Pet care - Cat's Cracked Calluses
January 10, 2015 9:19 AM Subscribe
Can I put a hydrocolloid dressing on a cat's cracked callus?
My older cat has always had calluses on her hocks - she puts too much pressure on her hind legs and I can not train her to sit differently. I inspect her body regularly and noticed last night that the calluses on both sides had cracked and had small spots of dried blood. There is no infection and the sore spots seem to be healing fine but I want to help my cat and relieve some of the pressure. Can I put a hydrocolloid dressing on the spots? My cat never licks her hocks so I am not worried that she would swallow it. Wrapping bandages around both legs would restrict her movement and annoy her, so I am looking for a less irritating solution. At this point I don't expect the calluses to disappear and I am aware of the usual treatment for dogs and cats with moisturizing lotion and creams to dissolve the thickened skin. The goal is to let the calluses heal up without disruptions to the healing process.
We've been to the vet a month ago and her blood work (which she gets regularly done) was fine. Please be assured that my cat is fine otherwise - no changes in appetite or behavior. I am keeping a close eye on the sore spots and the cat, if I notice any changes we'll go back to the vet. The calluses are benign, I suspect it is the cold (we have hard floors everywhere) and/or dry air as we've been turning on the heater lately. Although this is the first time the calluses cracked in over 12 years.
If you have a cat or dog with calluses that cracked, please share your wisdom. Thank you!
My older cat has always had calluses on her hocks - she puts too much pressure on her hind legs and I can not train her to sit differently. I inspect her body regularly and noticed last night that the calluses on both sides had cracked and had small spots of dried blood. There is no infection and the sore spots seem to be healing fine but I want to help my cat and relieve some of the pressure. Can I put a hydrocolloid dressing on the spots? My cat never licks her hocks so I am not worried that she would swallow it. Wrapping bandages around both legs would restrict her movement and annoy her, so I am looking for a less irritating solution. At this point I don't expect the calluses to disappear and I am aware of the usual treatment for dogs and cats with moisturizing lotion and creams to dissolve the thickened skin. The goal is to let the calluses heal up without disruptions to the healing process.
We've been to the vet a month ago and her blood work (which she gets regularly done) was fine. Please be assured that my cat is fine otherwise - no changes in appetite or behavior. I am keeping a close eye on the sore spots and the cat, if I notice any changes we'll go back to the vet. The calluses are benign, I suspect it is the cold (we have hard floors everywhere) and/or dry air as we've been turning on the heater lately. Although this is the first time the calluses cracked in over 12 years.
If you have a cat or dog with calluses that cracked, please share your wisdom. Thank you!
I have no idea on the pro's and contra's of hydrocolloids, but "my cat never licks her hocks" might only be true for as long as "my human never puts weird stuff on my hocks" remains true?
posted by Ashenmote at 10:24 AM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Ashenmote at 10:24 AM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
i am not even remotely a vet, but the first thing that came to my mind were the various balms available for the pads of dogs' feet. Musher's Secret is one - according to the product label it is okay for "open sores, cracked toes" but I would absolutely call your vet to be sure.
posted by misskaz at 11:22 AM on January 10, 2015
posted by misskaz at 11:22 AM on January 10, 2015
This seems like it would cause more trouble than it would save. If problem areas are small and not actively bleeding, it may not need intervention. In your position I might massage in a simple salve, like lanolin (A&D ointment), to soften the callus a little over time and prevent further cracking. If the wound opens up or gets worse, it's time for a vet call/visit.
posted by zennie at 12:38 PM on January 10, 2015
posted by zennie at 12:38 PM on January 10, 2015
Response by poster: Thank you for your input, folks. In humans hydrocolloid dressings are an acceptable treatment for calluses and I just found a reference in a textbook on small animal surgery that says hydrocolloids are useful in treating pressure sores (among other types of wounds) in animals! Any time she sits down to eat or drink she puts pressure on those spots, a gel dressing will relieve some of that pressure.
As for the licking - I guess there is always that 1% chance that she could exhibit a different behavior, but my cat never licks the calluses, never licks the creams and ointments I put on the calluses off, didn't lick them when the skin broke and started bleeding, didn't lick the bandage I put on yesterday (but was shaking her legs to get rid of it) and never licks or otherwise tries to remove the bandage she gets on her front leg after a blood draw. I will give it a try as I have hydrocolloids on hand. Thanks again.
posted by travelwithcats at 12:49 PM on January 10, 2015
As for the licking - I guess there is always that 1% chance that she could exhibit a different behavior, but my cat never licks the calluses, never licks the creams and ointments I put on the calluses off, didn't lick them when the skin broke and started bleeding, didn't lick the bandage I put on yesterday (but was shaking her legs to get rid of it) and never licks or otherwise tries to remove the bandage she gets on her front leg after a blood draw. I will give it a try as I have hydrocolloids on hand. Thanks again.
posted by travelwithcats at 12:49 PM on January 10, 2015
I'd give the vet a call. A lot of people don't realize that you can often call the vet for a quick chat rather than bringing them in.
posted by radioamy at 2:27 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 2:27 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Coconut oil is also a good soothing, neutral oil for cats (and dogs) -- you can give them a teaspoon of it now and then for digestion and coat, so it's fine to rub on them. I'd go with something like that or Vaseline before a human-style ointment.
posted by vickyverky at 11:07 AM on January 11, 2015
posted by vickyverky at 11:07 AM on January 11, 2015
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posted by catspajammies at 9:44 AM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]