Expert: Jessica - 2/9/2011

Question
Hi Jessica
About 3 weeks ago my 8 year old neutered male siamese was bitten badly after a fight on the thigh. The vet gave him an antibiotic injection (which sort I don´t know, but it lasts for 2 weeks) and an antiinflammatory injection. The following week, he seemed to be getting no better, in fact he was getting worse. I took him back and she saw that pus was coming out of the wounds.  She evacuated the pus manually and flushed the wound with sterilised water.  We left him with her for 2 nights, after which we brought him home with a 4 day course of another type of antibiotic (augmentin).  Now in the third week, the cat is limping badly and seems to have no strength in the heel joint.  He is otherwise eating and as normal but we are very worried as we think there is nerve damage which the vet says can take time to cure.  Do you think this is right or should we seek a second opinion?

Answer
Hi Ida,

It is correct that inflammation leading to these symptoms can take a while to subside.  Swelling and tissue damage around nerves can cause poor nerve impulses and mimic nerve damage.  However, nerve tissue does not generally regenerate, so if he has suffered any true nerve damage, his condition is unlikely to improve at all.

For the most part, if all of his other symptoms have cleared, you will just need to wait and hope that inflammation is the main problem.  You may want to discuss having the vet give him a B-12 injection, or giving him an oral supplement called methylcobalamin at home.  This is a form of B-12.  B-12 is helpful for healing tissues, and methylcobalamin may be best for helping to heal nerve endings (although it does not appear to have an effect on damaged nerves as a whole).  Also, to ensure that inflammation is reduced as quickly as possible, I would ask if there is a benefit to keeping the kitten on either a low dose of a steroid or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for the next 2-3 weeks.  You should probably start to see an improvement in his condition within this time if inflammation is the problem.

I think your kitten's case was handled properly. I believe the injection first given was probably Convenia, which is labeled to treat abscesses, although I have found its record in these cases to be unimpressive.  So your vet is probably competent.  However, if you feel uncomfortable for any reason, certainly, it is in your best interest to seek a second opinion.

I hope he’s feeling better soon!

Jessica