Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 2/1/2010

Question
My young male cat lives mainly outside.  Late last year he developed a pressure sore on the back of his hind leg, where it meets the ground when they sit or lay down.  It quickly grew pretty large and messy, and due to the location it gets very dirty quickly.  I've been spraying Schreiner's on it and bandaging it with nonstick gauze held in place with vetwrap, changing the bandage twice daily.  The sore has gotten better but doesn't heal totally.  I want to get this fixed up for him, and me, I've been doctoring this for about 2 months now.  Is there some preparation to heal faster than schreiner's, which is pretty fast?  some way to bandage that takes the pressure off?  I wish they made a little kitty hock boot, like they do for horses!  Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
kat

Answer
I would advise that if you can't get it to heal up then there is something going on there.  It is rare for cats to get pressure sores, so my first impression from reading this question is that there is an infection or an eosinophilic granuloma going on in that leg.  Of course the vet would be in the best position to tell what this is and how best to get it to heal.