{"id":642771,"date":"2024-09-04T05:53:38","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=642771"},"modified":"2024-09-04T05:53:38","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:53:38","slug":"how-to-bandage-a-cat-paw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/lifestyle\/how-to-bandage-a-cat-paw\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Bandage a Cat Paw: 4 Vet-Approved Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nA Few Words of Caution<\/a>
\nBefore You Start<\/a>
\nTips to Bandage a Cat Paw<\/a>
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Cats are curious and playful creatures, which can lead to them getting injured. When a cat injures their paw or a limb, it is important to seek urgent veterinary care. Your veterinarian will take proper care of the wound and may recommend temporarily wrapping it up in a bandage.<\/p>\n

Depending on the extent of the injury, your vet may suggest hospitalizing your cat for a few days or discharge them for home care with clear instructions on managing the wound and the bandage, and regular checks to ensure there are no complications associated with bandaging or healing.<\/p>\n

It can be tricky to bandage your cat\u2019s paw or leg because they can easily pull the bandage off, not cooperate, or chew on the wound. However, knowing how to manage a bandage on your cat\u2019s paw or limb is a good skill to have in your arsenal of tricks for being a competent and loving pet owner.<\/p>\n

Here are some words of caution, followed by four useful tips for bandaging a cat\u2019s paw.<\/p>\n

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A Few Words of Caution<\/h2>\n
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Image Credit: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your vet will very rarely ask you to place a bandage on your cat\u2019s leg. There are a few reasons for this. Your cat may very easily chew on or remove the bandage, and young cats and kittens may be too curious and even ingest pieces of the bandage material. This can lead to digestive issues and even a gastrointestinal blockage in some cases, so cats with a bandage usually also have an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) or are supervised as best as possible to avoid these mishaps.<\/p>\n

Another reason why bandages should only be placed by veterinary professionals is the risk of things going wrong. For example, bandages can get wet, making them tight on your cat’s skin and underlying tissues. If they are not removed immediately, they will cause significant pain and discomfort to your cat, who will try their best to remove them by chewing, and they may cause the skin and tissue underneath to experience necrosis from a compromised blood supply. This may also lead to an infection, characterized by a very unpleasant odor coming from the bandaged area, with the presence of discharge, and even leading to skin peeling off.<\/p>\n

But it can get even worse than this. Sometimes, if the bandage is too tight for days, it can also lead to necrosis of the soft tissue and even fingers and toes. This means that they either have inadequate blood supply or lose it entirely, leading to the tissue dying off. This can also be very uncomfortable for your kitty and predispose them for sepsis, resistant bacterial infections due to prolonged antimicrobial treatment, and repeated surgeries if any affected tissue needs to be removed. When vets place a bandage on your cat\u2019s paw or leg, they will want to get your cat back in for checks and rebandaging quite frequently, usually every 48 hours.<\/p>\n

There are only a few rare occasions when vets may place bandages on your cat\u2019s paws or legs. This is usually after orthopedic surgery or to stabilize a fracture. Wounds are rarely bandaged, as they are likely to get worse under a bandage, and generally are left uncovered while the cat is treated systemically with antimicrobials and painkillers. The cat will also generally wear an Elizabethan collar.<\/p>\n

Finally, the rare instance you may be asked to place a bandage on your cat\u2019s paw is in the case of a sudden trauma or bleeding. This will be instructed by your vet, as a very temporary measure to prevent ongoing blood loss while getting to the vet clinic. For this occasion, and to understand bandages in cats, in case your vet has placed one after surgery, let\u2019s dive into more detail.<\/p>\n

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Before You Start: Items Needed for First Aid<\/h2>\n
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Image Credit: absolutimages, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As already discussed, if your cat has a bleeding wound, call your vet to let them know you\u2019re coming, and place a temporary bandage on your cat\u2019s wound, so you can get to the vet clinic with some more peace of mind. Ideally, you will need to keep a few essential items on hand in the home for cat first aid, or you can use some of the materials from your first aid kit<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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