It goes without saying that it is extremely important to get any kind of animal bites, particularly cat bites, evaluated by a medical expert. The reason for doing this is the fact that in cases of cat bites, the possibility of infections is extremely high. And an infection if left untreated can result in the toxins from the animal’s mouth getting into the bloodstream thus proving to be life-threatening.
Infections arising from animal bites are indicated by symptoms such as redness in the affected area, warm to touch, red streaks stretching from the wound, a wound that is discolored or healing slowly or a wound with a yellowish green secretion accompanied by a foul odor. More importantly, you would also need to check for rabies infections, as bites of canine animals can contain rabies.
As explained earlier, it is extremely critical to seek medical attention immediately when you experience a bite or puncture wound, so that your doctor can administer the required medicinal shot. It is also likely that you may require a booster shot if you haven’t had a tetanus injection in the last five years. Studies have shown that it is imperative that you are administered the tetanus shot within three days of the injury. There is also a possibility that your slow healing wound may be due to the presence of an underlying systemic disorder such as diabetes which is yet another reason for consulting a medical expert.
In the event that you have been to a doctor already and have been advised that you do not require antibiotics (infected wounds are normally treated by IV or oral antibiotics) you could possibly consider some natural home remedies to alleviate your situation.
A poultice prepared from carrots is believed to be very beneficial in alleviating the symptoms from a cat bite. You will need to grate fresh carrots and apply the grated carrot directly on top of the affected area. Follow this by covering the grated carrots with a warm, slightly moist compress and leave it on the wound for about 20 to 30 minutes. The carrot compress or poultice is known to be rather effective in drawing out the toxins as well as the infection and in enhancing and quickening the overall healing process. Other natural home remedies that can be used for slow healing cat bites include applying a solution of castor oil mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice on the affected area. You can also use a paste prepared from combining any or all of the following anti-bacterial agents such as golden seal, tea tree oil or calendula. You need to apply the paste of the affected areas to complement the healing process.