Cat scratching scab off chin - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden

[coper]

My cat had a broken jaw and had it wired shut. The vet took the wire out 10 days ago and it is healed nicely. In the last couple of days the cat has been scratching his chin and has scratched it open. It doesn't smell like it is infected but I wondered if there was something I could put on it to heal it more quickly and also something to clean it before it does infect.

[Laurie1956]

I don't know if there's anything that will heal it more quickly -- it was probably pretty well healed, as you said, but itching him -- but I do know that I've used a bit of peroxide on a cotton ball to clean superficial boo-boos on my cats.

[rainbow]

I would call your vet and ask. Most vets will answer a question like that over the phone.

[petdr]

An over the counter triple antibiotic cream is helpful, perhaps a low dose of cortisone cream in addition to this would stop the itching. Continue to monitor this area to make certain infection is not a possibility; also be aware that previous trauma to an area can stimulate excessive sensitivity (itching/rubbing/pawing) and therefore self-induced trauma as a response would need to be controlled. If this does not solve the problem then have a
follow-up visit with our veterinarian.

Dr. Van Lienden

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM
The Animal Clinic of Clifton
12702 Chapel Road, Clifton
Virginia, U.S.A. 20124
703-802-0490