Burns

There are many causes of burns: contact with flame or direct heat, flying cinders and sparks, steam, hot liquids, spattered cooking oil, hot tar, and caustic chemicals. Burns are classified as either major or minor, superficial or deep. Major burns cover more than 5 percent of the body surface. A superficial burn affects only the surface skin. A deep burn damages or destroys the deeper layers of skin and possibly the underlying tissues. A deep burn may destroy the hair follicles, so that scar tissue will form and the fur will be permanently gone. Secondary effects of burns can be destructive, even fatal. These include shock, infection because of exposure of the wound to bacterial invasion, and toxemia from the absorption of poisons produced by the damaged cells or bacteria. Intensive, prolonged care is necessary for a cat that has been deeply burned. Recovery from deep burns is possible, with proper therapy, if 15 percent or less of the body surface is affected.

Thermal Burns

Thermal burns are injuries caused by contact with flames, hot objects, or hot liquids. Chemical or electrical burns are classified separately. Household accidents are the most common causes of thermal burns, a large portion of which occur in the kitchen. A cat may be spattered by hot grease from a frying pan or scalded by boiling water, or the footpads may be burned by walking across a hot stove. These accidents are often the result of carelessness by the owner and could be avoided if dangerous items were kept out of the pet's reach.

When the skin is burned, the small blood vessels dilate, allowing fluid to escape and accumulate in the surrounding tissues, causing localized swelling. Some fluid comes to the surface, making the burned area moist and red. if the burns are massive and the protective layer of skin is completely absent, the rapid loss of fluid may cause severe shock. The way feline skin responds to burns is different from the way human skin responds; as a result, it is easy for owners to underestimate the severity of a burn. If in any doubt as to the severity of the injury, always seek veterinary attention as quickly as possible.

When a cat has been scalded by hot liquid or steam, the hair and skin are still in place. in this instance, the size of the burn can be determined by the red appearance and by the fact that it will feel hot to the touch. Fluid released by the blood vessels after a scalding may mat the hair over the wound, hiding the damage. This can give harmful bacteria time to multiply. An infection and accumulation of pus may be hidden for some time. Later, the cat shows signs of illness. An injured cat characteristically becomes very defensive and may resist attempts to help it, because of fear and pain. An owner must be prepared to restrain the cat to treat the burn. One's priorities should be to relieve pain, prevent or treat shock, prevent infection, and stimulate healing.

Treatment of superficial burns. To relieve the pain of a superficial burn, apply ice packs or immerse the affected area in cold water. Dry gently. If possible, remove the hair from around the wound to minimize chances of infection. Do not apply butter or any oilbased ointment; these may intensify the burning sensation. Also, do not apply human medications; these may be toxic if licked by the cat. Instead, apply a thin film of an antibiotic such as a topical ophthalmic (eye) ointment or one of the following home remedies: some "jelly" from the inside of the leaf of an aloe vera ("burn") plant; or a wet dressing of Burrough's solution made with water and Domeboro tablets or powder, available at most pharmacies. Either of these home remedies will reduce pain and inflammation when applied repeatedly to keep the injured area moist.

Cover the area with a clean dressing, held in place with a bandage. Take the cat to a veterinarian for further examination and treatment if the burn is serious. Otherwise, check the bandage daily. if the burn becomes infected or doesn't begin to heal within several days, it is time to see the veterinarian.

Treatment of deep burns. Extensive or deep burns need immediate veterinary attention. Call ahead to make sure a veterinarian will be ready and able to treat the cat as soon as it arrives; this will save precious time. Meanwhile, soak a clean cloth in cold water and apply it very gently to the burned area. Keep the patient warm and monitor for signs of shock as you transport it to the veterinarian. Protect the wet dressing with thick, clean, dry bandages or towels and keep the cat calm during the journey.

In cases of severe burns, the victim loses a great amount of fluid. The veterinarian may choose to establish an intravenous route of fluid therapy to counteract this loss.

If for some reason it is impossible to obtain immediate veterinary treatment, clean the visible debris or foreign matter out of the wound with simple contact lens solution or a sterile salt solution. This can be made by adding one teaspoon of salt to one pint of boiled water and allowing it to become lukewarm. Sterile distilled water can take the place of the boiled water. If the injury is dirty or greasy, first cleanse it gently with soap and warm water, then with the saline solution.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns are perhaps the most dangerous kind and are often fatal. They are usually caused by chewing through a plugged-in appliance cord, by lightning, or by coming into contact with an improperly insulated appliance. Electrical burns most often happen at the corners of the mouth or on the tip of the tongue, appearing as red, sometimes blistered flesh, which is painful to the touch for the cat. The burn itself is not nearly as life threatening as the electric shock that accompanies it. Cats may be jolted into cardiac arrest and death.

A slower developing, equally treacherous complication is pulmonary edema. It is a buildup of excessive fluid in the lungs, which can appear an hour after the electrical shock occurs, and, if untreated, can be fatal. Any animal that has suffered an electrical bum should be taken directly to the veterinarian, even if there are no apparent complications An electrical burn is a life-threatening emergency. Brain or nerve damage is a strong possibility, and, in most cases, the cat does not survive without immediate veterinary attention.

Do not attempt to treat the bum at home. The other complications are far more serious, so the cat should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The first priority is to treat the animal for shock. it is highly possible that the cat will need cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (See Cardiopulmonary RESUSCITATION, Section: FIRST AID.) Have another person alert the veterinarian that the cat is on its way.

Signs of shock may include respiratory distress, a pale or blue color to the lips, gums, and lining of the eyelids, stiffness in the limbs, a glassy stare, and perhaps total collapse. As the cat goes into shock, its temperature drops rapidly. It is imperative to keep the cat warm, using a hot-water bottle or warm blanket.

Prevention. Decrease the possibility of electrical shocks by unplugging all appliances that are not in use. Young animals (up to about eighteen months of age) can be expected to gnaw on electrical cords and other items. Especially during these early months, they should not be left unattended near potential sources of electrical shock.

Chemical Burns

There are several types of chemicals that cause burns: acids (e.g., toilet bowl cleaners), alkalis (e.g., lye, drain cleaners, caustic soda), and primary irritants (e.g., turpentine). A strange odor may be one of the first telltale signs that a cat has come in contact with one of these agents. Any of these chemicals will cause painful redness of the skin and may even eat away the skin if left on for an extended period of time. The cat may further injure itself by licking at the noxious substance. It is important to wash the chemical from the skin quickly, soothe and protect the injury, and obtain veterinary care.

Wear rubber gloves to cleanse the corrosive substance from the animal. Wash away acids with an alkaline solution, consisting of one teaspoon bicarbonate of soda dissolved in one pint of warm water. Wash away alkalis with an acidic solution, consisting of equal parts of vinegar and warm water. These opposing types of solutions will neutralize the chemical causing the burn. if the nature of the chemical is unknown, wash the area with plain water.

Check the chemical container, if available, to see if a specific antidote is listed, and if so, apply it to the burned area. if this is not possible, apply one of the home remedies mentioned for thermal burns (see "Thermal Burns," this section) to soothe pain.

When the cat's face and eyes are burned, restrain its body in a thick blanket, if possible. A second person may be necessary to help with treatment. Hold the eyelids open and gently flush them with copious amounts of lukewarm water. A bulb syringe will help guide the water directly into the eyes. Eyes are extremely fragile and must be treated as quickly and gently as possible. As soon as the caustic substance has been removed, take the cat to a veterinary hospital.

Frostbite

Frostbite and freezing cause tissue damage that is similar to burn damage. They occur when an animal is exposed for a long period to extreme cold and high winds. Circulation becomes impaired in the extremities (ears, tail, feet) and ice crystals form in the tissues, causing major damage. The affected area may first turn very pale, then, after thawing, become red and scaly. Frostbite causes severe pain; therefore, handle an affected cat with extreme care.

First, move the cat to a warm place. Use moist, warm packs or a warm blow-dryer to bring the temperature of the affected area rapidly back to normal. Do not use excessive heat and do not rub the frozen areas This may cause further damage or loss of tissue Apply an antiseptic such as eye ointment to the affected area. Call a veterinarian; he or she may prescribe oral antibiotics to prevent or fight infection, and sedatives for pain.

It may take five to ten days before new tissue can be seen replacing the dead, frozen tissue. if healing is not evident, there is a danger of gangrene, and some amputation may be necessary.

In the case of serious freezing, the entire body temperature will be dangerously low and the cat may be comatose and near death. Quickly reverse this decline by immersing the cat in warm, not hot, water (102*F to 105*F, 39*C to 41*C.) Dry very gently and thoroughly with a warm blow-dryer, then wrap the cat snugly for warmth. Treat signs of shock and take the animal quickly to a veterinarian. If you are snowbound and cannot get out, try to feed a conscious cat frequent small amounts of warm broth or other warm liquid.

Frostbite and freezing can be prevented by keeping the cat indoors in times of extreme cold or by ensuring access to a sheltered dry area in a barn, garage, or porch. Once affected, animals are more prone to frostbite in the future, so recovered animals should be carefully protected during future cold weather.