Bad cat bite

Re: Bad cat bite

Mlwelsh — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:17:10 GMT

Hey guys,

The NHS are finally realising just how bad they are - If they ring NHS direct, they are told they must go straight to A&E. I was running an OOH service and was bitten. It was just a small puncture on the end of my finger but being a cat and having seen a vet spend an entire weekend in hosp having multiple surgerys just 4 hours after being bitten, I wasnt willing to go without!

Typical, being a bank holiday friday, I knew that it would be days before I managed to get to my doc's so called NHS direct to book me an OOH appt the next day as couldnt leave work before then, being midnight! I ended up arguing with the dr who insisted I immediately went to A&E as this is what they were recommended on their system for cat bites.

In then end we compromised and I got an appt for the next day where upon the dr (a different one from the NHS direct one) told me off for not being seen immediately and then put me on the strongest oral dose of augmentin there is!

Maybe it is just this way down south? My friend was bitten by a cat at work and 5 hours later there was tracking up to his elbow - he spent 4 days in hospital on i/v medications and the docs came close to operating as well.

Re: Bad cat bite

supamog — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:15:07 GMT

Hi totally agree with you! not suggesting that she would actually harm anything in her care, its just that all the silly sugestions that have been made by so called friends and fellow professionals alike, have been "liked" by her. my sentiments are - if you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen! It comes with the job, if you cant take the bad days with the good, then a massive re-think is necessary! She does actually have house-cats of her own that are rescues and they are remarkable out-going. I dont think she has any idea of how this could affect her repulation or business if anyone realised that she has this attitude let alone anything else. Shes down on staff and has to do it all on her own, hmmm business plan over-haul if nothing else! Mine had been going there for 20 yrs or so.............not any more! im voting with my feet! Im am apt to think that the next time she gets bitten i wont have any sympathy! A bit mean i know - but just saying..............

Re: Bad cat bite

Fuzzyduck — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 18:33:46 GMT

Sounds like she needs to sell her business sharpish. The poor people who have put their cats in her cattery, trusting this woman with their care when she's out there suggesting torture methods to use on them! Christ knows how she is behaving to the poor cats when no one is around! We all know animals can be aggressive in stressful situations especially vets and catterys/kennels! I've been bitten and scratched countless times but I don't hate all cats, in fact I actually like naughty cats!

Re: Bad cat bite

supamog — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:45:51 GMT

Hi - thanks all for your imput. Client is indeed on pain meds and a/b's - not quite sure what they are but that same night she had the dreaded throbbing and the tracking up the arm! Those of us who have suffered this will know. She is finding it v difficult to carry on her business at the moment. Painful it may be, but unfortunately she seems to be doing her best by social media to demonise all cats! tbh im horrified that most of her fb "friends" seem to be jumping on the band-wagon, sanctioning, grabbers, cattle prods, stun guns and the like! I fail to understand why someone who earns a living from animals has taken this view. It comes with the teritory i'm afraid. Oh well - I did try! Thanks again folks

Re: Bad cat bite

Anna Rayne — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:06:28 GMT

we've had 2 vets bitten badly on the fingers over the last few years and despite antibiotics within 12 hours or less they've both ended up on i/v antibiotics (augmentin) and having the bite opened up and flushed out, one had pus in a tendon sheath in the finger within 24 hours. Its left the finger/ hand quite scarred.

Re: Bad cat bite

GremlinNurse — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:05:24 GMT

If they think what some clients do, that animals' mouths have antiseptic properties, then no wonder they are so lax about giving ABs!!

I had antibiotics after a cat bite, went to walk in centre after 24 hours and would always recommend immediate treatment now.

Re: Bad cat bite

zara — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:34:41 GMT

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-human-and-animal/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

tell the clients if docs are being a pain to print and show the info on the above web link - nhs choices

Re: Bad cat bite

zara — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:09:43 GMT

I got bitten by my own dog a few years ago when he was v v v poorly with final stages of renal failure - I still have the scars 3 years on - one on the inside of my arm and the other on the outside. Because it happened in the night I thought I would leave it til the morning.

I tried to get an appt from the docs which was a complete waste of time, although I demanded abs they would not dispense them and they told me to just bathe.

which is what i done, by the next day so a day and a half i was in a & e and they gave me abs and thought it was me wasting time although i told them that i went to the docs the day before. I gave these tablets 48 hrs and by then i had pins n needles in my fingers, from my wrist to my elbow was warm and v v v red - which was v painful, mum rushed me to a & e which then they had to cut into my arm to release the pressure (it felt like my arm was going to explode), not trying to sound gross but never seen so much puss, very thick and smelly - they had to push onto my arm to get as much out as possible before they flushed it - the relief was very quick.

If i had left it a day more i would have ended up being in hospital on iv fluids and poss surgery.

I do wish doctors and their staff were more educated on how dangerous a simple bite in their mind could have detrimental effects

Re: Bad cat bite

Paulette — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 01:22:57 GMT

[quote user="Eppy"] Don't underestimate cat bites!!

[/quote]

Definitely agree! One nurse I worked with was bitten by a cat and it swelled and bruised instantly - within a couple of hours dark blue tracking marks were up her arm - she had to stay overnight in hospital on i/v metronidazole - luckily she recovered well

Another nurse I worked with had to have a skin graft on the back of her hand (even though she had washed it thoroughly and gone straight to the doctors) as the bite was so bad and got so infected so quickly.

From reading above it sounds like human nurses could do with some more education (and no doubt some of the doctors too!) but if you get bitten pleeeeeeeease make sure you wash the wound thoroughly with running water and soap and go straight to doctor!!!

Re: Bad cat bite

Ceri Boyd — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:06:59 GMT

I was bitten on the thumb by a manky old farm cat, was painful but thought nothing of it.... Until the next day when my whole hand was swollen and exuding pus, I couldn't move my fingers and it had tracked up half my arm! Went to the doctor who was annoyed I didn't go when it happened, I was given metronidazole (allergic to some other ab's), it calmed down after a few days but sometimes still get painful twinges in my thumb. Don't underestimate cat bites!!

Re: Bad cat bite

Steph Worsley — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:00:04 GMT

luckily in 14 years nursing (16 years in practice in total) I have never been bitten by a cat where the skin has been broken but I would always insist on ab's if it was to happen, one of our vets got bitten by a kitten, didn't get any abs and 3 days later was in hosp on IV ab's

I've been bitten once by a dog and got augmentin for it.

Re: Bad cat bite

Charley83 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:39:43 GMT

i,ve been bitten twice, once of a feral cat and both times touch wood i,ve not contracted anything rabies or wound infection - bloomin sore though.

Re: Bad cat bite

Roseann21 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:24:32 GMT

I have always been given Augmentin - I always go to the doctor's if the skin has been broken. I once didn't and my hand turned into what looked like an over-inflated rubber glove. The last time I got bitten the nurse informed me that the biggest danger was tetanus or rabies!!! I insisted on seeing the doctor and got Augmentin again.

Re: Bad cat bite

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:10:30 GMT

we have had several people at work get bitten recently, and not that badly, and on both occasions the doc sent them to surgery for the wound to be cut open and flushed. i think they are realising how serious cat bites can be

Re: Bad cat bite

Fuzzyduck — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:47:48 GMT

I was bitten by a manky old cat, within hours there was pus pouring out of my finger. They prescribed me augmentin and metronidazole which cleared it up very quickly

Re: Bad cat bite

Sal the 1st — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:25:35 GMT

I was bitten through a joint on my index finger and arm, my GP reckoned I was over reacting because I asked for antibiotics and told me just to keep it clean and covered. 3 days later I needed i/v antibiotics and the joint needed to be opened up to relieve some of the pressure which was compromising circulation to the rest of my finger. 6 months later I started to get some feeling/use back in that finger. The cats name was Rudolph Hess - never forgotten it or the pain it caused me

Re: Bad cat bite

Charley83 — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:20:43 GMT

flucoxacillin and augmentin are commonly used unless the swab result grows weird and wonderful stuff pasteurella. erthromycin been used too. I usually give a prescription there and then as 9 out of 10 cat bites i would say that i,ve seem are infected within 2-3 days and exudating pus.

Re: Bad cat bite

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:52:09 GMT

None of my GP's ever had a clue about cat bite...

Re: Bad cat bite

Helen Tottey — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:02:47 GMT

i thought all doctors knew how bad cat bites could be and it was always possible to get an appointment if you state cat bite.

last time I was bitten the doctor actually told me he was giving a higher dose due to it being a cat bite

Re: Bad cat bite

Katie Mansfield — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:01:57 GMT

Last time I got bit (dog not cat) my doc gave me Flucloxacillin 250mg for 7 days and he told me to keep bathing it in salty water. I did have to insist on seeing the doctor tho cos when I phoned up for an appointment the receptionist went and asked the practice nurse who told her same as your client's nurse told her!!!

One of my old college lecturers nearly lost her thumb cos she put off going to the doctors and the infection tracked up, hence she was really pro-active making us lot understand any bite or bad scratch you get yourself up the surgery quick!!!!. I think your lady needs to be a bit more assertive and get up there despite what the practice nurse says!!

K x