If your cat ever gets injured or needs to be treated for a minor skin infection, it’s essential to know how to apply an antibiotic ointment. Antibiotic ointments treat open wounds and burns on cats and dogs.
They can also help with minor skin infections and other skin conditions in both species. This article will cover antibiotic ointments on cats, how they work, when you should use them, and how to apply them correctly so that your pet can recover fast.
What Is the Use of Antibiotic Ointments on Cats?
Antibiotic ointments treat minor skin infections like hot spots and wounds. They can also be used to treat infected bites, but only if there is no chance of the injury becoming infected. Antibiotics are not as strong as other antifungals or antivirals, but they can help your cat get better faster than if you do nothing.
Antibiotic ointments are most useful for minor wounds and bites. Cats behave strangely. They can quickly go from playing to fighting, leading to bite wounds. Antibiotic creams can enable you to treat such minor wounds at home. For instance, Triple Antibiotic Ointment is an over-the-counter ointment with antibacterial properties.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment for cats can also help reduce swelling and infection, fighting infection caused by burns or minor wounds. However, you should avoid using this ointment for severe injuries.
Cat Wounds
Cats have an aggressive nature. Hence, there is a high chance of your cat getting wounded. This can happen in many situations, including having multiple cats in the house, taking your cat to a new environment, or tension with neighboring cats. According to the Humane Society of the United States, this aggression between cats results from fear and mistrust.
Antibiotic ointments are designed to treat minor cuts, scrapes, and other wounds on cats. It is essential to use antibiotic ointment effectively for better results.
To treat a wound with antibiotic ointment:
- Apply it to the cat’s skin using a clean cloth or cotton swab. Do not apply the ointment directly onto the wound, as this will increase your cat’s chances of getting an infection in that area.
- Use only one application of antibiotic ointment per day for no longer than two weeks. Too many applications can lead to toxicity problems in cats who may be allergic or sensitive to certain chemicals found in these medications, especially if they have never been treated with antibiotics before.
Cat Burns
If your cat has a burn, you’ll want to treat it as soon as possible. Treating the burn immediately can help prevent infection and reduce scarring. It can also help avoid fatal consequences like blood clots. While this is not usually a case with minor burns, exposure to severe burns can lead to clots. According to a study published in the Nature journal, cats who faced thermal burn injuries in California wildfires were at a higher risk of myocardial thickening.
First, wash the area with water and mild soap if needed for treating cat burns. Remember that cats do not like having their fur or skin rubbed or washed in any way, so be gentle when doing this step. The best way to clean a minor burn is with cool water, but if you have an ice pack handy, you can use that instead of cool water. Then make sure no bacteria get into the wound by applying an antibiotic ointment.
You may also want to apply some sort of bandage over the top after applying the ointment to avoid getting more dirt inside than necessary. Gauze works well for this purpose.
Minor Skin Infections
Bacterial skin infections are common among cats and even dogs. They are exposed and vulnerable to both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. A four-year study of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria associated with dog and cat infections found that these bacteria can lead to skin infections, such as otitis external and pyoderma.
Antibiotic ointments are used to treat a variety of skin infections, including scratches and rashes. They’re also commonly used to treat ear infections. You can find antibiotic ointments online or at your local pharmacy.
How to Apply Antibiotic Ointments
Here’s how you should go about applying antibiotic ointments on your cats.
Calm Your Cat
Now that you know how to apply the ointment, here are some tips for keeping your cat calm during the process:
- Keep your cat distracted with treats and toys until the ointment is fully applied. Once it’s on, she’ll be much less likely to try to rub it off because now she’ll have more urgent things on her mind than licking off an ointment patch.
- Make sure your cat has plenty of room to move around while applying the antibiotic cream. This will help keep her happy while allowing ample space for error. It’s worth noting that most cats hate having their backs rubbed when they’re not prepared for such an activity. If yours falls into this category, try giving him an extra treat as soon as he relaxes into having his back rubbed, so he knows what happened was worth his time.
Apply Ointment on the Wound or Burn
You can apply the ointment to your cat’s skin with a cotton swab for small wounds and burns. Use gauze or clean cloths to cover the area and apply the cream directly on top for larger wounds or burns.
The antibiotic ointments are usually water-resistant, so if you’re treating a wound that gets wet, be sure to reapply the ointment after drying off any moisture from bathing or swimming.
Use Cone Collars to Prevent Your Cat From Licking Wounds
When caring for your cat, it’s important to remember that they might have an instinctual urge to lick their wounds. This natural response can be beneficial because licking helps clean the wound and promotes healing.
However, if you don’t want your cat to lick a wound, keeping them from doing so is crucial. The best way is by using a cone collar, a plastic device that fits over the head and prevents them from getting close enough to lick their body parts.
Conclusion
Your cat deserves to be treated with the same care as any other pet. If you have questions about using antibiotic ointments on your feline friend, contact your veterinarian for more information.
