Cat bite

[Akgirlalways]

Hello im new here but have had chickens off and on for almost 10 years. We are only aloud 2 per our hoa so thats what we have. They have always free ranged our backyard but have a coop with a fenced in run that just stands open. Anyway yesterday 1 of our chickens was killed by what we believe was 2 cats. They tried to get the other 1 but only managed to get all her tail feathers during that attack. However she was attacked again after she escaped the coop last night (i locked her up in hopes to keep her safe) and now has a nice bite mark and gash on her butt. She survived the night and is currently very angrily strutting the run because shes locked up. But im worried about infection, i know cat bites can have tons of bacteria, what should i do?

 

[Katie386]

I guess what I would do is clean it with peroxide and then put some triple antibiotic ointment on it. But other people may have different ideas.

 

[Katie386]

My hen had a big gash on her side from a rooster and that’s what I did and it’s almost healed up completely. Just keep checking it. Try not to let her dust bathe. You don’t want dirt in it.

 

[Akgirlalways]

Theres not much in there for her to dust bathe with they usually use my garden boxes for that which she cant get to locked in the coop. She seems to be eating and feeling ok for now just mad she can't get out.

 

[avjudge]

Yes, infection is a big concern with cat bites, and standard practice is a systemic antibiotic.

When one of my cats got in with my pigeons and bit one of them, I was off to the vet that day for a quick check-up and oral antibiotics. (The cat, who was not yet full grown, had created shallow wounds under each wing but thank goodness that was it.)

I did know someone who was bitten on the hand by her own cat and she ended up with infection up her arm, in the hospital for IV antibiotics. Cat bites are something to take seriously!

 

[topochico225]

Don't use peroxide, it prevents new tissue from forming. Do you have Vetericyn or saline? Try cleaning it with that, and use Neosporin without pain relief. Can you post pics?

 

[Akgirlalways]

Don't use peroxide, it prevents new tissue from forming. Do you have Vetericyn or saline? Try cleaning it with that, and use Neosporin without pain relief. Can you post pics?

Don't use peroxide, it prevents new tissue from forming. Do you have Vetericyn or saline? Try cleaning it with that, and use Neosporin without pain relief. Can you post pics?

 

[Akgirlalways]

I don't have anything on hand but was planning to go to our local feed store and grab some penicillin g and anything else i need

 

[topochico225]

Ooh, poor gal.

@azygous ?

 

[azygous]

Get her on an oral antibiotic immediately if not sooner. Cat bites will kill since they are loaded with bacteria. Saline or soap and water will not clean out the bacteria that was injected deep into the tissues by the bite. This bacteria will kill in a very short time. Do not waste another minute. Get the antibiotic. If the feed store has amoxicillin, it is more effective than penicillin, but that will do if it's the only thing available.