How Can I Stop My Bengal From Scratching Her Infected Ear Wound? (Vet Answered)
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Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
My cat has an ear puncture from a suspected cat fight. It had gotten infected and filled up with pus. We took her to the vet and got a dose of antibiotics a few days ago. But subsequently scratched her wound and opened it up again. It doesn’t look infected, but she has made it weepy and is constantly scratching it open. What can I do to stop her from scratching it?
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📹 Vet's Video Reply (scroll down to see text answer)
Dear Brendalou,
Bengals can definitely be quite the handful, and trying to convince them to take it easy and stay put is rarely successful!
Unfortunately, cats can be their own worst enemy when it comes to wound healing, and those sharp claws can open up a wound in a flash. There are a few different options you could try here:
Keep her confined indoors for 5-7 days with a cone. She might not like it, but you would be amazed how much healing can take place in a short period if the wound is left alone.
Use a soft/flexible type of e-collar that is less likely to get stuck (however, these are also easier to get around, so may not be as effective).
Use a dog crate to keep her confined if she is able to escape the house.
Hospitalisation – it may sound a bit extreme, but if you are really struggling and her wound isn’t healing, it may be worth talking to your vet about boarding her at the practice for a few days until the wound has healed. It may be a bit expensive, but it may be worth it if it speeds up her recovery.
Feel free to head over to PangoVet.com where you can make an appointment for an online consultation with one of the vets if you need a bit more advice.
Good luck!
Dr Karyn