The cat's claw was hooked on some fabric. Brittney pulled on it and was getting alarmed that she couldn't get herself free. So I reached in to help. Brittney was so agitated that she bit me on the hand. Just a little bite that barely broke the skin. The blood wasn't even as much as you get with a finger stick at the doctor. So I didn't pay any attention to it.
Next day the finger was a bit swollen and painful. I just thought it would get better on its own so I didn't pay attention to it. As the day wore on it didn't get better and maybe a bit worse. I knew that you don't ignore a bite from a cat and there's a lot of bacteria in a cat's mouth. I looked online to see what you're supposed to do for a cat bite. "Go to doctor immediately. Requires antibiotics." I wasn't sure if it were necessary for such a little bite. So I called the call-a-nurse line. She also said that I needed to go to emergency, that it couldn't wait until Monday. <sigh>
So I went to emergency and just got back a little bit ago. I felt kind of silly being in emergency for just a little "boo-boo" on my finger. Doctor checked it out and decided that the infection was not in the joint, but in the skin. That was a good thing. She affirmed that it was good to start antibiotics right away. They determined if my tetanus shot was current, gave me the first dose of an antibiotic and sent me home with a prescription.
Moral of the story: If you get bit by a cat and it penetrates the skin, go to doctor. The bite can cause a lot of infection and requires attention within 24 hours or less, even from just a little "boo-boo" on the finger.
(And this is the on-topic chickens part...) I've read before that if your chickens or any other pet get bit by a cat that it requires immediate attention and antibiotics. Now I understand why. Just a minor bite and it caused a lot of infection. And I weigh over 100 pounds. A chicken weighs what about 3 pounds? Not as much body reserve to fight an infection.
Linda
p.s., I still love my kitty.
Next day the finger was a bit swollen and painful. I just thought it would get better on its own so I didn't pay attention to it. As the day wore on it didn't get better and maybe a bit worse. I knew that you don't ignore a bite from a cat and there's a lot of bacteria in a cat's mouth. I looked online to see what you're supposed to do for a cat bite. "Go to doctor immediately. Requires antibiotics." I wasn't sure if it were necessary for such a little bite. So I called the call-a-nurse line. She also said that I needed to go to emergency, that it couldn't wait until Monday. <sigh>
So I went to emergency and just got back a little bit ago. I felt kind of silly being in emergency for just a little "boo-boo" on my finger. Doctor checked it out and decided that the infection was not in the joint, but in the skin. That was a good thing. She affirmed that it was good to start antibiotics right away. They determined if my tetanus shot was current, gave me the first dose of an antibiotic and sent me home with a prescription.
Moral of the story: If you get bit by a cat and it penetrates the skin, go to doctor. The bite can cause a lot of infection and requires attention within 24 hours or less, even from just a little "boo-boo" on the finger.
(And this is the on-topic chickens part...) I've read before that if your chickens or any other pet get bit by a cat that it requires immediate attention and antibiotics. Now I understand why. Just a minor bite and it caused a lot of infection. And I weigh over 100 pounds. A chicken weighs what about 3 pounds? Not as much body reserve to fight an infection.
Linda
p.s., I still love my kitty.
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