Does the cat have your eye?

Cats are cute, especially kittens. Many people keep one or more cats as pets and let them sleep in their rooms at night. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood, you have to ask yourself: do you feel lucky, well, right? You’re asleep in bed, lying on your side when your cat jumps up and a claw causes a 2-inch laceration to your upper left eyelid. The wound is bleeding profusely, and as he prepares to go to work, he notices a purple discoloration and swelling of the eyelid. What do you do for a living? It’s time to see a doctor.

the bacteriaBartonella henselae, lives in the gut of fleas and can remain viable in flea feces for several days. Fleas transmit this bacteria to domestic and stray cats around the world.. Areas where fleas are endemic have higher rates of infested cats. A contaminated cat nail or bite can transmit this organism to humans causing cat scratch disease.

Most cat scratches are not serious and usually respond to symptomatic treatment by washing the wound with soap and water. However, cat scratch eyelid infection can rapidly progress to cellulitis around the eye, especially if the person is diabetic or immunocompromised, for example, HIV positive or alcoholic. Cat scratches can also infect the lymph nodes around the head and neck and also inside the eye.

For major scratches, or a scratch on the eyelid, treatment includes antibiotics: Zithromax, azithromycin (Z-Pak) for 5 days, or rifampin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin. A laceration involving the upper eyelid can sever the muscle that allows the eyelid to move up and down. Microsurgical treatment by an ophthalmologist may be needed to prevent eyelid drooping. Alternatively, if the wound does not involve the eyelid muscle, a plastic surgeon may be consulted about the need for sutures.

Clostridium tetani The spores that cause tetanus can be found in the soil and in the intestines and feces of cats and other household pets. Tetanus is usually acquired through a laceration or puncture of the skin. Therefore, in addition to antibiotics, one injection of the combined tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended for all adults ages 19 through 64 years, regardless of when the last pertussis vaccine was given. tetanus or diphtheria. It is especially important to get vaccinated if you have an infected wound. Cat lacerations are more likely to become infected than dog lacerations.

Flea collars are more effective for the cat’s head and neck than for the tail. Cat owners should be aware of the risk of flea infestation and be warned.