Injury question.....

Here is a pic I just took of ALL my kids!! Nina is too cute - caught her licking her nose - funny stuff!!

Awwwwwww!!!! You have a GOLDEN BELIEVER TOO??? Mine is a year old!! LOL

Gail they are all beautiful...

How's the boo boo look today?

Is she acting OK?

She is acting fine but still favors that leg a little. No blood - and she continues to lick the area constantly. Overall - she really looks good but I am going to keep an eye on it. That crazy wild buck was back again today. I'm getting frustrated with him!! He was about 6ft from the pen when my dogs saw him - they ran in his direction & he took off - I could hear his antlers hitting the trees as he ran uphill! Any suggestions on how to keep him away? The dogs barked at him but the pen is pretty big - if they are on one side and he pops up on the other - they may not hear him. I'm pretty sure they didn't hear him the other day when he messed up about 10ft of my fence - or maybe they did and that's why he didn't actually make it "into" the pen. That's all I need is for that crazy buck to get in & kill my deer and/or dogs! HELP!!!

By the way Painted Meadows - thank you for the compliment

and concern...

Update: I was able to get a better look at Faline's injury. I does not appear to be a puncture - but she sliced it pretty good. The skin appears white/slightly pink. Looks like she is doing a really good job of keeping it clean. I will still keep my eye on her

Well, Faline started doing better but she is limping again - favoring her right leg. She will not shake her body, she tries but only shakes her head - which tells me she is still hurting I was able to get a better look but not long enough to take a picture. To me - looks like she needs stitches - def. a puncture wound. When she walks it opens & closes. I am going to call the farm vet to see if he can come out to look at her but I know he is going to have to put her down because she will not let anyone other than me - close to her. Would somebody be willing to speak with him in regards to the medication or give me the info to give to him? I do not have the drugs or experience to sedate her. Ohhhhh.....I hate this. The area looks pink & there is no odor so I do not think it's infected - but it's obviously bothering her. If stitches are placed I fear she will chew on them and maybe pull them out. I know this is nuts but she chewed/pulled most of Nina's long eyelashes out. She has a few left but the rest are 1/2 frayed. Silly girl - she has always been a chewer!! Any suggestions??



Thank you guys-

Gail

Make sure it is someone who works with TAME DEER!!!!

You can kill them easy...If you dose them with a "normal dose"

You should buy wound spray...It shoots far and works good to get deer that will not let you treat a boo boo....It is more than likely to late to stitch it...If you could get pictures it would sure help.

Gail,

I would not worry about a small puncture hole as that should heal from the inside outwards in my opinion. If you do stitch that off there is more chance for infection. Beside the skin around the hole is crusted and dry and can only be stitched if that is cut away to good skin. I would think there is more problems from sedation than a puncture wound. You said it yourself there was no smell and the area was only pink. All this means to me it is healing on it's own. These deer are good at healing themselves. The fly issue should be over so magots should not be a problem. I would not do anything but give antibotics to the doe. Either way good luck I know you love these girls.

Exactly my thoughts Jack...

I agree - I don't like to stitch a puncture, then you block the drainage route, and an abcess forms. I am sure it is sore, it is in an area that can't be isolated, it is constantly moving, and that is a good thing - it will prevent a scab blocking it up like stitches would. Be patient, it will take a little while to heal.



Give her some probiotics and viatmins, the more you supplement her nutrition, the better she can heal on her own.

Thank you everyone I just came home for lunch - I could cry...... It looks like there is some swelling - I will post pics tonight. She is limping more now than she has before - but still no smell & area looks pink. This is soooooooo stressful. Thanks again, my heart is racing.



Gail

Well, I tried my best to get pics but I was not very successful. Because of the location of the injury it's very hard to get a good look/photo. I sprayed the area - the best I could - with BluKote. She was not very happy with me - she grunted and took off & immediately started licking the area. She then started wagging her tail and shaking her head. After about 2 minutes of this I gave her a cookie & she was happy again. I really try not to worry unless I have too, but deer are not like dogs. As you know, we can't just throw them in a car & go to the vet when they are sick. The pics I am posting are: Faline's drinking from fridge (always a good sign) her eyes look good & she does not appear like she is not feeling well / Partial pick of the injury- could not get a real good pic - but you can see where it looks like it may be turning a little red / Faline cleaning the injury / Her leg looks like there is swelling on the upper, outside part of her leg. Please let me know what you think. The 2nd picture really does not show the injury at all. As I said previously when that part of her leg opens - you can see the wound open/close - it reminds me of a mouth opening/closing.



Jack - thank you I agree 100% in regards to sedation. I don't want to sedate her unless I ABSOLUTELY have to because of the risks involved. On the other hand I can't help but wonder if the wound is worse than I am thinking it is - but I can't get a good enough look at it to know. Even if I touch the outside of her leg - where there appears to be swelling -she shivers & twitches. And you are 100% correct - I LOVE my girls SOOOO much and that's why I worry.



Robbie - I give them vitamin supplements monthly. I also have Duramycin-10 soluble powder antibiotic - do you think I should give her this oral antibiotic or wait? As I said before in a previous post - she cut herself on a metal spike which had some rust - I worry about tetanus. What are your thoughts?



I really need to take a deer course if there is a such thing. I want to know as much as all of you do in regards to caring for and raising deer. I feel like I have done a pretty good job so far. At the first sign of illness I jump right on it. I have a cabinet with different meds/syringes/wound sprays & ointments/vitamins/minerals/probiotic paste/etc...... I also get a lot of good information from fine folks such as yourselves I appreciate ALL of the suggestions - more than you know God bless each one of you.



Gail

Gail,

I think the wound looks very healthy and is healing. It is in a joint area and also an area where air will suck in as the leg is moving all the time. I would not use a spray as the noise will make her leave you. Instead I would use antibotic ointment you could put on your hand and wipe the area as best you can as you pet her. Maybe feed her most liked food as you wipe her with ointment. I would also give a two or three cc shot of penicillin to fight infection. Penicillin would be my choice of drug to use on her. Gail I think she is doing as well as you can expect from a wound like that. I have seen a lot worse and the deer lived. Your a good mother to the girls.

Gail - I agree with Jack, this looks like it is healing nicely. You could ask your vet for some Clavamox, which is an oral amoxicillan for dogs, this way you don't have to get a needle in her. But, I really think it looks like it is doing fine on its own. These types of wounds heal from the inside out. That is why you still see an opening on her skin. The tissues inside that were damaged are healing, and her constant licking is stimulating circulation. Think about you having a cut, and as it heals how it itches. The opening on the skin should be the last thing to close up. That is how you want it to be, or she might get an abcess.



As for tetanus, you can buy the antitoxin over the counter at most feed stores, you could give her a shot of that, but I really think that if you were going to have a problem, you would have already seen it. This has been several days already, and that usually has a very rapid onset.

Thank you Jack & Robbie The wound is a lot bigger than what it appears in the picture - the picture just shows part of it, but, if you think that part looks ok - I won't worry as much.



Jack - you are right - when she walks I can hear a suction sound coming from that area - not all the time - but when she moves in a certain way you hear it. I can only think of Reed68's buck injury. WOW - I would be an absolute MESS if I had to tend to that kind of injury! I would have to be medicated!! Thank you for the comment - I try to be a good mother



Robbie - Thank you. I will try not to worry as much. I hate seeing her limp when she walks. Can you imagine what kind of mother I would be like to a baby???!!! I don't have any but man if I did I would probably be at the Dr.'s office every day! LOL!! Really, I just want my girls to be healthy and without any aches or pains. I know that won't happen - deer are funny creatures. They tend to get themselves into trouble sometimes! But I love em!! As far as the tetanus - I won't worry any longer - BUT, if an infection is starting in a part of the injury that is not visible to me - I will know because it will start to smell - but are there any other signs I should look for in her behavior? I know if she is lethargic I should worry but will there be any subtle signs?



Thanks again you guys - your a God send!

Gail

Hey Gail. Sorry about your doe, but I agree with Jack and Robbie, except I would give Penicillin in this fashion.... Because your girls are so big, healthy and beautiful.... I would give her 5cc and 5cc's more in 3 days. This way you KNOW any infection is covered. You remember Reed's buck? Well, we had the exact same injury on a buck the same time and you would be amazed at how fast they heal and how resiliant they are. I personally feel Penicillin is the BEST for guarding against those type of infections. I don't think you can stitch it after 24 hours anyway and agree with the above statements regarding closing the wound and a higher risk of infection.



Your girls are so tame that you could sneak it in from behind and feed her treats for a few days until you have to give the second shot.



Good luck, your girls are just way too cute!!!!

Thank you Holly Yes, I remember Reeds buck!! Sorry you had to deal with the same kind of injury - I would have been a mess!! Faline is actually doing fabulous! She is now shaking, running, playing, and even picking on her little sister again.....that part I don't like but in this situation, it's a welcome sight! I tried to find penicillin but it was not available at Tractor Supply or the Feed supply store where I purchase my deer feed from. Do I need to purchase this from my vet? I will check Jeffers Supply online maybe they have it. Thanks again & thank you for the sweet comment - I have to agree, they are pretyy darn beautiful!!



Gail