SAFE Hotspot remedy, help please!

[heyitskevinn]

HI! Turns out my boy has a hot spot on his inner thigh. Thought it was his boob; but it's just a patch on his thigh.

I took him into the bathtub and dawn dish soap washed him off, including that area, to make it sterile, and then conditioned his fur with an oatmeal bath.

I then treated it with zymox a product I've always used on his boo-boos and never thought twice of.

He of course licked it after an hour of me stopping him from doing so, so it could dry.

Nothings happened, the spots still there but he's not picking at it anymore from what I've seen. He hasn't had any bad reaction to the zymox. What I'm asking is, is zymox actually effective? And safe for cats? I feel very uncomfortable putting any treatment near where he has direct access to....But also it needs to be done. Is there a better hotspot+wound remedy available on amazon? Or is this something I can make at home? I just want to know. Either way it's fine.. Also, is silverspray good for this kind of thing?

 

[di and bob]

Hydrocortisone cream for cats is good for these areas too. As long as the Zymox is listed for cats it should be OK too. I find hot spot remedies at farm supply stores like Tractor Supply and Orscheln's. some have a bitter additive that makes them unpleasant to lick. It sounds like you are doing everything right, maybe research some remedies on Amazon and see what works for others by looking at the reviews. I have used quite a bit of their ResQ Organic products.

 

[heyitskevinn]

Hydrocortisone cream for cats is good for these areas too. As long as the Zymox is listed for cats it should be OK too. I find hot spot remedies at farm supply stores like Tractor Supply and Orscheln's. some have a bitter additive that makes them unpleasant to lick. It sounds like you are doing everything right, maybe research some remedies on Amazon and see what works for others by looking at the reviews. I have used quite a bit of their ResQ Organic products.

Zymox is 005 percent hydrocortisone or something like that, with a bad odor and taste. Thank you, I'll go have a look.

 

[BlackCatOp]

While you may not like my answer, I would caution you about self-medicating your kitty. If the hot spot is bad enough that you want to put something on it, then he needs to see the vet.

A hot spot or superficial dermatitis is caused by a bacterial infection of the superficial skin layer resulting in the moist and painful lesion. There was some underlying trauma to the skin that allowed the bacteria to enter. Thus, you must also treat the underlying causes (food/environmental allergies, fleas, insect bites, self trauma)

The Zymox contains a steroid that is not going to help with a bacterial infection and could potentially make it worse.

Please consider taking your kitty to see a vet so he can receive the proper treatment.

 

[Willowy]

Make some strong black tea and hold the tea bag on the spot as long as the cat will tolerate it (after it cools of course!). The tannins help to dry it up. You can also swab the tea on it as often as you want. But, yeah, if it's not just a passing irritation, the underlying cause needs to be fixed. But just to get rid of the hot spot, try the tea. It's harmless, cheap, and easy.

 

[heyitskevinn]

While you may not like my answer, I would caution you about self-medicating your kitty. If the hot spot is bad enough that you want to put something on it, then he needs to see the vet.

A hot spot or superficial dermatitis is caused by a bacterial infection of the superficial skin layer resulting in the moist and painful lesion. There was some underlying trauma to the skin that allowed the bacteria to enter. Thus, you must also treat the underlying causes (food/environmental allergies, fleas, insect bites, self trauma)

The Zymox contains a steroid that is not going to help with a bacterial infection and could potentially make it worse.

Please consider taking your kitty to see a vet so he can receive the proper treatment.

I have only ever self medicated my animals. I know that's weird and scary to westerners and stuff, and I understand why, but I personally have years of experience doing it - and I've never failed yet.

The spot has improved, no more picking and no more issues. Per the twenty-four hour rule, if it gets worse in that time, I'll seek help.. However, that would be more dangerous than self medicating.

See, the vets out here aren't good. I can't give too many details, but they're more interested in your wallet than your pets, same with the doctors for humans. The only times I've had a pet get so ill that it couldn't be saved is when it's been there. On top of that, it is so hot and humid, you can barely breathe out there. No AC in the car, either. It is a over six hour drive to the nearest facility; that does sketchy work to say the least. None of my long haired pets can really withstand this weather. Not for that long, in the stress of a car, also.

Also, it's not moist any longer, not red either. It's scabbed(?) over normally and he's ignoring it. I think I know where it came from - 2 options - he either accidentally cut himself OR did it on my desk (I removed it) going crazy and running around. Not an insect wound, thank god, I have my window duck taped along all the openings, on the wall crevices, the ceiling, and weights; plus a trap-contraption on the door. Nothing gets in and nobody gets out. And central AC inside running so we stay like a little ice box

Heres this thing from my last post that I forgot to include, regarding allergies/stress/possible causes..

• Things we're doing:
• changing his protien from chicken, in case of allergy (will take a whi
• washed all fabrics and bedding with just dawn, in case of contact dermatitis/allergy
• scrubbed down all surfaces, rugs, carpets, tables, etc
• bought jackson galaxies mojo maker sets, and a new cat tree, to implement a proper play routine to drain his energy and re-direct his focus, and give him something to do, this will be his first tree, hopefully it can go near the window but there's some issues there
• set him up his own 24/7 tv, that plays very relaxing soft music and visuals

 

[heyitskevinn]

Make some strong black tea and hold the tea bag on the spot as long as the cat will tolerate it (after it cools of course!). The tannins help to dry it up. You can also swab the tea on it as often as you want. But, yeah, if it's not just a passing irritation, the underlying cause needs to be fixed. But just to get rid of the hot spot, try the tea. It's harmless, cheap, and easy.

I'll look into ordering some, thank you.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Chamomile tea is GREAT for stuff like that. It is extremely soothing, as well as being antibacterial and antifungal. DO use the commercial tea bags, as those are all German chamomile, medicinally active and safe for cats. The English variety is useless and toxic to cats. ALL COMMERCIAL chamomile tea bags are German, BTW, so just grab a box at the grocery store, brew a cup, and chill before using. It can also be used internally for anxiety.

 

[heyitskevinn]

Chamomile tea is GREAT for stuff like that. It is extremely soothing, as well as being antibacterial and antifungal. DO use the commercial tea bags, as those are all German chamomile, medicinally active and safe for cats. The English variety is useless and toxic to cats. ALL COMMERCIAL chamomile tea bags are German, BTW, so just grab a box at the grocery store, brew a cup, and chill before using. It can also be used internally for anxiety.

Thank you! The spot is healing amazingly and the itching has dropped major. I switched his food from 30% chicken, 70% turkey, to 20% pork, 80% turkey and it's fixed him right-o. The commercial food he was eating has sunflower oil and some other wacky ingredients as well that could be culprits, all I know is that my homemade is working wonders so we will keep doing it!!
About the tea, though, I was never able to do it because he's gotten himself an attitude about it from when I cleaned it the first time. It's going away very fast though so no hard feelings! However if I have to, I can get to it...Much to his displeasure.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Yeah, cats have that whole "Thou shalt not trifle with the royal personage" thing down pat, don't they?

If you're going to go homemade diet, be sure to order a good taurine supplement for it! Taurine is necessary.

 

[heyitskevinn]

Yeah, cats have that whole "Thou shalt not trifle with the royal personage" thing down pat, don't they?

If you're going to go homemade diet, be sure to order a good taurine supplement for it! Taurine is necessary.

YEP! He thinks he's so independent and wild - though he eats from a pink ceramic bowl with flowers on it!
I use a premix by knowbetterpetfood!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Excellent! Keep us posted on how he's doing!

I have the funniest mental picture of this cat in a leather jacket eating from a pink bowl!

 

[heyitskevinn]

Excellent! Keep us posted on how he's doing!

I have the funniest mental picture of this cat in a leather jacket eating from a pink bowl!

...............

Welll good news, I fought to hold him still to see, and it's gone!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

LOVE your illustration!