Well it seems it's finally happened. Rex has been on a roll, with 4 squirrels in 3 consecutive hunts. Yesterday he killed on 2 consecutive slips. He paid a price though. One of his toes has a laceration on the underside and he appears to have no flexion in that toe. Apparently his flexor tendon has been severed, presumably by a squirrel bite, although I made in very quickly and the squirrel was fully under Rex's control.
I spoke with my vet by phone and he feels out of his depth. He referred me to Dr Jones in Knoxville (3 hours away). Have left a message for him and am awaiting a return phone-call. I would guess that repair should not be very difficult but am unsure as to how urgent it is to get it done. I don't think I could get up there before Tues which would be 7 days post-injury. This is such a bummer.
Last Edit: Dec 6, 2006 14:46:11 GMT -5 by RobDeegan
Give a man a fire, make him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, make him warm for life.
Sorry to hear. Seems to be a week for bad bites, my friend called me yesterday and his RT had the tendons bit on its little toe. I havnt heard what the vet did yet. I wish you the best!
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
Deegan - I spoke with my vet, he is probably one of the best that any falconer in Ohio knows of; Jamie Lindstrom. As FB said, I was just there this morning getting surgery done on my PFRT's little toe to have the tendon stitched together. If the vet was able to do the surgery yesterday after the bite, I could have had it taken care of in 4 1/2 hrs after the bite occurred (it was a 4 hr. drive, I left the field immediately). Instead, he could only do it in the morning the next day and it was 20 hours after the bite. He said that if it would have gone past 48 hours, he would have gotten worried that the tendon would have sunk up into the foot too far and would have lost its elasticity. I wish you the best. Also, which toe is it?
Post by Master Yarak on Dec 6, 2006 22:57:55 GMT -5
Does the toe not open or does it not close? If it does not open it is the extensor, that is an easier repair. If it does not close its the flexor that one is a bit tougher. If the tendon draws up into the sheath it may become inoperable. Either way it takes a skilled surgeon its a micro surgery. If it were me I would pert the Red sea to get Rex there asap. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Its the flexor. Am so frustrated with the vet community right now. Rex's vet says he can't do it and believes that Knoxville (vet school) is the nearest place. I spoke with a secretary up there twice yesterday and each time was promised that the vet would call me back. Called again this morning and got the same story! Its now over 48 hours since the injury and nobody will treat my bird.
Its the outermost (smallest) toe on the left side, so maybe it won't impair him too much. I know, I'm really clutching at straws now.
The irony is that this is the tiniest little bite.
Give a man a fire, make him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, make him warm for life.
Post by Master Yarak on Dec 7, 2006 13:58:13 GMT -5
It won't impair him much. That toe is mainly used for balance anyway. I can't remember how long after the bite that surgery was performed on Bane. I THINK it was at least 3 or 4 days. The vet wanted to wait until it granulated some. He said that there were no guarantees regardless. I remain optimistic as should you. Good luck. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
It won't impair him much. That toe is mainly used for balance anyway. I can't remember how long after the bite that surgery was performed on Bane. I THINK it was at least 3 or 4 days. The vet wanted to wait until it granulated some. He said that there were no guarantees regardless. I remain optimistic as should you. Good luck. Yarak
I agree with Yarak. Zippo is missing a talon on the outermost right toe due to last years squirrel bite. This years squirrel bite is on the outermost left toe. Healing up nicely BTW. She can and does catch game. These bites didn't teach her a thing about squirrels, if anything, she's more determined to go after them. My understanding is that that toe is for balance and grooming.
Fed Rex tonight by having him fly to the fist in the garage for some beef heart. I still find it hard to believe but he started flexing his toe again. There's no doubt about it as he could clearly retract his talon against resistance. This is despite the fact that, for the past 2 days, he has had ZERO flexion in that toe. Evidently his tendon wasn't severed after all. I feel pretty stupid but a severed tendon seemed like the obvious diagnosis in the circumstances. I can only conclude that flexion was inhibited by pain or that local swelling had trapped the tendon in its sheath.
In any case, I now think that a full recovery may be possible. I'm excited and relieved. Embarrassment is a small price to pay!
Give a man a fire, make him warm for a day. Set a man on fire, make him warm for life.
you would be suprised what a little trauma can do.. i sure am glad that your bird is showing sign of movement. id keep it easy for a week or so and give him a chance to get a bit better before id hunt again.. wow.. lucky