Deep puncture wound became a nasty hole of gunk.

[Tatuana]

Doesn't it feel great to be able to resolve these serious issues without being at the mercy of some rude, expensive, minimal vet? FREEDOM!!!!

Yes!! I have a 19 year old cat who is $3k in bills and climbing over the last year. I look at a simple wound and go "you want $190 to wrap it?!?!" I know it can be serious, but I don't believ you should run your animal to the vet every time it gets a snuffle. There's a lot we can do at home.

I haven't been able to tend to chickadee today yet due to weather conditions. She's hiding under their house while the rain blows through. She seems to prefer it over her coop. I'm betting it's because there's a heat vent right above her head in the house. Warm. I've never had an animal that hates photos as much as her.

So I decided Woof will be my model. He LIKES getting his picture taken. The wounds pretty much look the same anyway.

We're making progress with both! Woof, the more serious one, has a giant crator in his head. No swelling, no redness, no pus. I assume Chickadee is doing about the same today.

I have two questions though.

1) clearly I can't get the wound open to flush it. Is it at risk of infection deep inside again? I know you want them open.
2) Chickadee has some feathers that keep getting stuck in the wound. If I recall right you don't want to clip feathers due to blood. Or at least that's how my cockatiel are. What's the best way to keep the feathers out? When they get stuck I loosen them with warm water.



Also, I can now add myself to the deep wound pile. I was tending Chickadee last night when she got out of my neighbor's hands. And fanged me. Here I am saving her life and what thanks to I get? and yet she LOVES the neighbor kid!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Yes!! I have a 19 year old cat who is $3k in bills and climbing over the last year. I look at a simple wound and go "you want $190 to wrap it?!?!" I know it can be serious, but I don't believ you should run your animal to the vet every time it gets a snuffle. There's a lot we can do at home.

I haven't been able to tend to chickadee today yet due to weather conditions. She's hiding under their house while the rain blows through. She seems to prefer it over her coop. I'm betting it's because there's a heat vent right above her head in the house. Warm. I've never had an animal that hates photos as much as her.

So I decided Woof will be my model. He LIKES getting his picture taken. The wounds pretty much look the same anyway.

View attachment 1645184

We're making progress with both! Woof, the more serious one, has a giant crator in his head. No swelling, no redness, no pus. I assume Chickadee is doing about the same today.

I have two questions though.

1) clearly I can't get the wound open to flush it. Is it at risk of infection deep inside again? I know you want them open.
2) Chickadee has some feathers that keep getting stuck in the wound. If I recall right you don't want to clip feathers due to blood. Or at least that's how my cockatiel are. What's the best way to keep the feathers out? When they get stuck I loosen them with warm water.



Also, I can now add myself to the deep wound pile. I was tending Chickadee last night when she got out of my neighbor's hands. And fanged me. Here I am saving her life and what thanks to I get? and yet she LOVES the neighbor kid!

Woof looks pretty good. At this point with Batman, I put a drop or two of antibacterial soap on a q-tip and gave it a quick spin on/in the wound. (He did not seem to mind as much after being on meds for a bit.) I then flipped to the dry side of q-tip and spun it again. Also would just wipe off the excess when needed and kept an eye on. I gave the antibiotics for 7 days, would have gone longer if thought he needed. Did not want to mess with what was working.
I am not that "akamai" with the chickens. But if you don't get a smarter answer than mine- I would clip feathers to help me to keep clean and treat it just the same as above with antibacterial and q-tips. And maybe you too now!!
Love that you updated us! Big mahalo!

 

[Tatuana]

I asked my neighbor if he would let me post a picture of Chickadee. He says no. But she's pretty much fine now! Her wound is healing much faster than Woof's. I think I'll consider her recovered and not in need of checking up on. She's happier about that. She had taken running from me. Me = being held and her wound prodded.

Woof is also coming along, but much more slowly. Swelling is gone, no pus, he's back to his usual self. He tried to bury himself in snow yesterday, so I think he's also out of the danger zone.
Blurry, but you can see how small it got!

Since he won't let me post Chickadee, here is a small one of Woof to say thanks.



Bonus: caught the feral yesterday! I dropped him off with my friend who is going to see if she can find a colony that will take him. He's actually sort of kind of sweet in a "I will kill you" kind of way. He's also getting a bath. Stinky.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I asked my neighbor if he would let me post a picture of Chickadee. He says no. But she's pretty much fine now! Her wound is healing much faster than Woof's. I think I'll consider her recovered and not in need of checking up on. She's happier about that. She had taken running from me. Me = being held and her wound prodded.

Woof is also coming along, but much more slowly. Swelling is gone, no pus, he's back to his usual self. He tried to bury himself in snow yesterday, so I think he's also out of the danger zone.
Blurry, but you can see how small it got!


View attachment 1650079

Since he won't let me post Chickadee, here is a small one of Woof to say thanks.

View attachment 1650083

Bonus: caught the feral yesterday! I dropped him off with my friend who is going to see if she can find a colony that will take him. He's actually sort of kind of sweet in a "I will kill you" kind of way. He's also getting a bath. Stinky.

That is awesome!!! Mahalo for the photos and update. Pretty darn cool of you.
It took Batman's spot awhile to heal (on his back). But the infection was gone so it was good. He also had a large slice on his belly and multiple deep scratches but the puncture was the one that was trouble.
You are much kinder than I am... I was so hopping mad i wanted to shoot the evil culprit that hurt Bat. I never did... yet.