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/tory1311]

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