The cat's ears are swollen from the cold. What to do if your cat has frostbitten ears

People take colds so lightly that when they get sick, they don’t even stop working, infecting healthy people in transport and colleagues at work. In the modern pace of life, it is not customary to take sick leave or reschedule plans. Our pets live differently, but they get sick like us. A cold in cats is not a fatal disease, but it poses a greater danger than the familiar human acute respiratory infection.

Symptoms of a cold in a cat

The disease affects the eyes, respiratory organs and nasal mucous membranes. Signs of a cold in a cat are as follows:

Dryness and change in temperature of the nose.
Signs of body intoxication. The cat becomes weak and lethargic, she refuses food and games. With a mild to moderate cold, the cat easily rises from the bed and stands confidently on its paws. A severe course of the disease is indicated by severe weakness, in which the animal prefers to lie down constantly.
Runny nose. The fact that the cat has caught a cold is indicated by difficulty breathing and the appearance of clear, thick discharge from the nose. A sick pet breathes through its mouth, which contributes to drying out of the mucous membranes. The animal begins to drink water more often. The cat's mouth is constantly open. If the nasal discharge becomes yellow or greenish in color, it is a sign of a bacterial infection.
Coughing and sneezing. These signs indicate the launch of protective mechanisms aimed at clearing the respiratory tract of mucus. Coughing and sneezing during a cold is considered normal. In this case, a light coating may appear on the cat’s lip. Severe contamination of fur in the nose and mouth area indicates the presence of more dangerous diseases.
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes. Accompanied by photophobia and lacrimation.
Decreased appetite. The cat may refuse food for several days, while it drinks large amounts of liquid. It is not worth forcing the animal to eat; if the appetite does not return after 3 days, contact a veterinarian.
Increased body temperature.

What are the stages of frostbite in cats?

In the first stage, frostbitten skin looks pale. When thawing occurs, the skin turns red. The frostbite area then swells and becomes hot to the touch.

After a few hours, the skin may begin to peel. In extremely severe cases (third degree frostbite), blisters or blisters may appear, similar to a burn.

With mild frostbite, the pain and redness of areas of the body in cats goes away after about a couple of hours.

The frostbitten area is also extremely painful, so a cat with frostbite should be handled as carefully as possible.

Symptoms of hypothermia

What are the symptoms of hypothermia in cats? They largely depend on how far the pathological process has progressed. In most cases, the following clinical signs can be observed:

Severe and uncontrollable shaking . But it only happens in mild cases of hypothermia. So if you notice that your pet is literally “shaking” from the cold, you can consider him lucky.
If you put your hand on the skin on a cat's belly, you can feel the cold coming from it. Since the abdomen and groin area are usually the warmest under normal conditions, this simple test is very revealing.
Apathy , the cat tries to hide in the farthest corner and does not come out, even to eat.
Lethargy.
Drowsiness.
Decreased rectal temperature . This is a very dangerous symptom, since under normal conditions the temperature in the rectum is approximately 0.5-1°C higher than when measured in the ear or mouth. This is observed only in severe forms of hypothermia, in which case it is strongly recommended to immediately show the animal to an experienced veterinarian.
Slow and shallow breathing.
Slow heartbeat (bradycardia).
Inappropriate behavior.
Coma.
Death.

Diagnosing hypothermia is quite simple. Firstly, the veterinarian will focus on the clinical picture of the pathology that we described above. Second, he will check your rectal temperature. The lower it is compared to the norm, the faster the animal needs to receive qualified medical care.

Why does a cat get a cold?

Many animal lovers wonder whether cats get colds. A healthy animal rarely gets respiratory infections, since its immune system fights viruses well. The causes of colds include the following factors:

Elderly age. After 10 years, the animal develops chronic diseases that weaken the body's defenses. The cat becomes vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections.
Violation of the rules of care. High humidity and low indoor air temperature are the most common causes of colds in cats.
Poor nutrition. The state of immunity is negatively affected by vitamin deficiency, which occurs when low-quality or monotonous foods are included in the diet.
Sudden change in temperature. Cats react acutely to changes in temperature in the house. During the warm season, you should not turn on the air conditioner in the room where your pet lives. Hypothermia often occurs in cats that have access to the street. Wet wool disrupts thermoregulation. The animal freezes within a few minutes, especially in windy weather. The cause of the disease can also be poor drying of the coat after bathing.
Chronic diseases, malignant tumors. These pathologies reduce the body's defenses, which is why a cat can catch a cold from a person.

How to help a cat with frostbite

After the initial examination, the owner must measure the animal’s body temperature, since hypothermia, accompanied by a temperature below normal, can be very dangerous for the cat’s health.

If the temperature is 37˚, or even lower, the animal should be immediately taken to the nearest veterinary clinic, carefully wrapped in a warm blanket.

Mild frostbite does not require any treatment, the redness will subside within a couple of hours, and sensitivity will return to the ears. In more severe cases, blistered ears should be smeared with Levomekol or Panthenol; these ointments have a healing effect.

You can apply lotions soaked in sage decoction to inflamed areas of the ears: the liquid must be at a temperature close to room temperature. In this case, it is necessary to put an Elizabethan collar on the animal’s neck so that it cannot scratch its frostbitten ears, otherwise the medicine may get into the cat’s stomach.

If blackness appears on the affected ears, then in all likelihood the pet has begun to develop necrosis, in which case you should contact a veterinarian, who will help get rid of this problem through surgical intervention.

Often, along with their ears, cats freeze other parts of their body. Areas of the body damaged by cold will be extremely sensitive to cold for a long time, so the cat's walking time should be limited.

Warm the areas on the skin that have been frostbitten using a cotton swab, which must first be soaked in warm water or saline solution. Do this until the skin begins to acquire a natural color. Trying to rub areas of the skin to restore blood circulation is not worth it. As a result of mechanical impact, you can further injure areas of the skin.

To avoid infection in frostbitten areas, you can apply a bandage with an antiseptic or soaked in an antibiotic.

After this, you can begin to increase the animal’s body temperature. However, it is necessary to act gradually. A sudden change in temperature can worsen the pet's condition. Little by little, cover the cat with heating pads filled with warm water, gradually increasing the temperature of the water in them. However, be careful that the heating pad does not cause a burn to your cat's skin. To do this, it must be wrapped in material.

We suggest you read: How to choose holistic canned food for cats Famous canned holistic cat food

If, despite your efforts, the cat does not warm up, there are convulsions throughout the body and trembling of the limbs is observed (find out), hypothermia is clearly expressed, the frostbitten areas are covered with blisters or scabs - you should hurry up with a visit to the veterinarian.

veterinary therapist

Frostbite is local damage to body tissues, including necrosis, associated with prolonged exposure to low temperature (cold), accompanied by the development of local, and in some cases general, pathological reactions. The extreme degree of frostbite is hypothermia and freezing.

Cats are less likely than dogs to get frostbite. Wool protects cats well from the cold. The cat is a domestic animal and rarely goes outside. Outdoor cats hide in basements, attics, hallways and other warm places. However, no one is safe from freezing in winter. At very low air temperatures (for domestic cats this is -10 -20 C° and below), some peripheral parts of the body may freeze.

For example, the tips of the ears, paws, the tip of the tail. As a result, local tissue damage occurs - frostbite. The lower the temperature affecting problem areas, the faster they freeze. This is also facilitated by fatigue, fasting, blood loss, injury, compression by a bandage or tourniquet.

In winter, the cat's fur gets wet or it falls into the water. In this case, the wool loses its heat-protective function and the animal quickly freezes.
We are talking about small kittens whose thermoregulation function is still poorly developed.
The mammary glands are greatly enlarged in a pregnant (second half) or lactating cat
Cats of exotic breeds (Sphynxes and other hairless cats), as well as all short-haired breeds, are exposed to prolonged exposure to cold.

At first, frostbitten areas are cold to the touch, sensitivity is weak or absent, and the skin is pale. Subsequently, the inflammatory process develops, swelling and redness appear. The frostbite zone is clearly separated from the surrounding normal tissue. Increased skin soreness and subsequent complete loss of sensitivity are noted. Blisters may appear, like a burn.

First of all, you need to place the animal in a warm room, wrap it in a blanket
Warming of the affected part of the body should be gradual, slow, mostly passive. It is unacceptable (!) to rub frostbitten areas with hands, tissues, alcohol, and even more so with snow! (Such recipes are extremely tenacious and are still popular among the people.) The fact is that these measures contribute to the formation of blood clots in the vessels, deepening the processes of destruction (destruction) of the affected tissues
Apply a thermally insulating cotton-gauze bandage (7 layers) to the affected part of the body to accumulate heat and prevent premature warming of the surface tissues (and, accordingly, the formation of a temperature difference between the superficial and deep-lying tissues). The use of a thermal insulating bandage makes it possible to slow down the external warming of the affected area several times while ensuring general warming of the body
According to the shape of the ears, you can sew earphone bags that are attached with ties. You cannot bandage your ears by pressing them to your head! As a result of circulatory disorders, necrotic processes can develop.

Warming up after frostbite is accompanied by moderate pain, sensitivity and temperature are restored. Attention: frostbitten areas remain highly sensitive to cold for a long time, are easily subject to repeated frostbite and therefore in the future need especially reliable protection!

Symptoms

Other parasites

With the onset of cold weather, the problem of frostbite in pets has become urgent. Breeders of purebred cats and decorative dogs especially often face this problem. How frostbite can be dangerous in a pet and what to do in this case, you will learn from this article.

conclusions

It is quite difficult for a cat to catch a cold or seasonal flu from a person . An infection of bacterial origin (which has become a complication) is transmitted from the owner to his pet, but for this the contact must be very close. Many people like to kiss their purrs on the face, but this is not only unhygienic, but also dangerous. Pathologies such as bird or swine flu can easily be transmitted from a person to his pet.

They pose a particular danger to the following groups of animals:

old cats and young kittens;
caudates with a history of cat flu or rhinotracheitis;
recently given birth or pregnant cats;
cats with reduced immune defenses;
four-legged friends eating scraps from the human table and not receiving enough vitamins;
cats living in packs (in shelters, with breeders).

A sick cat needs to be shown to a doctor.
Flu received from a person is not a death sentence for a cat. You can cure your pet quickly and without any consequences. It is important to make a correct diagnosis in time and strictly follow the veterinarian’s recommendations. If you are sick, monitor your pet's well-being. Try to have less contact with him. To avoid infecting the animal, regularly ventilate the room, carry out wet cleaning, and provide the cat with a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients. Good health to you and your tailed friend!

What complications can a cold cause?

A cold in a cat, especially a kitten, can lead to disruption of the functioning of internal organs. If left untreated, the viral infection affects the bronchi, lungs, joints and kidneys. The animal’s immunity decreases, and inflammatory processes caused by bacteria occur:

pneumonia (the disease is accompanied by damage to the lung tissue, often leading to the death of the animal);
bronchitis (characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, the appearance of a cough with the discharge of thick sputum and breathing problems);
bacterial arthritis (accompanied by pain and decreased joint mobility);
pyelonephritis and cystitis (inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder lead to disruption of urine production processes and poisoning of the body with metabolic products).

Treatment at home: what medications can be given?

There are no special medications to treat colds in cats. Veterinarians recommend treating the disease with drugs that boost immunity and relieve symptoms. During therapy, the pet needs to be provided with comfortable living conditions, proper nutrition and rest.

Antibiotics

Colds in cats are treated with antibiotics when bacterial infections occur. Drugs must be selected with caution. Not only the recovery, but also the life of the pet depends on this. The most commonly prescribed medications for cats are:

oxytetracycline;
gentamicin;
amoxicillin;
chloramphenicol;
kanamycin.

It is important to correctly calculate the dose of the drug, which depends on the weight, age and general condition of the cat’s body. For colds in cats, treatment at home involves following the administration regimen drawn up by the doctor. Otherwise, the drug is ineffective. The course of antibacterial therapy lasts 7-10 days. You should not interrupt treatment, even if the symptoms disappear after 3-4 days. If you refuse further administration of antibiotics, the infection may become chronic.

Injections

Both antibiotics and immunostimulating agents are injected. The administration of vitamins has a positive effect on the cat's condition. If the cold is severe, the animal can be treated with interferon. The product has a high price and has a number of side effects. It can be replaced with immunoglobulins - antibodies obtained from a recovered animal. They act only in the first days of illness. It is recommended to give injections to your cat at a veterinary clinic.

Nasal rinsing

The procedure helps clear the nasal passages of mucus secretions and restore breathing. For this purpose the following drugs are used:

2% zinc sulfate solution;
3% boric acid;
0.5% tannin solution;
a mixture of adrenaline and novocaine.

A small amount of liquid is drawn into a pipette or syringe without a needle. The animal is placed on its side, holding its head. The medicine is injected into the nasal passage and the animal is allowed to lie down. After washing, you can drip a mixture of 1% methanol and fish oil. This remedy softens the mucous membranes, eliminating signs of irritation and inflammation.

Use of human medicines

In treating a cat, you can use some of the remedies used to treat colds in humans. Derinat and Nazivin drops help to cope with a runny nose. The recommended single dose for an adult cat is 1 drop. The use of some medications from a human medicine cabinet can be fatal to a pet. Antipyretics based on paracetamol and aspirin are toxic to cats. In addition, due to the small weight of the animal, it can be difficult to calculate and obtain the required dose of the drug.

First aid for a cat with frostbite

When any part of the body is exposed to cold, the blood vessels become severely constricted. In this regard, the liquid located in the cells, as well as in the space between them, crystallizes, the walls of blood vessels are damaged, and a certain part of the cells die.

In this regard, it is not difficult to guess that any rubbing during frostbite is strictly contraindicated. In the same way, immersion in water, as well as wiping with hot water, snow and alcohol are strictly prohibited. And all because rapid heating and friction can further damage the tissue, cause severe pain and provoke necrosis.

It’s also not a good idea to wrap your cat up, or, in fact, to give it warm tea. The fact is that this drink affects the condition of blood vessels. Some of them are expanding, while others, on the contrary, may narrow even more. Therefore, in order to warm up the cat, it is best to offer it to drink warm meat broth.

If the frostbite of the ears is mild, then after a few hours all its symptoms will disappear without a trace. This does not require any action. But if blisters appear on the ears, they should be treated with an antibacterial solution, as well as a medicine that promotes rapid tissue regeneration, for example, Panthenol.

In the wound that formed at the site of the blisters, a rather dangerous infection can develop. Therefore, if you notice that after frostbite in the ears, your pet begins to feel unwell, has lost its appetite and is not moving well enough, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Also, you should not delay a visit to the veterinarian if blackness has become noticeable on the cat’s ears, and touching the ears no longer bothers the animal. This phenomenon indicates the development of necrosis, untimely treatment of which will lead to loss of ears.

In winter, when temperatures are very low, a cat with any hair coat runs the risk of frostbite.

The most vulnerable areas of a cat's body are the ears, tail, paws and toes. As a result of impaired blood circulation in the cold, tissue cells are also damaged.

Frostbitten skin must be warmed with cotton swabs soaked in warm saline or water. This procedure is carried out until the skin begins to turn red. It is not recommended to rub injured areas, as mechanical impact can cause additional harm to the animal’s condition. To prevent infection from entering through the affected tissue, apply a bandage soaked in an antibiotic or antiseptic solution.

Subsequent treatment should be aimed at increasing body temperature. To do this, the cat is covered with heating pads with warm water.

Your pet cannot warm up, his body is shaking, and his temperature is rapidly dropping.
Scabs or blisters appear on frostbitten areas.
The cat is depressed and its body temperature rises. These signs may mean that blood poisoning has begun.

Contact us if your cat is injured, burned or frostbite. In our clinic, your mustachioed pet is guaranteed to receive qualified care. Competent veterinarians see you in well-equipped offices or visit your home. We will do everything to minimize the unpleasant consequences of the accident.

Absolutely all people know that cats by nature are intelligent, dexterous and agile animals, and also heat-loving animals. Even stray cats, or indoor cats that spend some part of the day on the street, always strive to find warmth by climbing into the entrance or basement. But there are also cases when pets freeze their ears.

Frostbite in a four-legged friend is possible in several situations. These include:

a situation where a cat or dog gets wet in the cold;
a situation where a kitten finds itself in the cold: its thermoregulation function is still poorly developed, so frostbite in such cases has every chance;
a pregnant or lactating cat or dog: as a rule, they have enlarged mammary glands that are not protected by hair;
cat of an exotic breed (sphynx);
dogs of decorative breeds (Chihuahua, Spitz, Toy Terrier);
cats of short-haired breeds.

If your cat or dog has frostbite, you must provide first aid. It's easy to do it yourself if you follow these rules:

Ensure the flow of heat to the body of the injured pet: to do this, put it in a warm room, wrapped in a blanket.
Now you need to warm up the cold-stricken area. There should be no rough movements: no rubbing or patting! This can damage already damaged skin. It is also strictly forbidden to rub frostbitten skin with snow - this can lead to thrombosis. To warm up a cold-damaged area, you need to carefully apply a heating pad to this area or direct the hot stream of a hairdryer. In any case, warming up should be done gradually and carefully.
If your pet's ears have been frostbitten, you need to make special bags for them - from any warming fabric, you can even gauze. It is prohibited to bandage ears that have been frostbitten in the cold - this can lead to necrotic processes and deformation of the ears.

After all the procedures performed, it is important to take care of the general condition of the pet: he will probably have a hard time after receiving such an injury. Give him due attention, create comfortable conditions and monitor his condition. If the animal feels unwell, call a veterinarian to your home.

If after first aid the situation with the animal’s condition has not changed, then you need to call a veterinarian. This must be done in the following cases:

The sensitivity of the affected skin area is not restored.
The pain doesn't subside.
The pet begins to lick the frostbitten area.
Blisters and weeping wounds formed at the site of frostbite.
The animal lost consciousness.
The pet's body temperature dropped sharply.
The animal is in a passive state: does not eat, does not drink, sleeps a lot; dogs usually whine and cats meow.
The animal has a fever.
The functioning of the respiratory and heart organs is disrupted.

We suggest you read: How to draw a cat on the face
If your pet experiences the listed processes, then only timely qualified veterinary care will help. Try not to put this problem off for a long time, especially since you can use a service such as calling a veterinarian at home, so as not to go to the veterinary clinic and not stand in line.

Often on the street you can see “robber”-looking cats with “halved” ears. And this is not just about the March massacres. More often than not, animals lose their ears due to frostbite in harsh winter conditions.

But much more serious is frostbite on the paws of cats. At the same time, if you are unlucky, your pet may even say goodbye to all its toes, and in some cases, even be left without a limb. So, when the ambient temperature is from -25 to -30 degrees Celsius, you shouldn’t let your pets “walk on their own” at all. This could end badly.

As you know, frostbite is damage to the tissues of a living organism caused by exposure to critically low temperatures. In conditions of high air humidity and strong winds, the process proceeds much faster. In cats, the tips of the ears (which we have already discussed), the tip of the tail, and the pads of the paws are most often affected.

How does the body even allow frostbite? After all, everyone knows that a constant body temperature, due to the constant circulation of blood in the tissues, seems to be a fairly reliable protection against hypothermia? It's all about the limited possibilities of compensatory systems.

1. Warm frostbitten areas of the skin using a cotton swab soaked in warm water or saline. Process until the skin begins to acquire a natural color. Do not rub a frostbitten cat in an attempt to restore circulation. Mechanically acting on the affected areas only further injures the pet.

2. Apply a bandage impregnated with an antibiotic or antiseptic to areas of frostbite to prevent infection.

3. Warm up a cold cat. A sharp temperature change will worsen the pet's condition. Wrap the cat in warm water heating pads. Start gradually increasing the temperature of the water in the heating pads. Make sure that the heating pad does not burn the cat. Wrap the “heating element” with a towel to prevent heat stroke.

If the cat does not warm up, convulsions pass through the body, trembling of the limbs is observed, hypothermia is pronounced, blisters or scabs cover the frostbitten areas, rush to the veterinarian.

A sharp increase in the cat’s body temperature against the background of a depressed state indicates blood poisoning.

At the veterinary clinic, the cat will be injected with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and medications to improve blood circulation and block the development of tissue necrosis. Depending on the severity of frostbite in a cat, a course of drug treatment is recommended for the animal.

Remember that frostbitten areas remain highly sensitive to cold, are easily susceptible to re-frostbite, and need protection.

What to do if your pet is cold

Domestic dogs and cats, especially older animals (over seven years old), puppies, kittens, pregnant pets, short-haired and smooth-haired breeds get cold very quickly. If your friend whines during a walk, refuses to walk on his own (begs to be held) and is shaking, then most likely he is cold, and you need to go home so that he does not get sick. And this condition, of course, occurs not only during a walk. Perhaps you picked up a frozen puppy or kitten and want to help him. We will tell you in detail how to do this.

Prevention

A cold is not dangerous for an animal with normal immunity, but the disease causes discomfort to the cat and is quite difficult to treat. It is much easier to prevent infection. The following measures help with this:

Proper care of animals. For the first few weeks of life, kittens should be kept in a warm, draft-free room. Trays and sleeping places for adult animals should also not be in rooms with cold air.
Gradual adaptation to the street. You need to start this procedure in the warm season. The cat is allowed outside for several hours. In this case, you need to ensure that the animal does not become hypothermic. In rainy and windy weather, walks are avoided.
Proper bathing. The cat needs to be bathed with warm water. After the procedure, the fur is thoroughly dried with a towel, while the pet should be in a warm room.
Proper nutrition. The diet should include balanced food and sufficient fluids. Do not give your cat cold food or water.

Cats with a compromised immune system are susceptible to colds, so you need to take care to increase the body's defenses. Vitamin supplements selected by a veterinarian help with this. Vaccination also helps protect your cat from diseases.

What to do

If your cat, after walking outside in winter, begins to tremble at home, rub its ears on the surface and meow pitifully, inspect its ears and paws for the signs of frostbite listed above.
Then take the cat to a warm room. Pour warm (never hot) water over your paws. Apply a moist, warm compress of cotton swabs or gauze to the ears and paws. Also moisten the cotton wool with warm water or saline solution (sold at any pharmacy). Keep the compresses on until the skin on the ears and paws turns red (approximately 20 minutes).
Apply antibiotic or antiseptic ointment to the ears and paws.
You can use panthenol (promotes skin healing), vedinol (anti-inflammatory, wound healing agent for cats and dogs) or levomekol (has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects).
If your cat's paws are frostbitten, it is better to put a collar on the neck before applying the ointment to prevent licking of the medicine.
Next, you should warm the cat well. Cover it with a warm blanket or blanket, place heating pads with warm water (38-40 degrees) on top.

Remember that areas of skin that have been exposed to frostbite will be more sensitive to cold in the future and may be re-damaged in the cold.

Do not apply a heating pad to an open frostbitten area.

DO NOT rub or massage your cat's frostbitten areas, as there is a risk of causing further harm.

Contact a veterinary clinic immediately if:

blisters appeared on the frostbitten area,
the cat cannot warm up, trembles, and body temperature drops,
the cat is depressed or unconscious,
the next day the cat does not feel touching the frostbitten areas.

Your veterinarian will give your cat broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent infection or may recommend pain medication.

In severe cases, the cat will be admitted to the hospital, a blood test and intravenous antibiotics will be prescribed.

To prevent your cat from getting frostbite, do not let her outside in very cold weather. If you feed stray cats, provide them with a warm, dry shelter during cold weather.

Winter is inevitably approaching, so cat and dog owners need to be aware of the dangers of frostbite. But it’s even more important for the owner to remember how to help his pet if suddenly such a nuisance happens to him.

Specialists at VC DobroVet remind you that frostbite or frostbite is a phenomenon in which an animal’s body temperature drops below normal. For dogs, this figure ranges from 37.5 to 39 degrees Celsius, for cats – from 38 to 39.5 degrees. Frostbite can reach extremes - hypothermia or freezing.

Cats are less susceptible to frostbite than dogs. This happens thanks to their fur; moreover, domestic cats practically never have to leave the confines of a warm house, while street cats find shelter in basements, entrances and attics. But in the changing fate of today, you can find different cases: at a temperature of 10-20 degrees below zero, paws, tips of tails, ears, in general, parts of the body can freeze.

Getting the animal's fur wet can aggravate the situation, because... the heat-protective function performed by wool drops to zero, and the body, hidden under a fur coat, will soon experience frostbite. It is even more difficult for puppies; the thermoregulatory function of these small animals is poorly developed. It is not recommended for representatives of “hairless breeds” (Sphynxes, Chinese Cresteds) to be exposed to prolonged exposure to cold. For obvious reasons, their risk of frostbite is high.

How to independently determine the signs of frostbite in your cat/dog?

Upon initial palpation, frostbitten areas on the animal’s body are cold, the pet itself shows a poor reaction to external sources of irritation, and its skin turns pale. If measures are not taken in time to eliminate frostbite, you may have to witness swelling and local redness appear in the affected area.

We invite you to read: How to train an adult cat and kitten to use a scratching post?

How to provide first aid to an animal?

– place the pet in a place where it will be warm (you can hide it under an undershirt, pressing it to your chest, or wrap it in a warm blanket, fill a glass with warm (but not hot) water, and later lean it against the frostbite site);

It is necessary to understand that the animal must be warmed very smoothly and slowly. Under no circumstances should you immediately switch the hair dryer to the hottest mode or plunge your pet’s frostbitten limb into hot water. It is contraindicated, as many advise, to rub a hypothermic limb with alcohol, snow, or cloth. The result of such rubbing may be an increased risk of blood clots in the vessels, which aggravates the processes that destroy the affected tissue.

It is necessary to apply a gauze-cotton bandage (7 layers) to the limb affected by frost so that heat accumulates under it.

But what you should not do in case of frostbite, if the affected area is the dog’s ears, is to bandage them. Ears may fall off as a result of the development of necrotic processes in them if blood circulation is impaired.

Remember that frostbitten areas will remain overly sensitive to cold for a long time, and therefore require special protection for a long time.

When do you need urgent veterinary help?

If blisters or scabs are found on a hypothermic area of the body. This symptom is characterized by deep frostbite;

The animal's temperature drops rapidly, and the pet's body shivers, even when it is covered with a warm blanket. In this case, you need to immediately wrap the animal in a blanket with a heating pad, and run to the doctor;

The opposite situation is when the animal’s temperature rises, your pet is depressed and does not want to eat even its favorite delicacies.

What to do to prevent frostbite?

When you buy a fur coat or sweater for yourself, don't forget about your pet! The dog needs warm clothes! This will help avoid all the unpleasant consequences with your pet after frostbite.

In cold weather, when walking your dog, do not stay in the same place for a long time: the animal should be actively moving. If you suddenly notice that the animal is trembling, you should immediately return home and continue your walk later.

For cats that are particularly sensitive to cold, you can use heating pads, for example, if the heating is turned off.

Even the seemingly normal weather outside your window, with an air temperature far from 30 below zero, can cause discomfort to your pet. At the very least, he might freeze. There is also a risk for your pet to get frostbite.

Monitor your pet's condition on the street, and in any difficult cases, consult a doctor. Animals need to be given your love and care!

If a cat has fairly thick and long hair on its ears, then it may not be so easy to notice frostbite. The first signs of this unpleasant phenomenon can be considered the strange behavior of a cat that returned home from a walk about 30 minutes ago. The fact is that as the ears warm up, their frostbitten areas not only begin to itch, but also become very painful.

If your cat actually has frozen ears, the skin on them will appear hard and very cold. The ears will have a bluish tint, which will gradually give way to bright red or purple. Please note that the redder the area of skin, the more painful it will be to touch. Therefore, you need to touch your cat’s ears very, very carefully.

If frostbite is severe enough, blisters with liquid will appear in some areas of the ears, similar to those that occur with burns. In particularly severe cases, the cat's ears may completely lose sensitivity and the frostbitten tissue may die.

If a cat gets frostbite in its ears, it will need immediate first aid. Due to exposure to cold, the animal's blood vessels narrow, which in turn leads to a deterioration in the activity of the blood flow located in the affected area of the cat's body. The liquid contained in the cells and intercellular space from extreme cold turns into crystals, which leads to the death of some cells and damage to the walls of blood vessels.

Trituration.
Immersion in water.
Wiping the cat's ears with hot water, as well as alcohol and snow.

This is due to the fact that rapid warming in combination with friction can, in turn, lead to even greater tissue damage, and this process can also become a source of very severe pain or even lead to necrosis.

It would be most advisable to warm up the cat at room temperature, but you should not sit the animal near the radiator; the cat’s body must warm up on its own.

Some compassionate owners try to warm the cat by wrapping it upside down in a blanket or a blanket, but this is also not necessary.

The owner will have to give his pet some kind of meat broth, which must be warm.