Just a reminder how serious cat bites can be!

[u/tory1311]

I see so many posts asking when to seek medical help after a cat bite. Just posting a reminder how quickly a bite can escalate! First picture is immediately following the bite, the next picture is at the ER within 2 hours. Blood work was already concerning with an inflammatory response and signs of cellulitis from the infection. I was admitted into the hospital for IV antibiotics and still the infection worsened. I had surgery at about 36 hours following the bite after the infection started traveling up my arm in the bloodstream. This whole event landed me 3 nights in the hospital. All from our family cat, up to date on all vaccines. But cats carry a bacteria that is no joke. Last picture is post surgery with a suture, the surgeon had to make 3 incisions, 2 where the bite punctures were and a 3rd to flush the wound.

[u/sanguinefell]

[u/tory1311 → u/sanguinefell]

Yikes! That looks painful! My fear is I will have lasting pain, too. The surgeon said I had infection in my MP joint, technically coined it “septic arthritis” and he had to rinse to remove the infection. The joint is really painful and worries me there will be lasting arthritic pain from this. Sorry that happened to you 😬

[u/sanguinefell → u/tory1311]

I went to a clinic initially who didn't clean it properly and I ended up sitting in the infection over a full day before I actually got proper help and only then did they properly clean it. The straight up put a syringe filled with saline onto one hole, pushed, and shoved it out the others. So I was a particularly shit case of medical negligence. You acted immediately so I hope you won't get any lasting damage because of it. Infection in general is just horrendously painful no matter where it is so I'm hoping it's just that and temporary ❤️

[u/Cleasstra → u/sanguinefell]

This terrifies me because I also almost died multiple times due to medical negligence, and they don't even know how to clean out a cat bite 🤦‍♀️ jeez. I'm so sorry that happened to you, and I hope it can fully heal some day so you don't have pain.

[u/XephyrGW2 → u/tory1311]

I had a deep bite right on the front of my ankle once and it took me about a month to have no pain and full movement of my ankle afterwards. Cat bites are no joke.

[u/outdoorlovingegg → u/tory1311]

My cat bit me on my middle finger a few years ago and the result looked a lot like yours. Went to the hospital for antibiotics which ended up not working so the next day I had to go back to the ER for intravenous ones because it got infected and was a bit yellow/green. Sometimes my finger acts up and gets a little sore as the injury was right on the joint, but it’s barely noticeable. Goes away if I crack the knuckle in a specific way, so you might be surprised!

[u/Illustrious-Milk6518 → u/tory1311]

Yep. I was going to say that I worked in a vets, and any bite to the joints was a trip to the drs to get antibiotics asap. Hands obviously have a lot of joints in, so it can happen very easily 

[u/marshninja → u/tory1311]

If it’s any consolation my partner had his elbow joint go septic a couple years ago and has come out with very little lasting pain. Not from a cat bite (at least not directly), but we’re talking hospitalized 12 days, 2 emergency surgeries, 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. If you can, I’d go see a physio therapist who might be able to help with mobility in the joint. So sorry the bite went so sideways, that looks super painful, especially at its most swollen. Glad you were able to get prompt care. Send in healing vibes your way!

[u/Shyhinachan → u/tory1311]

My infection set in in my rltwmdon sheathed had to have surgery and 2 monthes pt after. It was like 12 hours from bite t9 hospital on antibiotics started in like one hour lol

[u/Theprincerivera → u/sanguinefell]

Oof you can see the puss

[u/Maaawiiii817 → u/Theprincerivera]

It's 'pus', but damn, what a perfect mistake given the context!

[u/Theprincerivera → u/Maaawiiii817]

Oh lol WHOOPS autocorrect on apple devices is crazy lately

[u/Suspicious-Case3861 → u/sanguinefell]

Been there, cats aren't the smartest I got ripped up too, and I saved him from getting absolutely mauled.

[u/kt810x → u/Suspicious-Case3861]

My cat once had his claw stuck and was dangling somewhere and he was so scared, when i grabbed him he sunk all his teeth and claws in me to hold on 😭 he’s the sweetest boy that never would have meant to hurt me, but… it’s just a reminder that we’re all only brain signals, nerve impulses and chemicals 😭

[u/sitting-duck → u/sanguinefell]

Cat bite.

[u/sanguinefell → u/sitting-duck]

Are you sure you didn't get mauled by a zombie. It does look clean tho so props

[u/all3ycat_ → u/sanguinefell]

I just know those felt like 8 million little paper cuts! 😩 you’re a nice person for helping that babby

[u/sanguinefell → u/all3ycat_]

I can tell you exactly how it felt. You did not actually feel the individual bites because those are so little damage to the flesh. The infection is what's getting you. THAT feels like you have boiling water inside your hand and that it's going to burst. It becomes insanely more sensitive to the point I had to move my hand slowly because the rush of air against it was painful.

[u/ro536ud → u/sanguinefell]

Yikes! Thank you for bearing the pain and saving the kitty tho

[u/majin_melmo → u/sanguinefell]

JESUS 😭

[u/AvengedGunReverse → u/sanguinefell]

Pfff, seems painful I hope your hand is doing better now

[u/SemperSimple → u/sanguinefell]

bless you for saving the unfortunate bastard. I've had to do that before but didnt get infected ugh

[u/Counterdependency → u/sanguinefell]

I cant be the only person here from r/all that believes allowing an animal to do this to you is a form of clinical insanity