Neosporin is a topical medication that can treat surface scratches and wounds on cats with careful supervision.
Neosporin is actually a brand name for triple antibiotic ointment. It works through a combination of the bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin antibiotics to stop bacteria in a wound from growing.
It’s sold as an over-the-counter medicine. While it can be safe for cats if applied topically, it can cause more serious issues in felines if ingested. For that reason, vets do not usually recommended it for use with cats.
Closely follow your vet’s instructions for dosage and administering the medication if they give you the approval to do so. Here’s what you should know about the uses, dosages, and side effects of Neosporin for cats.
Uses Of Neosporin For Cats
Neosporin would mostly be used to treat superficial wounds and scratches on a cat’s body.
The medication will help keep bacteria out of the wound while it heals. It can also help prevent any more infections from occurring, along with generally speeding up the wound’s recovery process.
However, Neosporin should not be used in cases where the cat is afflicted with an already infected skin condition, such as an abscess or feline acne.
Dosage Of Neosporin For Cats
If you’re administering Neosporin to a cat’s skin, the usual dosage advice is to use a smaller rather than a larger amount. The main reason for this is that cats are meticulous about grooming themselves and might inadvertently ingest some of the medication during their cleaning process, and that can have much more serious consequences.
In a case where your vet does recommend using it on your cat, always follow the exact veterinary advice in terms of dosage and application.
It may be best to cover the wound with a bandage after applying the medication. Replace the bandage each time you reapply.
Side Effects Of Neosporin For Cats
The principle side effect of Neosporin occurs if the cat licks and ingests some of the medicine. This is due to the presence of polymyxin b in the medicine, an ingredient that can result in a feline going in to anaphylactic shock if they have a very bad allergic reaction to it. In some cases, polymyxin b can also cause death in a feline.
Along with the dangers of polymyxin b, certain cats might also experience a topical allergic skin reaction. If you see the signs of a reaction, such as redness, itchiness, irritation, and signs of discomfort, contact your vet right away.
Have you ever had cause to use Neosporin on your cat? Was it under the advice of your regular vet? Let us know in the comments below!
