We’ve All Been There
I get it—taking a pet to the vet is stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. I think even with how costly human healthcare is, we’ve all tried to put off our own doctor visits.
But when it comes to our pets, waiting can be dangerous. Unlike us, animals can’t tell us when something is wrong. Instead, they try their best to hide any signs of pain or illness—it’s instinctual, a way of protecting themselves in the wild.
As pet owners, we have to stay alert and act quickly, even if something seems small.
A Cat Came in With a Wound…
Ready to hear a story from the veterinary hospital? A recent case really drove home the importance of prompt care.
The hospital I work for is full service, and a cat was brought in with a wound on his side. I went to get history, and the owner explained that her cat had gone missing overnight. When he came back, he wasn’t acting like himself—just lying around, barely moving.
He perked up when she gave him food and water. She noticed the wound but figured it would heal with some over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment. He was eating, after all, and his energy had come back.
A Wound That Got Worse
When the skin started to blacken, she realized there was an infection. She even tried to cut away some of the dead tissue herself. She told me the wound was bigger because of her own cutting, but that only that day had he seemed uninterested in food.
By the time we saw him, the smell from the carrier was unmistakable: rotting flesh.
Things Escalated Quickly
We whisked the kitty to the treatment area. The vet shaved the area and found two wounds—one clear bite mark, and another large necrotic area. It looked like the cat had been bitten by a dog or coyote.
The infection was severe. The cat had a very high fever, and the vet recommended surgery to remove the necrotic skin. But she also recommended fluids, medications, pain killers and hospitalization.
Unfortunately, the owner didn’t have much money, which is why she avoided the vet visit in the first place. She was trying to find other options, and asked the veterinarian for alternatives. There aren’t always other options-at least not with good outcomes, so the doctor told her honestly that this wound would not heal on its own—too much skin was already dead and the infection was spreading.
Surgery Was the Only Option
During the surgery, the vet had to remove a large area of necrotic tissue. Thankfully, she was able to close the wound.
I’m surprised, honestly—just watching the surgery was stressful and eye-opening. I couldn’t see how it was going to work. She even consulted with another vet about the best way to close the wound and where to place the drains.
It turned out okay, but it could have been a much simpler treatment—just a cleaning and some antibiotics—if the cat had come in right away.
The Lesson: Don’t Wait
Here’s the takeaway: bite wounds are serious, even when they look small. The bacteria from a dog or cat’s mouth can be injected under the skin and multiply fast. You can’t always see how deep the damage goes.
Home remedies aren’t enough in cases like this.
Prepare Before Emergencies Happen
If vet bills are a concern (and I get that they are), there are options like pet insurance or credit services like CareCredit.
But the most important thing is to be prepared. Don’t wait and hope it gets better. If you’re caring for a pet, staying proactive is part of the job—and if that feels out of reach, it might be worth asking whether now is the right time to have a pet.
