Squirrel Bite treatments

[Tiercel78]

Ok, Squirrel Hawkers wan't to know your methods for treating bites.

This is mine and it works great for me. ;D

1. First of all. When I get home I wash the cut out real good. A soft toothbrush and a LITTLE bit of dish soap works great. Note: Don't need to scrub hard. Punctures are usally pretty clean.

2. Determine how bad the bite is

If the bite recieved is a small and no big deal i.e small puncture or cut. I just leave it alone and do no further treatment.

If I determine the bite is preatty good I usally apply a little Bactroderm inside of puncture and squeeze out excess. Minor bleeding is ok and should be expected till it scabs over. Once scabed I discontinue use of Bactroderm.

Real bad I take to Vet! i.e See bone,tendon,or bird immediatly stops using foot.

Now, I don't use anything like Iodine, Betadine, peroxide. I just heard it does more harm than good.

Things I watch out for are. (Could be signs of infection)
Extreme swelling.
Foot feeling warmer that opposite side.
Bird favoring foot more than the other

In the past I've treated foot swelling with Hydo therapy.
Just this past week sponser's Hen HH's foot was swollen and infected from bite. Bird still used foot but was swollen enough that no wrinkles were visable. I picked scab, washed wound with a little dish soap and tooth brush. Hydro'd her foot for 20mins in luke warm water. (Do for day or so. No change take to Vet)
1hr later swelling was down and wrinkles were visable. Looked at foot 1 day later and looked almost back to normal except for a little bruising.

[Weasel]

Here is what I do....I look at it....if all the digits are in working order and she is not favoring a foot.....I then put her back up in the air for a second squirrel, or she goes in the mew if she is done for the day.....I will simply keep an eye on the bite area for a day or two to make sure no swelling or infection occurs, but besides that, it heals fine for an RT. Now, There have been occasions where the bird has been lacerated by the teeth of the squirrel and in that case, I put some betadine on the wound and if it requires stitches, I take her to the vet.
Weasel

[Tiercel78]

Thats cool, I agree with ya on the hunting part. I forgot to mention that I don't take my bird home or quite everytime a squirrel bites him. See... thats what I want to see "diffrent methods"

[Strider]

I saw some where that they have hawk boots that go on the hawks feet to protect them from bites. Ill try to find the spot I dont know if it would be good or not.

[Weasel]

They are called Squirrel chaps.

[Minca]

Nice pic!! Love the weaponry
Are those the parachute chord jesses?

[Strider]

are those the chaps

[Weasel]

Minca said:

Nice pic!! Love the weaponry
Are those the parachute chord jesses?

Yup, Those are the jesses I make. They last along time on a bird. I have heard of folks having issues with them on falcons like the kes as they can pick at it with there beaks so it frays a bit. Hawks have no problems with them and I used the same pair for two seasons with my bird.

[rt]

I BOUGHT A PAIR OF GARY BREWERS IAM GOING TO TRY THEM OUT NEXT YEAR.