What to do about a declawed cat with torn stitches?

We have a kitten that had his front claws removed on Tuesday. He managed to get one of his paws through his soft cone last night and when I got him this morning,his right front paw had dried blood on it. He has blood on his cone and it is on the carpet, his couch and bed. It is just little spots, but he is so little that it seems like a lot. He is walking on it, but gingerly. The vets office is closed and I'm just wondering if I can put something on his paw to keep it from being infected.

  • Vetinfo

    By: Kara McCarty El Segundo, CA

    Replied on 04/19/2011

    If your kitten's paw isn't actively bleeding now and he's not licking or chewing at it I would leave it alone. If you attempt to clean it or apply anti-bacterial ointment the excitement may break off his clot and get him bleeding again. As long as his gums are pink and if you press on them they become pale and return to pink in less than 2 seconds he's probably fine. As long as a clot is present the wound is closed to bacteria entering it. If he starts to bleed again or if he bothers his paw place a dab of antibacterial ointment (polysporin or triple antibiotic is fine) on the missing suture area, put a telfa pad over and then wrap his foot up to just above his carpus (wrist) in masking tape. I prefer masking tape because it won't hurt when it's pulled off and it is almost impossible to wrap too tightly. You can remove the bandage in 24 hours. If he continues to bother it he should have it looked at as that may signify an infection.

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