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Cats/blood from stitches

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Expert: - 10/10/2010


Question
hello there,i'm enquiring if u think i need to ring the vet-
its a sunday evening so don't want to unless necessary.my
cat gave herself a deep cut on the side of her body 18 days
ago-vet stitched it up and after 11 days she got stitches
out-i had to bring her back down after 3 hours because wound
had opened again.i've noticed today that wound is bleeding
in centre of cut{wound is in a bad place because its at top
of leg]does she need to see vet again or is this
normal.appreciate your help.

Answer
Hi Sinead,

This is a really difficult one to answer.  It depends on how badly it's bleeding.  If there is blood trickling out of it and the bleeding won't stop when you apply pressure, then I would ring the vet.  If the blood only appears at the surface of the cut or a drop appears here and there, you should be okay to wait until morning.  However, if the amount of bleeding makes you uncomfortable, I would say better to bother the vet than to lose your kitty!

Best of luck!

Jessica  

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Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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