Kitten Care Question

[rolanni]

Dulsey has gotten the wrapping on her leg wet. Of course, it's Saturday night (kitten timing is impeccable). Question: Is it OK to leave a wet wrapping on, or is that asking for even more trouble?

I am not sanguine with regard to re-wrapping, so if it comes off, it stays off.

Comments

[spiritdancer]

If she's just splashed the outside a bit, it's OK to leave.

If she's dunked it in the water bowl (ie, wet it pretty thoroughly), it should come off/be rebandaged. That kind of wrap has cotton-type padding in the bottom layers that won't dry out. And the mess if it stays wet next to the skin is not pretty (nor does it smell very good).

If you take it off, definately keep her in the crate (yeah, it's not fun, but it keeps her from doing more damage), and call your vet tomorrow (even if it's just to touch base about getting the leg re-wrapped).

Kittens heal amazingly fast, if you can get her to leave the bandage in place :-)

Dr M, DVM

[spiritdancer]

And if you are worried about trying to get the wrap off without causing more damage, it should be OK until morning; I just wouldn't want it to stay wet until Monday.

_M_

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

What She Said. When Taminy ruptured his ACL and got a pin put in, he got the leg wet while I was away for five days and had left him in the care of my parents, who didn't know how to deal with a sick cat (and he was and is Not Amenable to being handled by anyone but me when he's sick). He ended up with gangrene, lost two toes, and needed weekly vet visits for six months to save what was left of the leg.

Is there an emergency vet clinic which is open on weekends? It would be a good idea to take her there tomorrow and get her rebandaged.

FWIW, I'll do bandage changes on a horse, but a cat? Too frickin' little. Not to mention scratchy and bitey. I'd have the vet do it, too. (Those six months with Dr. P were great fun as Taminy screamed bloody murder and swore a blue streak at the entire vet staff which was what it took to lay a hand on him until they finally said hellwithit and let me hold him, and Dr. P would say, "It's still better than wrestling with a horse!" with which I would amicably beg to differ.)

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Saw kinzel's post that Dulsey is doing better. I'm sure that this whole adventure will have been a lesson well learned by the young one.

By the way, how can you tell if someone on TV truly likes cats? There was an episode of Special Victim Unit a few years ago where Richard Belzer goes to a victim's appartment and find a kitty hiding under a piece of furniture, and he says:

"Come here, you demonic little furball."

Spoken like a true cat lover.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that this whole adventure will have been a lesson well learned by the young one.

I wish I shared your certainty. Not a thoughtful scholar, our Dulsey...