Overall, Neosporin or any first aid ointment is beneficial to the superficial wounds your pet may endure but anything bigger, or certainly something looking infected should be inspected by your veterinarian. Definitely do not use any first aid ointment on suture sites UNLESS directed by your veterinarian.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment is a combination of three antibiotics for cats and dogs: Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B. It is used as a first aid for wounds in cats and dogs. A popular dog and cat medication, it is used to treat bacterial infections of minor cuts, burns or scrapes on the skin of the animal.
Hydrocortisone cream, when used sparingly, is an option to relieve your pet's itching. OTC hydrocortisone is a mild corticosteroid that helps reduce swelling, redness, and itchiness. It's readily available and inexpensive.
If the wound is minor, you can clean it with mild soap and warm water, then apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage. However, if the wound is deep, large, or appears infected, it is best to take your cat to a veterinarian for proper treatment.
Use full strength for:
Preventing bacterial infection. Emergency antisepsis of minor lacerations, abrasions, and burns. Post-operative application to surgical incisions. For use on companion animals, including dogs, cats, and horses.
NEVER ever use household human antiseptics (eg Dettol), disinfectants or wound creams (eg Savlon) on cats as they cause further damage and are often toxic if licked.
Caredom Heal Pet | Veterinary Herbal Ointment | for All Types of Wounds | Burns | Cuts | Skin Problems| & F.M.D. Lesions - for All Pets | 60grm| Pack of 2.
No topical treatments should be used unless specifically directed by your veterinarian, as some seemingly harmless chemicals can damage tissues and delay healing. Pain medication may be prescribed for your cat's comfort and to support the healing process.
Be gentle as the skin around the wound is often sensitive and easily damaged. A little bit of Vaseline placed into the wound first can help catch any stray hairs and can then be gently removed afterwards.
Baking soda is a natural antiseptic and is great to apply for those pets that have a nail injury and where there is a lot of bleeding. The baking soda will act as an agent to slow down the bleeding to the point of stopping it and will be effective at keeping the wound clean.
Flush the wound – For small cuts and abrasions, you can gently clean the wound with a clean wet cloth and iodine or a saline solution. You may first need to move excess hair from the wound area, or even clip the hair if necessary. Try to clear any debris from the wound site as best as you can without rubbing.
Sudocrem. This can be used in dogs and cats in small amounts. Sudocrem contains zinc-oxide which is highly toxic to birds. Zinc-oxide is also toxic to dogs and cats if ingested in large quantities, but applying a thin layer of sudocrem to sore or irritated skin is generally safe and can be beneficial.
Coconut oil is thought to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and maybe even anti-viral properties, so, using food-grade quality coconut oil on minor skin wounds, as a moisturizer for dry skin or as a protectant on pets' paws may be of some benefit.
You can also ask your vet to sell you a small bottle of either a chlorhexidine diacetate or povidone iodine solution to have on hand for cleaning and disinfecting your cat's wounds.
Antibiotic ointment
Commonly used by humans for minor cuts or scrapes, this would be a personal care product that may be shared with our furkids with similar types of injuries. Some examples of this ointment would be Bepanthen First Aid Cream, Neosporin Original Ointment or Dermacyn WoundCare Hydrogel.
A few common essential oils that are SAFE to use for your cat include lavender, copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense. If you diffuse oils in your home, it should not cause a problem for your cat, as oil used in a diffuser is highly diluted (versus direct topical application or dietary supplementation).
Step 3: Apply CUROXEN first aid to the wound
Made with oxygenated olive oil, calendula, and lavender help to clean the area, ease the pain, and speed up the healing process.
Extra virgin olive oil is non-toxic when used both orally and topically with dogs and cats (and some other pets), and it has gained some popularity as a natural remedy in the holistic pet care world thanks to its abundance of beneficial fatty acids, polyphenols, and micronutrients.
Topical ointments: Some topical ointments can soothe irritated or inflamed areas on your cat's skin. Medicated shampoo: A medicated shampoo can potentially soothe inflamed areas on your cat's skin and provide relief from itchiness and discomfort.
Clean minor wounds with warm water and dry them with a clean kitchen towel or a wad of soft paper towels. You can use a mild salt water solution, but Petful advises leaving the disinfectants on the shelf since some can delay healing and others are toxic to cats. Deep injuries may improve with soaking or hot compresses.
Water or saline (saltwater) should be the first choice for cleaning a wound. Flushing the wound will wash away debris and bacteria.
The body begins to produce collagen to fill the wound and bind all of the torn tissues back together. It can take several weeks for the torn tissues to be fully bound together, but after they are, new blood vessels begin to sprout from the large healthy blood vessels nearby.
Your vet may recommend giving your cat a soothing oatmeal bath or a rinse of vinegar diluted to one tablespoon vinegar per quart of warm water. Regular brushing is also helpful in distributing the natural oils in your cat's skin and removing dead skin.
A mixture of equal parts water and vinegar rubbed into the skin is recommended. However if your pet has open sores or is severely inflamed wait until the skin heals. Adding a tablespoon for large water dishes and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for small water dishes can help prevent skin problems from occurring.