Tigris, our manx kitty, has lost some fur over a spot on her
side near her hip. It doesn’t look inflamed but it hurts her when I
touch it. I thought it might be a fight wound, but I can’t find any
scab or wound at all. She’s eating and playful as usual. What else
could this be?
Q: Tigris, our manx kitty, has lost some fur over a spot on her side near her hip. It doesn’t look inflamed but it hurts her when I touch it. I thought it might be a fight wound, but I can’t find any scab or wound at all. She’s eating and playful as usual. What else could this be?
A:
Your first hunch is probably the right one. While this may be something more unusual, I bet that Tigris was clawed or bitten somewhere near this bald spot. And it probably happened a few days ago. Cats’ claws and teeth are very sharp and full of bacteria. It’s easy for these microorganisms to be deposited under the skin. And the visible point of entry may be impossible to see, especially after a few days have passed.
Bacteria can increase in numbers over the course of a few days. And as this infection quietly grows under the skin, it produces some heat which temporarily damages any adjacent hair follicles. So a fight wound could explain Tigris’ hair loss and her localized pain or sensitivity. She has either a cellulitis (a deep skin infection) or an abscess under that denuded area on her side. By the way, these wounds can innocently occur even when two friendly cats are only roughhousing. A friendly little poke with a claw can make for a painful wound.
You can try to treat this at home for a short time (perhaps a day or so) as long as she still feels good and continues to eat normally. Place a warm compress over the area for about 10 minutes twice each day. This will increase circulation to the area and if there’s an abscess, a compress will bring it to the surface. Abscesses are messy and they can make a cat very ill. So you might want to take Tigris to her vet for treatment, just to make life easier for her and for you. If she were to become toxic with the bacteria in her wound, she would need antibiotics and more aggressive and expensive medical care.
Q:
We had our yearling colt gelded two days ago. Everything went fine and he has been eating well and feels good. But I noticed that his face looks a little different. His right lip is hanging a little lower and seems to be “loose”. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it looks like he had a stroke. It seemed worse the day after surgery, and a little better today. What should we do?
A:
Your description of his sagging lip sounds as though he has a mild form of facial paralysis. And while a stroke could be a possible cause, there’s a more-likely explanation. This may be a short term side effect of his surgery and anesthesia.
There’s a nerve that controls many of the muscles in the face (appropriately, it’s called the facial nerve). A branch of this nerve runs directly across the cheek on a horse, right where the buckle of the halter is located. If a horse lies down on its side for an extended time, and if there is pressure from this metal buckle against this nerve, it can be temporarily disabled. The result is a sag in the muscles of facial expression that are stimulated by this nerve. Usually this kind of facial paralysis is temporary, and the symptoms disappear after a few days.
But there’s reason for concern whenever this occurs and you should contact your veterinarian right away. You’ll want to make sure that this is only a momentary problem and not something that needs some medical attention.
Q:
Our parakeet, Boomer, is acting weird. He’s singing differently and he is a lot louder. I also noticed that he’s not using his perch anymore. Now he’s on the bottom of his cage all the time. It’s the same cage and we clean it all the time. Why is he acting this way?
A:
I can’t be sure what Boomer’s problem might be. But I can assure you that anytime a parakeet or other caged bird shows a radical change in behavior (especially when a bird stays at the bottom of the cage), there is a serious health problem. If you have him near an open window or doorway, he may have developed a simple respiratory condition. But these problems can quickly worsen to a serious stage. Caged birds rarely show any symptoms of illness until they are very unhealthy. Boomer needs a visit to the vet right away. Don’t wait another day. Get him in to be evaluated right away.
