Cat caught birds and other predator injuries

Posts: 733 Join date: 2009-01-17 Location: England


	For many years people thought that cat caught birds died of shock within 48 hours. It is only recently that rehabbers discovered that what they actually died of was pasteurella septicaemia. 90% of cats carry the Pasteurella Multocida bacteria in their saliva. If a cat bites a bird and punctures its skin, then the bacteria enters its blood stream and the bird can die within 24 hours without showing any symptoms. It is vital to treat them with antibiotics as soon as possible. Because birds preen their feathers a cat caught bird can develop an infection from the pasteurella bacteria without suffering puncture wounds. The saliva on its feathers can pass into its system when it preens and it can develop pasteurellosis The antibiotic of choice is a combination of 80% amoxycillin and 20% clavulanic acid given in a dose of 25-37mg twice a day for 7 days. The combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid for veterinary use is called Clavamox in the US and Synulox or Noroclav in the UK. Treatment: Birds that have been caught by hawks or dogs should be treated as for cat injuries. 70% of dogs carry pasteurella in their saliva. Hawks do not carry pasteurella but their claws can leave deep puncture wounds that are liable to be infected by whatever was on the hawk's claws. Wounds should be flushed out with sterile saline, obtainable from the chemist (pharmacist) It is best not to let a puncture wound scab over, as this seals infection in. Gentle removal of the scab, flushing with sterile saline and treating the area with an antibacterial cream will allow the wound to heal from within .

Bumping up.

_________________
Cindy

A Pigeon's Prayer
Please watch over us while we fly,
Keeping us safe from the predators that share the sky.

If we become ill or injured in any way,
Please lead us to safety where we are welcome to stay.

Update on the Pasteurella threat:

My avian vet recently told me that the incidence of Pasteurella Multocida in cat saliva has been greatly reduced, and tests revealed that all the feral cats taken to this veterinary clinic in Portugal to date were free of the bacteria.
This is great news, but of course there will be exceptions, and it's best to play safe! For my part, I immediately give a course of Synulox to any predator-caught pigeon I rescue.