Following are selected posts to the Holisticat (TM) Mailing List on the subject of wounds. There's a lot of information here, and the posts are arranged in ascending chronological order. If there is a particular word you're looking for, it's probably best to utilize the "Find in Page" function in your edit menu!
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Wounds (Abrasions, Cysts) 14 Aug 98 - 2 June 99
<14 Aug 98 From: Vick Re: Raw Wound on Kitty>
<<I'm usually just a lurker, but I really need some advice for my poor uncomfortable kitty. He has licked and scratched himself a big raw patch of skin on his back. <<snip>> It is not infected, but is raw and red and must itch. It's about 3.5 inches around. The vet was no help. She said to give Quincy prednisone>>
It *sounds* like your little man has a lick granuloma...... Did your
vet say what she thought it was? They just love to give Pred for
anything that they can't treat w/ antibiotics, don't they? IMHO, pred
should _always_ be your last resort.
That said, Diane Stein has a buncha suggestions in her book:
1- feed a natural, preservative-free diet. she says that this
is sometimes all it takes b/c granulomas are toxicity-based.
She
also said that if it doesn't clear in a month that way, to try
a hypoallergenic diet (if feeding a 'natural' packaged food) or to
eliminate beef if home-cooking. (I'd just do a beef-free, homemade
diet to start with)
2-Feed aloe vera juice+liquid chlorophyll to remove toxins from the body. Use the gel externally on the sores. She added kelp to her dog's diet, and saw the sores reduce from 'large bleeding ones to minor skin abraisions'. She gave 3 drops of liquid kelp daily to Kali (a 55-pound husky puppy.)
3- If your cat has dry skin, add cod liver oil. If not, Vit E. Garlic, since it has antibiotic properties, is recommended, as is ACV in the water to add potassium and minerals.
4-She also suggests the following vitamins:
6-Homeopathy:
Other remedies include:
<< have been cleaning it with Hydrogen Peroxide diluted in water, then putting aloe vera gel on it. I have kept him covered with a Baby T-Shirt, and when he gets bad about bothering it, I put an elizabethan collar on him. He is a sorry sight! I can't leave him for a minute or he tries to bother it.>>
Sounds like you're doing okay for him- don't know about cleaning w/ H2O2, tho.... Anyone else have any thoughts? Boy, cats sure hate those d*mn collars, don't they? At the clinic the e-collar cats were always SO pathetic!
<<I don't have many holistic books, but from what I read yesterday,
it seems he could benefit from:
multivitamin plus extra C,E,B, and zinc
garlic
aloe vera juice
kelp
yucca
bee pollen>>
Don't know about yucca or bee pollen. I'm not real familiar w/ their
uses. Oh, hang on- Stein says it's "another herbal steroid/cortisone alternative.
<<Is there anything else anyone could recommend to put on the
wound to help it heal, or stop bothering him? Or to clean it
with?>>
The only other thing I can think of to put on it is Calendula gel or
ointment. But check on this w/ someone else- I don't know if it would be
appropriate. I know Hypericum is also for use topically in some situations,
but don't know if that's appropriate here, either. I *think* that's more
for painful cuts, w/ nerve involvement, but I don't know for sure. Sorry
:)
<<He is on Natural Life food and gets filtered water. I'd
like to try raw with him. His coat is not great, (thin &
dull), and he does not seem to have great energy (he's 11) so maybe
this food is no good for him? I have tried some other good
foods with no success (Solid Gold, Innova, Wysong). Coat was
not any better. If he has an allergy, what would be good ingredients for
him in a raw diet? >>
You know, one of my cats had me stymied forever, thinking he had a food allergy or some intolerance. But on raw, he can eat any protein. I have this suspicion that it's not the individual ingredients that gets to them, but that some cats are more sensitive to "impurities" for lack of a better term. It's all the little preservatives and denaturing stuff, and the unavoidable toxins in processed foods that get to these cats, in my little theory. Anyways, I guess I'm saying that a raw diet may not have *any* allergens, and may be just what your handsome boy needs.
<<Every summer he gets raw skin that he scratches right above his eyes and I think since it's only once a year, it is probably an allergy. He has never had a raw patch anywhere else tho. >>
Do you change something every summer? Use a flea/tick preventative?
<<One of my other cats is trying to dominate him tho, and has left a few bites on his neck and back at times, which is how I think this started. It just got out of control.>>
This may be part of your answer- Stein said sometimes these things happen becuz the cat has a flea bite or another wound and they start licking and just don't stop. In any event, I hope her suggestions provide your boy w/ some relief!
When I was volunteering at our local shelter I got bitten pretty badly by a feral kitten (yes, embarrassing - she couldn't have weighed more than a pound!) but I was advised to soak it in medicated douche powder dissolved in the hottest water I could stand to put my hand into.
I did it and it really helped a lot - apparently there is something in the powder that counteracts a specific protein(?) in the saliva...anyway I have always kept some of the powder on hand "just in case" but that is the only bite that I have ever received that needed it.
Aurora, hope Buster is doing better (ditto for Gabby's boy Moby).
Yes, Calendula is the one that will seal a wound so tight in such a short
time that if there is any bacteria in there, it'll be trapped....real bad
news. Hypericum is useful if there is nerve pain. HyperiCal
is a good ointment too. There are herbal salves that are great for
this stuff. I'm in school and not by my books..hope
someone can give more suggestions.
BTW, I read someplace that Hyd peroxide is actually not a good thing
for deep wounds. Darned if I can remember where
but since I don't like it anyway, I didn't make proper notes. Anyone
else heard this? Something about the fizziness and anerobic bacteria
or some such thing..I know, I'm a big help! <g> I'll look around
if anyone cares about this. Otherwise, I'll go look for that overgrooming
article Julia wrote instead:)
Calendula will close off a wound pretty quickly; I found that out myself this summer when I cut my forehead. Here's yet another irrigation formula you may want to use to cleanse and reduce swelling:
1 cup distilled or spring water
1 tsp. Betadyne solution *or* 10 drops golden seal extract
1/2 tsp. sea salt
I've used this before and have been pleased with the results. I do use goldenseal instead of Betadyne. Goldenseal is one of those herbs that is beginning to be on the endangered species (at least in the wild) list. I believe Oregon Grape Root has been considered as a substitute, but don't know whether it would work in this solution (Mary W-T, what do ya' think?).
When the wound is starting to heal, i.e. it won't hurt if it closes, you could use the following:
1 cup distilled or spring water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. tincture of calendula
I've used the above calendula solution for bruised toes and sprained feet on animals too to help with the swelling.
<<Our male cat Cuddles got into a fight and has an abcess under his chin(which just broke and drained today) and his back foot got the nail and part of the pad split and also smells infected. We plan on taking him to the vet tomorrow. I've been giving him echinacea and putting antibiotic ointment on the areas. Any other advice? I'm not sure if the vet will do the drain thing or what. I used to take care of an old cat's abcesses myself - he'd actually let me cut them open and drain them and I'd clean them and use echinacea and goldenseal. But this cat is not as cooperative, which is why we're going to the vet - he also tens to get FUS and I don't want him to go into that. Any help would be appreciated.He really won't let me get a good look at the toe - I can get the cream on it and that's about it, but it smells bad. Thanks!>>
I have cleaned MANY kitty abscesses. With open abscesses I had the best luck flushing with sterile saline, followed by peroxide flushes. This should be done every 4 or 6 hours if possible until all signs of infection are gone. If it smells bad you know the flushing is needed. A lot of flushing will help reduce the need for antibiotics.
If u ever get bitten by a cat, take Ledum (lo potency - 6X, 6C) internally. If there is nerve pain, follow it up w/ Hypericum again lo potency. The 2 remedies are fantastic. My best buddy got bitten and after just 2 doses of each of the above-mentioned remedies, her hand was completely back to normal - no pain and certainly no need for a tetanus shot. I also have an ointment that contains Ledum and Apis so applied that externally. I avoid Calendula or Hypercal externally just in case there is some infection buried underneath.
I have been very busy trying to treat George this afternoon. It's
a beautiful day here, so I had George out in the front
yard; he normally has to be separated from the other cats, and so I
try to give him more attention on my days off.... A stray (I think
feral) tom came by; George chased him; I chased George; the cats ran off
into the thickets where I couldn't get
them....I have been calling George all morning. He finally came
home. He has a deep scratch on his whisker pad. It's not bleeding,
but it's deep. I have rinsed the wound with hydrogen peroxide, warm
water, aloe vera liquid, and a calendula infusion, and I'm going to squirt
the wound with diluted Willard Water later. I am stuck on which homeopathic
remedy to give George. I settled on Arnica 30c because it seemed
to fit George's symptoms the best--he has a deep scratch, about an inch
and 1/2 long and it sort of sits open. George seems fine other than
this gash on his face. I think I will let it sit over night and see
how it looks in the morning before I take him into the vet....they always
want to give antibiotics...or is this silly?
<<I have rinsed the wound with hydrogen peroxide, warm water, aloe vera liquid, and a calendula infusion, and I'm going to squirt the wound with diluted Willard Water later. >>
With calendula infusion, it's great for helping to heal once the main
injury is not quite so serious, but I don't like to use it on a fresh
wound, as it can close over the wound too quickly, possibly sealing
in nasties. Oddly enough, though, after looking in my MM I see that as
a homeo remedy, it's sometimes recommended for open type wounds. The people
on the Volhard list really like Willard Water, so that will help.
Do you have Frazier's kitty book, BTW? There are some great recipes
in there for wounds, ears and eyes as far as flushing them out.
<<I settled on Arnica 30c because it seemed to fit George's symptoms the best--he has a deep scratch, about an inch and 1/2 long and it sort of sits open. >>
Some others to consider might be Hypericum (since this is a whiskers area, there are nerve endings here), Ledum (more for a puncture type wound, which this doesn't sound like it is) or Phosphorus if it does start to bleed more.
<<I think I will let it sit over night and see how it looks in the morning before I take him into the vet....they always want to give antibiotics...or is this silly?>>
Not if it's not bleeding much or at all. I recall Nancy Korman was able to help one of her dogs when he got a bleeding type wound with homeopathy. I know she's been really busy this week, but you might send her an e-mail and see what she thinks - she also has Kathryn Walker's book on first aid using homeopathy.
Here's one of Frazier's recipes for puncture wounds ordirty wounds (to draw out infection):
1 cup warm water
1-2 teaspoons of Epsom salts
For open wound use mildly warm water and only 1 teaspoon Epsom salts. As wound heals you can use warmer water and 2 teaspoons Epsom salts. Soak 2-5 minutes (yeah, like George will let you do that!). Rinse well and follow with soak in 1 cup warm water and 10 drops tincture or extract of golden seal.
While we're on the golden seal, here's her recipe for irrigating abscesses (which I think would also work nicely for cuts):
1 cup distilled or spring water
1 teaspoon of Betadyne solution or 10 drops of golden seal extract
( I
always use the golden seal)
1/2 teas. of sea salt
<<I'll try the Hypericum later. George still seems to being doing all right. I did fine a small puncture wound on his chest.>>
Ledum is usually recommended for puncture wounds I believe - you'll just have to weigh which area seems worse and then choose the remedy appropriate for that. If you have Walker's homeopathy first aid book, that should be a big help.
Arnica is a good choice b/c it also addresses the trauma he must have suffered. If there seems to be a puncture wound somewhere, u can also give him Ledum. Between Ledum and Hypericum, wounds won't get infected, and no need for tetanus shots in humans. So Arnica is a great remedy for starters.
My, Susan, George sure has had a naughty but busy day :) I'm glad to hear he's home, and am sure he's got some great stories to tell!
<<He has a deep scratch on his whisker pad. It's not bleeding, but it's deep. I have rinsed the wound with hydrogen peroxide, warm water, aloevera liquid, and a calendula infusion>>
The only thing I wonder about is the calendula infusion - mightn't that close the wound too quickly?
Some of the best scars I have are from long, deep scratches, and they can harbor lotsa bacteria. Maybe even a little neosporin might be a good idea if it looks like an infection is starting....
<<take him into the vet....they always want to give antibiotics...or is this silly?>>
Silly how? That you're a worried momcat and don't want George getting abx if he doesn't hafta? Not silly at all in my book :)
Give George a hug and kiss -gently, of course - from me, and some benevolent purrs and get well soon head-bonks from the kits!
I know what you mean about them always wanting to give antibiotics. I might use colloidal silver externally and in the past I've just given some Vit C; E and A mixed in with food as per Anitra Frazier's suggestions in The New Natural Cat and my cat was fine.
Lee wrote:
<<So we still don't know what she had, but everything is fine
now, we just have to get rid of the cyst. >>
Hi Lee,
True sebaceous cysts come encapsulated and sometimes fill up again even after they have been expressed.
I have a GSD who has had several of them. A few months ago I heard about bloodroot salve by Alpha Omega Labs. They also make Cansema for skin cancers.
If you are familiar with Dr. Andrew Weil you will have undoubtedly read about this salve already.
You may want to visit Alpha Omega's website and read the testimonies from folks who have used it on dogs and cats.
I know several people who use it on themselves and their pets. I bought some in anticipation of the next time Molly gets a sebaceous cyst. The salve is $9.95 whereas the cancer salve---Cansema is about $50.
Here is the addy:
http://herbhealers.com/index.htm
Sharon
Boston
In a message dated 6/2/99 6:39:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, lknipp@
writes:
<< He mentions some uses of bloodroot from using it for gingivitis
to employing it for warts. He's done a lot of work with
rainforest plants and the medicinal compounds that they possess.
In your experience, Sharon, how long did it take to work on your
GSD>>
Hi Leah,
This is true of gingivitis according some some folks that have posted on the human holisitc list that I was on.
I have some cyber friends who have used Cansema successfully on mast cell tumours on dogs. My nathurpathic physician has concurred that it would work for cats and dogs.
One of the folks that I correspond with was amazed when she applied Cansema to her husband's skin cancer and the "spots" dried up and eventually fell off.
Molly (my GSD baby) hasn't has sebaceous cysts since I began pumping up her immune system. I purchased the product in anticipation of reoccurance.
There is a difference between the Cansema product and the regular product that is considerably less expensive. I have the regular product.
I have recommended Cansema to some friends who have a kitty who has undergone treatment for cancer (allopathically) and some skin growths have come back. If they decide to use the product I will undate the list on the progress.
Once again I would like to empathasize that Cansema isn't necessary for sebaceous cysts. The regular product should be most effective.
Sharon
Boston
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