the damage, and I'm wondering if clipping his claws or maybe getting some of those "softclaws" things would help? I don't want the collar on him any longer than necessary, and the vet wouldn't have allowed it to be removed if she thought there was any risk, but I'm paranoid about him doing himself some damage.
He had metacam, but is off it now. Vet doesn't think he needs it, and he's had kidney issues in the past so better to be conservative with it. He's not guarding it at all though, you can touch his face around the wound without any complaints.
He's got white claws, quite easy to see the quick.
He's got white claws, quite easy to see the quick.
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