Cat ear ripped after fight. Is a DIY cone safe or should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that. This is a type of open wound that at least on the pictures it seems like it will require sutures to heal properly. Also, these wounds tend to get infected so antibiotics would be recommended. Pain medications are usually used as these tend to be painful. I recommend that you have Hera evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Boncuk. Poor girl, that looks awful. I would put a cone on her head so she cannot lick the wounds. You can get one from the vet if you do not have one already. I would keep her indoors at all times during the next 2 weeks to enable her to heal. Do not let her outside at all. Keep the wound area clean and dry, and monitor for signs of infection. If you see pus, swelling, warmth to the touch, she's lethargic, or has a loss of appetite, take her back into the vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Oh my goodness, those hats are so cute! The problem with the hats is that typically cats hate wearing them, and you might have a lot of problems keeping one on Luna. I found a website called Pampered Whiskers, and they sell hats for cats. I will put the link below for you to check them out. You might also consider using an inflatable recovery collar for her instead of the traditional Ecollar. It looks like a donut, and it doesn't come out past her face which will keep her from bumping into things. I found one on Amazon, so I would google "inflatable recovery collar" to find it. Finally, I would make an appointment her vet to diagnose the cause of her itching her ears (it could be an ear infection, mites, fleas, or allergies) so it can be treated. Best of luck, I hope this helps! https://www.pamperedwhiskers.com

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Boots. I do recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. The ear wound needs to be thoroughly cleaned and and examined. She may need antibiotics or even surgery to help it heal. In the meantime, do not allow her to paw at it. Place an E-collar on her if needed to prevent any further self trauma. I hope this information helps!

You can try to use a pet shirt or baby onesie to cover the stitches. Or make a belly bandage using whatever you have around the house - like clean dish towels and duct tape. If you have a small kennel or carrier, Bonnie may need to stay in there to stay confined since excessive running or jumping can cause internal sutures to loosen up and cause bleeding problems. You may call your vet tomorrow or look at pet stores for different styles of e-collars. Some are shaped like a cone, some are floppy like a sunhat and can be worn pointing towards the shoulders, and some are inflatable donuts.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That most likely would be fine. If you do see him doing it try to tell him not to do it just to be extra cautious though this is likely just fine and should not result in incision issues. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Willow has a cut on her ear. It is possible that she caused it herself by scratching, but if you did not observe it happening, she could have traumatized it on something else, or been wounded by another animal. Based on your description of the wound, I recommend bringing her to your local veterinarian to have her evaluated. At the very least, the wound likely needs to be cleaned and flushed with a sterile solution to prevent infection. Depending on how deep or infected the wound is, it may require more extensive management such as surgical closure of the wound, or bandages. Willow likely also needs an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent her from further traumatizing the wound. Unfortunately, dogs like to scratch at their ears and can make it very hard for wounds to heal. If the wound is superficial and Willow is otherwise healthy, you may be able to apply compression to the wound to get it to stop bleeding, and monitor it closely at home for signs of infection (redness, swelling, yellow-green discharge, foul odor). If you see any of these signs, Willow should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian. Just a reminder, NEVER give dogs any pain medications that are intended for humans, as they can be lethally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!