with the symptoms you describe, there is no safe way to avoid surgical cleaning, and trying to do so could put your hand — and your life — at serious risk. Why this is serious: Cat bites inject bacteria deep into tendons and joints Ongoing swelling up to the wrist, redness, deep holes, severe pain, and fever = deep infection Antibiotics alone often cannot reach sealed-off infected pockets Delaying surgical cleaning risks permanent tendon/joint damage, sepsis, or loss of function
So, Take the prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed Agree to surgical cleaning as soon as possible Stop applying caustic substances to the wound Keep the hand elevated and immobilized Tell doctors clearly about fever, tendon pain, and swelling progression I know this is frightening, especially when you hoped to heal naturally. But accepting surgical cleaning now is the most conservative, hand-saving option — not an aggressive one.
A cat bite with swelling, redness, deep wounds, and fever after one week is a serious medical emergency. Cat bites often introduce bacteria deep into tissues (like Pasteurella multocida), which can spread quickly and cause severe infection, tendon/joint damage, or even sepsis if not treated properly.
⚠️ Critical Points - Black salve, chlorine dioxide, and DMSO are not safe for wound care. They can damage tissue and delay healing. - The fact that your hand is still swollen above the wrist, painful, with deep holes and fever history means the infection is not under control. - Surgical cleaning (debridement) is often necessary in such cases to remove infected tissue and prevent spread. - Antibiotics are strongly recommended — untreated cat bite infections can lead to permanent disability or systemic infection.
🌿 Ayurveda as Support (Not a Substitute) Ayurveda emphasizes rakta shuddhi (blood purification) and vrana shodhana (wound cleansing). While herbs like Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) and Triphala are excellent for immunity and detox, they cannot replace urgent surgical or antibiotic care in severe infections. Supportive Ayurvedic Measures (only alongside medical care) - Guduchi (Giloy): 500 mg capsule twice daily with warm water – supports immunity. - Triphala churna: 3 g at bedtime with warm water – mild detox. - Turmeric (Haridra): 500 mg capsule twice daily with warm water – anti-inflammatory. - Manjistha churna: 3 g twice daily – blood purifier. - Topical (only after medical clearance): Aloe vera gel or turmeric paste for soothing, but do not apply corrosive substances like black salve.
🧘 Lifestyle & Diet - Warm, light diet: khichdi, green leafy vegetables, pomegranate, amla. - Avoid heavy, oily, or fermented foods (increase inflammation). - Hydrate well. - Rest and keep the hand elevated to reduce swelling.
Warm Regards DR. ANJALI SEHRAWAT
Thank you very much! Also thank you to the other doctors who replied. 🙏🏻 In Ayurvedic doctors lie wisdom. I will follow medical protocol. And thank you for the additional Ayurvedic remedies. I now understand surgical cleaning and antibiotics are unavoidable. I will do what you say. Blessings to you and yours! 🙏🏻
Hi …have you got your tetanus and rabies shots? If taken then it’s good and for cleaning purpose with you should use certified anti septic solutions because ayurvedic medicines are not that much potent in and this case because it’s s deep cut so don’t take risk in this situation… When your swelling will reduce then you can use Triphala+ neem + turmeric kwath for cleaning purpose
A cat bite, especially deep puncture. Once on fingers is a very serious condition because teeth infection deep into tissue, tendon and joints. Even when the skin opening looks small swelling spreading behind the wrist redness, severe pain and fever coming and going after one week or strong signs, that infection is still active and spreading inside the hand.
The substances you applied have sealed the surface but trapped infection underneath, which is why deep poles were found during cleaning. This shows the problem is no longer on the surface and has gone deep into tissues possible in involving and on sheet or joint space in such situations, internal Arab alone cannot reach or trapped infection and continuing only cleansing remedies while avoiding proper wound cleaning can be dangerous and male lead to permanent stiffness, loss of moment, blood infection, or even threat to life.
Avoiding surgical cleaning at this stage is not safe. This does not mean major surgery. It means controlled opening a dream Mall of infected tissues of fresh healing and begin. Antibiotics are also unnecessary now to stop further spread. Guduch and triphala support, but they cannot clear sealed pockets of infection and urine therapy also cannot act at the level of infected tendon or joint. So these methods cannot replace urgent care.
What you can do now, please cooperate with the doctors allow proper cleaning. Take the antibiotics as advised stop applying strong tropical substances immediately. Keep an elevated rest completely and maintain good nutrition and hydration. Once the infection is controlled and swelling reduces. Then supportive measures can be used to safely to help tissue recovery and strength.
Hello I’m going to be straight with you because this isn’t a small problem.
What you’re describing isn’t just a scratch anymore. It’s a bad cat bite that’s infected and the swelling is spreading.
MEDICAL INFO!
Cat bites are dangerous because: * Cat teeth are sharp and skinny, so they poke really deep. * That means bacteria gets stuck way down inside. * It might look like no big deal on the surface, but the infection spreads fast under your skin.
You’ve got: * Swelling that goes up to your wrist * Redness * Really bad pain in your joints/tendons * Fever * Deep holes that showed up after a week
Deep infection in the soft tissue or maybe even in the tendon sheath (that’s called tenosynovitis).
If it gets worse, it can turn into: * An abscess (a pocket of pus) * Sepsis (a blood infection) * Permanent problem with your tendons * Not being able to use your finger right * And in the worst case, you might even need amputation.
About Black Salve, DMSO, urine therapy
I have to be super clear: Black salve can make infections way worse. It traps the bacteria inside. It eats away at tissue but doesn’t kill the infection that’s deep down. DMSO pushes the bacteria even deeper. And urine? It does nothing for a bite that’s this infected.
So, what you tried to do ended up trapping the infection instead of getting rid of it.
Can Ayurveda fix this without surgery?
Honestly? No, not safely.
If you already have: * A deep infection * Pain in your tendons or joints * Constant swelling * A history of fever
What surgery means
Usually, it’s just: * Local numbing. * Opening up the wound and cleaning it out. * Taking out any dead tissue and pus. * Leaving it open, so it can drain.
It’s usually not a big operation or amputation.
But it stops: * Permanent damage * A blood infection * Problems that last forever
What you NEED to do right now: 1. Don’t wait to get the surgery. Every day you wait makes things riskier. 2.Take the antibiotics you were prescribed. This is one of those times where they can save your life. 3.You can use Ayurveda for SUPPORT (but not to replace the surgery).
My honest advice:
Don’t try to fight this with: * Black salve * urine * Just herbs This isn’t the time to detox; it’s the time to let the infection out.
Right now: 👉 Surgery = protection. Avoiding it = playing a risky game with your hand.
Warm Regards Dr. Snehal Vidhate
triphala +neem+ turmic kwath wash its good
Thank you Doctor! 🙏🏻
Consulting the AYURVEDIC PHYSICIAN
I have so much goodwill from everyone who replied here. Thank you. I followed the doctors who replied here. I had surgical cleaning today and they are keeping me in hospital on a drip antibiotic. I wanted to avoid but I trust all the Ayurvedic doctors one hundred percent and I did what they said. I honour you guys. Blessings to you and yours!!! 🙏🏻
Do NOT try to avoid surgical cleaning. Black salve delayed proper care & likely worsened tissue damage/infection.
Home Remedies cannot drain pus or remove necrotic tissue, they will not stop progression to deeper infection, sepsis or permanent damage (tendon/nerve/joint).
Return to hospital / emergency immediately and accept surgical debridement/washout + IV antibiotics if advised. Do NOT refuse , cat bites have 30–50% infection rate even with prompt care; delay increases amputation risk (rare but real).
Take prescribed oral antibiotics exactly as given (most likely amoxicillin-clavulanate or similar).
After hospital care (supportive only) Elevate hand above heart level constantly. Warm (not hot) saline soaks 15 min 3–4×/day after dressing changes. Jatyadi Ghrita or honey (medical-grade) on open wounds after cleaning (Ayurvedic wound healer, safe post-debridement). Guduchi satva 500 mg twice daily + Triphala 3 gm night (supports immunity & detox – safe with antibiotics).
Regards Dr Gursimran Jeet Singh
