Help cat scratch!!!!

Babyboo

New member
Nov 18, 2018
7
2
Maine
Parrots
Green cheek conure named gabriel
Hey guys i have a green cheek conure hes bout 1 1/2 yro iv had him 13 months now n tuesday he got scratched by my cat i brought him to the vet wed morning it was pretty bad he has staples and stiches from bottom stomach all way up his chest and neck hes been on antibiotics and pain meds and ointment hes eating and drinkin but still very tired and wen hes in his cage (nt very often always with me) hes been holding his head up with his foot somtimes i feel lik hes gettin better but other times i dnt he norm talks all the time but the few noises hes been makin r shaky and not his norm voice so i was wonderin if ny1 else has experienced this bfor with a conure getting scratchd and wat the outcome was its now sunday his wounds seem lik they healing they dnt smell bad hes pooping tryin to clean himself im just worried this lil guy is my world we do evrythin together we r inseparable so ny advice or imput would b appreciated n if ny1 thinks sumthin gpin to happen to him if it already would hav or of it can happen all of a sudden
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
If it was a certified avian vet, then that is important..
I am sorry you are going through this.
Did they put your bird on an antibiotic?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7376178

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7061808
Pasteurella multocida (bacteria) is carried by cats and very dangerous for birds...
I know your bird was scratched and not bitten, but this is still a real concern in my mind (given cat's tendencies to lick paws etc)

In the future, never trust your animals (bird with cat or cat with bird).
 
Last edited:

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome to the forums, I'm sorry your initial post is under dire circumstances.

Cat scratches and wounds are among the most dangerous injuries to a bird. Extremely dangerous bacteria and other organisms lurk in cat saliva, teeth, and nails. It is absolutely critical for your conure to be cared for by a certified avian vet. Beyond skillful repair of the injury, careful choice of medicines and possibly lab testing is needed to give him the best chance of survival.

It would not be surprising for your bird to be subdued for a while, but the vet should give you guidance of what to expect. If you feel he is not improving, please communicate this to the staff, and a recheck would be prudent!

Time is very critical, when a bird appears sick the situation usually been ongoing for a while.
 
OP
B

Babyboo

New member
Nov 18, 2018
7
2
Maine
Parrots
Green cheek conure named gabriel
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Yes they gave him antibiotics n gave me enrofloxacin n meloxicam to giv him at home he does seem lik he is gettin better more active but im still very worried my vet kinda sucks n was rude dat i was upset bout him bein hurt i was cryin n she told me very rudly calm down jesus christ wow n also vague on wat to expect u think with antibiotics it could fight da bacteria they said his vitals wer strong n didnt wavier during anesthesia
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
Hi, sorry you are going through this. I hope he keeps improving. It's very difficult to have cats with birds, they can never be trusted. Sorry the vet was rude and not understanding, that's hard when you expect compassion from them. Keep a close watch on your guy, and give em a chance to heal.
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
not meaning to lecture or point any fingers whatsoever but...

The vets are there to help the animals- and if the animal needs a calm and collected owner (not the easiest thing to do, we all know) they will tell you to "man up and shut up". Because their job is about what's best for the one they are trying to keep alive.
Your bruised feelings have no place there- sorry to say, that is what we are here for! ;)

Usually the best they can manage some of the time is not to explode in despair and lecture the people about being so careless/ stupid etc. to let their animals get hurt in the first place. That would also not help the situation they are dealing with- so they dont.

Remember they get to shovel all the shait that happens to pets all day long, every day...


I hope your little one will pull through.
You do give him his meds in the beak right?
(some vets still think drinkingwater is a great idea...and the meds never get in the bird the right dosage or at all)
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
Wow, that's not a "scratch" at all, he was nearly eviscerated! You're extremely lucky his internal organs were not damaged...not lecturing you, but you obviously can never allow your bird and your cat to be out together in the same room ever again, whether you're supervising or not...nuff said about that...

***What I would be worrying about is the lethal Bacteria that all cat's carry in their saliva that has already been mentioned, because it's all over their claws too due to them constantly licking their paws...Your bird is going to be sleeping a lot more than usual, naturally, both due to the injury, the pain, and the Metacam they gave him, so that's normal...What worries me is that they gave you Baytril/Enrofloxacin as the antibiotic,
and I'm not sure that it has any effect at all on the Pasteurella Multocida bacterium that cats carry that will kill your bird. Baytril is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that many vets give out as their "go-to" antibiotic for everything, but because of this being a cat attack, they need to give him an antibiotic that Pasteurella Multocida is sensitive to, which I believe are the Tetracyclines first, then Erythromycin, and then the Penicillins. I don't know about any of the Fluoroquinolones like Baytril/Enrofloxacin.
If this wasn't a Certified Avian Vet and was only an "Exotics Vet" I would see about taking your bird for a second-opinion with a CAV, as I would also be worried about underlying damage, since he actually had to have "staples" in addition to sutures, as that's pretty heavy duty, especially for such a little bird. There isn't much to "staple", especially right up their belly/chest/neck. I'm honestly surprised he's alive, very surprised in fact, and glad...

Keep a close eye on him, make sure he's taking both of his meds on time every day, and watch for any seeping/oozing from the wound, redness, swelling, fluid collection, vomiting, and make sure he's not picking at it. Make sure that he's eating and drinking normally, as even the Metacam can make him not want to eat, let alone that kind of wound.
 

itzjbean

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2017
2,572
Media
4
119
Iowa, USA
Parrots
2 cockatiels
Oh no, your poor baby!

I hope he makes it through this... I have cats too, and would never risk them out alone together for this exact reason. You can never be too careful.

Please keep us updated!!
 

Amsterdam

New member
Sep 8, 2018
565
23
Turkey
Parrots
..
Wow, that's not a "scratch" at all, he was nearly eviscerated! You're extremely lucky his internal organs were not damaged...not lecturing you, but you obviously can never allow your bird and your cat to be out together in the same room ever again, whether you're supervising or not...nuff said about that...

***What I would be worrying about is the lethal Bacteria that all cat's carry in their saliva that has already been mentioned, because it's all over their claws too due to them constantly licking their paws...Your bird is going to be sleeping a lot more than usual, naturally, both due to the injury, the pain, and the Metacam they gave him, so that's normal...What worries me is that they gave you Baytril/Enrofloxacin as the antibiotic,
and I'm not sure that it has any effect at all on the Pasteurella Multocida bacterium that cats carry that will kill your bird. Baytril is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that many vets give out as their "go-to" antibiotic for everything, but because of this being a cat attack, they need to give him an antibiotic that Pasteurella Multocida is sensitive to, which I believe are the Tetracyclines first, then Erythromycin, and then the Penicillins. I don't know about any of the Fluoroquinolones like Baytril/Enrofloxacin.
If this wasn't a Certified Avian Vet and was only an "Exotics Vet" I would see about taking your bird for a second-opinion with a CAV, as I would also be worried about underlying damage, since he actually had to have "staples" in addition to sutures, as that's pretty heavy duty, especially for such a little bird. There isn't much to "staple", especially right up their belly/chest/neck. I'm honestly surprised he's alive, very surprised in fact, and glad...

Keep a close eye on him, make sure he's taking both of his meds on time every day, and watch for any seeping/oozing from the wound, redness, swelling, fluid collection, vomiting, and make sure he's not picking at it. Make sure that he's eating and drinking normally, as even the Metacam can make him not want to eat, let alone that kind of wound.

i coudnt agree more with ellen !!!:26:
 
OP
B

Babyboo

New member
Nov 18, 2018
7
2
Maine
Parrots
Green cheek conure named gabriel
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Update on gabriel he got his staples out yesterday doin good no infection hes all off his antibiotics pain meds and cream and back to his old self although a peeved at me for havin to gov him all those meds for 2weeks
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
I have no doubt your quick action and excellent nursing skills and a superb avain vet help this amazing recovery. Thank you so much for the update!!!
 

LordTriggs

New member
May 11, 2017
3,427
24
Surrey, UK
Parrots
Rio (Yellow sided conure) sadly no longer with us
that is one lucky little guy! Best to be over-cautious in future but I'm sure lesson well and truly learned
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
Frankly, I am amazed (and excited) he is still with us!
Well done you!
 
OP
B

Babyboo

New member
Nov 18, 2018
7
2
Maine
Parrots
Green cheek conure named gabriel
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
Thank u guys for ur comments yes the vet told me it was very rare for a bird to make it threw a cat attack especially 1 as bad as his was and that he deff had the will to live im so glad he made it threw and yes lesson very well learned iv tried uploadin picd of him and his accident but it wont let me it says theres been a error ive tried mulitpul times
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
That is very good! Very lucky bird!

I'd say he got the "1 in a million" outcome to a cat gashing a bird's belly/abdomen wide-open and living with no infection...Lucky bird indeed!

I'm very happy that your bird is going to be alright, but I hope you really do realize how incredibly fortunate you are that your bird didn't die right when it happened, and then also that he didn't develop any serious bacterial infections after the initial trauma...The point I'm trying to make without being a jerk about it is please, please, please do not EVER AGAIN allow your bird to be in a situation with your cat where anything like this can again happen...No matter how nice, friendly, cuddly, lazy, non-aggressive, tame, etc. a pet cat may be, you can't ever forget that ALL CATS ARE NATURAL, INSTINCTUAL, INNATE PREDATORS! And even the fattest, laziest, friendliest, most docile cat in the world who has never before even chased another animal, let alone attacked them, can and will become the natural-hunter/predator that they are if given the opportunity...

It's an important lesson to learn, but what a horrible way to have to learn it...I'm so glad that this had a happy ending, because most people who have this same story have a completely different ending than your's does...
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top