View Full Version : A different kind of bite......


Justfishin'
08-21-2010, 06:53 AM
Cat bite.
Last month a client of mine asked me to help with finding a home for his two cats. Seems that the male of the brother/sister duo was getting destructive with the furnishings and carpets by chewing on things (as they were both de-clawed).
I found a home for them and on the day to move them, I put the boy in a cardboard carrier you get at a vets. .He started to yowl and climb out and when I reached down to put him back in he totally freaked and bit me on the left thumb, then bit my wife (who was helping me), then me again as I was pulling him off her, then her again as she was doing the same..in total 7 bites. The last one was at the joint of my right thumb where it joins the hand. He grabbed hold and sank his teeth to the gums in a crushing bite and held on, my wife was barely able to pry his jaws apart to get him off me. This all happened in about 30 seconds.
We went to the hospital for tetanus shots and I.V. antibiotics. The deep bite on my thumb didn't respond to treatment, I went back to the E.R.(my doctor was on vacation) four days later for more I.V. treatment. One week after the bite, I saw my doctor who told me I was on the wrong antibiotic, changed it and I responded but it was too late- I had to go back to the hospital 10 days after that and have surgery on the hand for Osteomyelitis- a bone infection that if left untreated can lead to amputation or death from infection.I'm at home now but I have seventeen stitches in my right thumb knuckle and a PICC catheter in that goes from my bicep into my chest through which I have to hook up to and have an I.V. every six hours- for six weeks. I'm doing it as I write this, I have to sit still for an hour.
Tell your kids, tell your friends and know that cat bites- and monkeys and humans- are among the worst for infection and have to be treated immediately.
I have to stick close to home till the end of September now, no fishing.
Be careful with those pets.

Slipknot
08-21-2010, 07:11 AM
:eek: :eek: holy crap
unbelievable, sorry to hear that
I really hope all goes well with the treatment.
I guess that saying really is true no good deed goes unpunished

MAKAI
08-21-2010, 07:46 AM
Cat's need to be eliminated from the planet.
And seals
And liberals

This could be a long list

Bronko
08-21-2010, 07:46 AM
That is freakin horrible. I hope they put that beast down. Feel better.

SurfCaster413
08-21-2010, 08:03 AM
That totally sucks, hope you have a speedy recovery

Bronko
08-21-2010, 09:09 AM
Cat's need to be eliminated from the planet.
And seals
And liberals

This could be a long list

Makai, I like the cut of your jib.:gh:

Saltheart
08-21-2010, 02:05 PM
Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

i would be asking the doctors some serious questions about why it took so long to get you on the right stuff.

JohnR
08-21-2010, 02:07 PM
Damn! Get better - beats the alternative.

kenyee
08-21-2010, 02:08 PM
holy psycho cat batman! :-O
I'm glad our cat never bit us...she nipped but never broke skin. We even taught her not to extend her claws when playing with us

Hope that IV stuff works...

nightfighter
08-21-2010, 02:38 PM
Mark, thanks for posting that for all to read. As I told you on the phone, that cat would be dead now if that had happened to me.... You have more patience than me. Hope you heal well and quickly, knowing that you work with your hands. Keep laughing at how you said between the hand bandage and the catheter, you are so screwed up you couldn't even JO.....:rotf2:

Fishoholic
08-21-2010, 10:13 PM
No mention if it was dispatched at the end..if not.. I admire your restraint.

Justfishin'
08-22-2010, 06:28 AM
i would be asking the doctors some serious questions about why it took so long to get you on the right stuff.
I (at the time) was considered to be allergic to penicillin but mostly
it happend because I didn't see the doctors on my first two visits-
I was seen by their Physician's Assistants, who would relay their observations to the attendings, who would consult the specialists, who would make their recomendations over the phone or through another PA- believe me, I felt like I was being treated through Wikipedia. They all just gave me an anti-biotic that was safe.It was'nt until I saw my doctor-who took the time to look it up in a book- that I was given the correct antibiotic to treat the specific bacteria.On my third visit, I made a stink with the P.A.'s and insisted that the doctors see me in person before I'd sign any releases.
By seeing them in person and having them consult with my regular doctor, the whole thing was resolved to where I am now. A day late and a dollar short but healing.......
Thanks for all the well wishes, see you in the late season.
PS-
about the cat-
He had to be quarrantined for two weeks and worked with before he'll be placed for adoption. He was terrified and bit out of fright-with good reason. The last time he was put in a carrier a year and a half earlier, they pulled his claws and cut his nuts off. What would you do?

Fly Rod
08-22-2010, 06:53 AM
[QUOTE=Justfishin';789471]I (at the time) was considered to be allergic to penicillin but mostly
it happend because I didn't see the doctors on my first two visits-
I was seen by their Physician's Assistants, who would relay their observations to the attendings, who would consult the specialists, who would make their recomendations over the phone or through another PA- believe me, I felt like I was being treated through Wikipedia. They all just gave me an anti-biotic that was safe.It was'nt until I saw my doctor-who took the time to look it up in a book- that I was given the correct antibiotic to treat the specific bacteria.On my third visit, I made a stink with the P.A.'s and insisted that the doctors see me in person before I'd sign any releases.
By seeing them in person and having them consult with my regular doctor, the whole thing was resolved to where I am now. A day late and a dollar short but healing.......
Thanks for all the well wishes, see you in the late season.
]

You must already be on OBAMA'S health plan.

Hope you feel better soon.

UserRemoved1
08-22-2010, 07:10 AM
cats :smash:

Hope it works out for you. That really sucks.

Green Light
08-22-2010, 09:24 AM
I can understand the logic. And I respect your constraint. But, personally, my emotion would have taken overridden my logic in that situation. I wish you a safe and full recovery. October is a good month to fish! ;)

JohnnyD
08-22-2010, 11:43 AM
I (at the time) was considered to be allergic to penicillin but mostly
it happend because I didn't see the doctors on my first two visits-
I was seen by their Physician's Assistants, who would relay their observations to the attendings, who would consult the specialists, who would make their recomendations over the phone or through another PA- believe me, I felt like I was being treated through Wikipedia. They all just gave me an anti-biotic that was safe.It was'nt until I saw my doctor-who took the time to look it up in a book- that I was given the correct antibiotic to treat the specific bacteria.On my third visit, I made a stink with the P.A.'s and insisted that the doctors see me in person before I'd sign any releases.
By seeing them in person and having them consult with my regular doctor, the whole thing was resolved to where I am now. A day late and a dollar short but healing.......
Thanks for all the well wishes, see you in the late season.
PS-
about the cat-
He had to be quarrantined for two weeks and worked with before he'll be placed for adoption. He was terrified and bit out of fright-with good reason. The last time he was put in a carrier a year and a half earlier, they pulled his claws and cut his nuts off. What would you do?

My girlfriend is a PA and I was telling her about this. She said, "They should have immediately put him on Augmentin. It is first line antibiotic for cat and dog bites."

So now I'm curious if you don't mind me asking, what did they put you on at first and what did they finally put you on?