CAT attack

[Flying_Pidgy]

Yesterday night my friend called me to go help him with one of his birds because a cat managed to put its paws through a hole in her loft and hit one of the birds that was sleeping in the ground. she told me she got there just in time because it was fresh. so i go there and i see that a cat has scratched one of her birds on the shoulder part of the wing. So i bring it in the house and put some " povidone iodine solution , 10% topical antiseptic microbicide. " (red liquid) on cut and i bandaged the little guy well. I called her to see how its doing and it made it through the night and is alert. Is there any further precaution i should take? And the cat didnt get a chance to bite it (thank god).

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Flying Pigeon,

So this was only a scratch from the cat and not a bite? There is some concern here still...and that is a bacteria that the cat had on it's claws and that could be dangerous if it entered the birds' bloodstream.

I'd recommend an oral antibiotic to be safe as this pasturella bacteria can take them out quickly. It's called Augmentin but I don't know where you would get it or the dose.

Hopefully, what you've done for the wound is fine and that this cat isn't carrying a lethal strain of bacteria and specifically on it's claws.

[Flying_Pidgy]

I just called her and asked her if she knew the cat or anything and she said no but it wasnt fully grown. and yes it was a scratch.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Flying Pigeon,

This doesn't really matter if the cat is young or old, or where it came from. Carnivorous animals like cats carry bacteria that can be fatal to birds.

Tell your friend to keep a close eye on this pigeon and watch for any changes however small. Remember, this isn't a certainty that the pigeon will become infected by the bacteria. If it does become infected by the bacteria, you will know very soon and the bird will go downhill rapidly and then it will be too late for the meds to work, even if you could get them.

Good luck to this pigeon and it may be fine still.

[Flying_Pidgy]

I think it would be best if i should take care of it, i just have to convince her that if it dies ( hopefully it wont) that its wouldnt be my fault. and that lifes life. If it managed to go through the night i think it might me ok because today it was alert.

[Reti]

It can take a few days for infection to take place, so that he made the night isn't a guarantee that he will make it. I don't want to sound negative, but even a topical antibiotic might be of help. Do you have neosporin cream> It is sold over the counter in the pharmacies.

It doesn't really matter who's fault it is or isn't. The point here is to get the bird well.

Reti

[Reti]

Something I meant to mention for a while now.
Iodine even diluted is very painful when applied on open wounds. It burns like hell and I would never apply it on myself. Diluted to the point where it is not as painful is not as effective.
Hydrogen Peroxide has a side effect on open wounds, it does inhibit cell migration and prevents wounds from healing, also it does destroy healthy tissue.
Open wounds should be washed with soap and water, or saline and then apply antibiotic. That is what is oindicated in humans and this is what I do with injured birds to.

Reti

[alvin]

I would add to the above. A styptic. It can be bought from any chemist as a treatment for shaving cuts. This side of the pond it's marketed as 'Liquid Bandage'. It's good for small cuts, or raw patches resulting from thread removal. My GF's Pijie first aid kit always contains a sharp nail scisors, a roll of tape, a bandage and a tube of this stuff.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Reti

Something I meant to mention for a while now.
Iodine even diluted is very painful when applied on open wounds. It burns like hell and I would never apply it on myself. Diluted to the point where it is not as painful is not as effective.
Hydrogen Peroxide has a side effect on open wounds, it does inhibit cell migration and prevents wounds from healing, also it does destroy healthy tissue.
Open wounds should be washed with soap and water, or saline and then apply antibiotic. That is what is oindicated in humans and this is what I do with injured birds to.

Reti

Great information Reti, I am flagging this post, even though I know to use Neosporin, I didn't know that about the others.

[Flying_Pidgy]

Yes i have neosporin. Will that work well? how do i apply it?

[Reti]

You can apply it on the open wound, cream is preferable if wounds are on the body. Do his twice a day.
It works to keep the wound from getting infected and it also keeps the wound moist.

Reti

[piney_creek]

Originally Posted by alvin

I would add to the above. A styptic. It can be bought from any chemist as a treatment for shaving cuts. This side of the pond it's marketed as 'Liquid Bandage'. It's good for small cuts, or raw patches resulting from thread removal. My GF's Pijie first aid kit always contains a sharp nail scisors, a roll of tape, a bandage and a tube of this stuff.

I cut my dogs nail to short one time and couldn't get the bleeding to stop. I went to the local drug store and bought some of that "stuff" and applied it. It stopped bleeding instantly! It is really ggod stuff!

PINEY

[maryjane]

Originally Posted by Reti

Something I meant to mention for a while now.
Iodine even diluted is very painful when applied on open wounds. It burns like hell and I would never apply it on myself. Diluted to the point where it is not as painful is not as effective.
Hydrogen Peroxide has a side effect on open wounds, it does inhibit cell migration and prevents wounds from healing, also it does destroy healthy tissue.
Open wounds should be washed with soap and water, or saline and then apply antibiotic. That is what is oindicated in humans and this is what I do with injured birds to.

Reti

Reti, I've also heard this, from my avian veterinarian. She is adamant about not using hydrogen peroxide for birds, rats, or other animals. I'm glad you wrote about it because I think it is a mostly unknown fact. I'd always thought it was good to use for infections up till I heard otherwise.

With the Liquid Band-Aide, I would make sure to blow on it while it dries if you use it (if the wound is open at all; if not, shouldn't hurt at all). It hurts pretty badly on an open cut or scrape. It also peels off pretty easily, at least off of humans. I haven't tried it on pets but for a scabbed-over wound, I should think it would be okay and obviously others have tried it. Good luck with your friend's pigeon, and thanks for helping it out.

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by maryjane

Reti, I've also heard this, from my avian veterinarian. She is adamant about not using hydrogen peroxide for birds, rats, or other animals. I'm glad you wrote about it because I think it is a mostly unknown fact. I'd always thought it was good to use for infections up till I heard otherwise.

With the Liquid Band-Aide, I would make sure to blow on it while it dries if you use it (if the wound is open at all; if not, shouldn't hurt at all).

It hurts pretty badly on an open cut or scrape. It also peels off pretty easily, at least off of humans. I haven't tried it on pets but for a scabbed-over wound, I should think it would be okay and obviously others have tried it. Good luck with your friend's pigeon, and thanks for helping it out.

Just a thought...don't think it's a good idea to "blow" on an open wound...

[maryjane]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Just a thought...don't think it's a good idea to "blow" on an open wound...

Good point! I only meant blow very softly to ease the sting, but that is a good point; you don't want to blow on an open wound and make it worse.