Post by Honeymilk on Dec 16, 2008 12:56:52 GMT -5
Brought to you by Honeymilk, Windclan's Medicine Cat.
Thank you to Warriors Wish for providing some information.
Permissions to be edited by: Nightstar, Honeymilk. Please only refer to herbs that are listed in the medicine cat herb list for clarity, please.
Last update: 12-17-08 (Nightstar) I is going to revamp it a little. Thanks for putting all of the info up, though, Honeymilk!
UPDATE IN PROGRESS- Don't mistake this page for complete, I've made a mess of it right now, so I'd just read the complete part (starts under Smoke Inhalation at this point- all above is incomplete)
To look for a certain ailment with a keyword, please press {CTRL}+{F} and then search for the KEYWORD.
E.G. Greencough = search for Green
E.G.2 Bee stings = search for Bee
BROKEN BONE
A broken bone will sometimes happen, usually after a great fall or impact when it does. Sadly, a fractured bone is somewhat difficult to mend, and it may never fully heal.
Symptoms- Bruising around the affected area, severe swelling, extreme pain in affected area, any visible bone sticking out.
Seriousness- Needs to be treated immediately so that bone heals as properly as possible!
Treatment- A poultice of comfrey applied to the fracture often helps speed healing of the bone, bruises, and to help with pain. Poppy seeds also help, standard usage of course applied. A splint of reeds is the best thing to use to keep the leg still so the bone can mend, and mallow can also be applied to help healing. This can be difficult to treat, but it is possible...
COUGHING
Coughing is... well, constant coughing. It is not very complex to treat, and it often comes along with a cold, or many other sicknesses. However, some varieties of cough can be deadly.
Symptoms- Coughing
Seriousness- Varies, usually is relatively harmless except in cases of Whitecough and Greencough.
Treatment- Wild poppy flowers, tansy flowers, catmint works but is NOT recommended because of its scarcity, so it is best saved for something more serious. Be careful with tansy, as it is NOT to be given to pregnant or nursing queens.
DISLOCATION
A dislocated leg or other limb can be extremely painful or dehabilitating, but it is easily treatable. It is caused by the bone coming out at the base of the socket, rendering the limb usually immobile.
Symptoms- Pain in the affected joint, inability to move the leg or other dislocated spot, swelling, bruising.
Treatment- To treat it, first a numbing of the area is recommended via poppy seed. Then, hold down the patient, and pop the bone back into the socket. Beware, this is painful for the patient despite the poppy seeds, and they may claw, so that is why it is recommended to hold them down.
BELLYACHE[/u][/size]
A bellyache is often caused by a stomach bug, or eating bad food. It is usually not very dangerous unless caused by eating poison, or something of that sort. It is usually not difficult to treat, either.
Symptoms- A sore feeling in the stomach, cramping stomach, etc.
Treatment-
SMOKE INHALATION[/u][/size]
Clan cats usually avoid all things to do with fire -- it's a rare sight, but StarClan knows it can strike in times of drought. Smoke may be uncommon, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!
SYMPTOMS: If cats have been exposed to a forest fire or inhaled smoke they will often have a bad cough and a sore throat. Talking and eating may be difficult, and their voice will often be reduced to a rasp.
TREATMENT: When a cat dies from smoke inhalation it's because the smoke has filled their lungs and suffocated them. When you're dealing with a patient chances are it isn't that serious and they will be suffering from a raw throat and maybe a cough. A bit of honey and poppyseeds will soothe the throat, and you may need to treat for shock. Coughs can be treated with tansy flowers, juniper leaves, or the flowers of the wild poppy. If a cat has burns and it is available to you, apply water soaked with alder or willow bark, or aloe vera. Be sure to get down to the skin as well, and not just the fur.
TICKS AND FLEAS[/u][/size]
Ticks and fleas appear most often in the elder's den when a cat may not be able to groom properly because of failing mobility. It's often another elder or an apprentice who must help them by grooming, but sometimes a tick will be too burrowed in for a cat to get at without risking it just going deeper.
TREATMENT: In this case, Mousebile soaked moss can be pressed into the fur with the paws to suffocate the little critters and have them fall off. Make sure to wash your paws in a stream when you're done! Mousebile tastes awful.
BELLYACHE[/u][/size]
A cat with a bellyache will complain of a sore feeling in their stomach, which can come from eating too much, sickness, or poisoning.
TREATMENT: When the pain is mild a medicine cat should use discretion and reassure the patient instead of wasting herbs. However, for a sore stomach can be TREATED with a poultice of chervil, juniper, mallow or watermint. If a cat has not eaten their stomach may be sore, but there is little a medicine cat can do for this if prey is unavailable. If this is a more difficult ailment, feverfew can help do the trick.
ACHING JOINTS AND BONES[/u][/size]
This ailment most often affects the elders den again, and is a result of damp nests, cold weather or just plain old age. It's important to teach apprentices how to dry moss carefully so you can avoid aching joints when possible! There are two closely related ailments here: aching joints, which is often a swelling of the joints and results in stiffness and aches that results from damp nests and age. The similar aching bones comes from cold weather and age, and is also stiffness. A cat with aching joints may have trouble with full mobility, and will complain of pain at the joints. It's fairly easy to recognize.
TREATMENT: Wrapping the afflicted area with wetted burdock can help relieve pain and stiffness, and daisy or a ragwort poultice is also a useful herb for treating aching joints. Also, eating the leaves of the poppy have been known to help as well. Tansy works, but is only recommended if the patient is NOT a pregnant or nursing queen, as this can cause severe complications with the kits.
BEE STINGS & BUG BITES[/u][/size]
Bee stings and other bug bites are usually not especially serious, a cat does not need treatment and the bite may be uncomfortable for a day or so, though it will heal. Occasionally though you may have a patient who has an especially sore, inconvenient, or infected bite which will need to be treated. A cat with a bee sting will complain about pain at the spot of the sting, which itself will be a small wound that may not even be visible. A small bump will appear from swelling.
TREATMENT: Nettle is especially good for bee stings though onion is a fair substitute and will prevent infection. Also, many other herbs that will prevent infection will also help. (refer to the medicine cat herb list on this board.) For swelling, apply alder bark chewed into a poultice. Cobwebs and poppyseeds should not be necessary, the latter only if the cat is complaining of great pain.
FEVERS[/u][/size]
Fevers are more symptoms for colds and sickness then a complete ailment of their own, and appear in sicknesses such as greencough, whitecough, colds, carrionplace sickness and more, as a fever indicated an infection, and easily dealt with, to a warning for a much graver situation. Touch your nose to a cat's pads to check for unusual heat. This indicates a fever.
TREATMENT: Fevers can be treated effectively with feverfew or borage.
COLDS/MILD COUGHING[/u][/size]
There is no established connection between a common cold and whitecough, though they are different sicknesses they are somewhat similar in symptoms. A cold should heal fast when rested properly, and can come about by cold wet fur most commonly. A cat with a cold will often have a running nose, sneeze a lot, be very tired and sleep a lot. They may also have a sore throat and aches.
TREATMENT: Borage or feverfew is a good herb to treat a high fever, and a poultice of feverfew can also be applied to relieve headaches from colds. Catmint is also highly effective, but is not recommended for casual use because of it's scarcity. Coltsfoot is good to open up lung passages if a cat has shortness of breath. The best cure for colds is a good amount of rest!
WHITECOUGH AND GREENCOUGH[/u][/size]
Whitecough is similar to a cold, with a few added symptoms. It is dangerous because it can develop into greencough, which is deadly. Whitecough's symptoms are usually that of a cold, with the added coughing fits, streaming eyes and shortness of breath, though it will be minor. It may give a fever as well.
Greencough is a dangerous respiratory sickness that develops from whitecough. The difference? Greencough is a killer. It can spread quickly, and is particularly lethal to kits and elders. It appears in later leafbare or early newleaf, and must be confined.
Cats with greencough will experience a high fever, running nose, streaming eyes, extreme tiredness, breathing problems and wheezing. It's a respiratory illness, the equivalent of pneumonia in cats, and phlegm develops in the lungs, which creates coughing fits in the body. Cats will be able to do little else then sleep and cough until they get better, or die.
TREATMENT: Whitecough can be treated well with borage, or feverfew for the fever aspect. Catmint is one of the best remedies, but it is scarce enough that it is not recommended for use as other herbs can be found to work well. Coltsfoot is good for shortness of breath, as it opens up the airways to more effect. It is recommended to seperate patients from other cats in order to contain the sickness.
Greencough is complex to treat, and symptoms need to be dealt with first. Lavender and marigold can bring down chills, while borage is used for quelling a fever. Coltsfoot is good for clearing the lungs and stopping wheezing, as feverfew, juniper berries and nettle roots are. Catmint is an effective medication for the sickness by quelling aches and opening the lungs, but only grows in Twoleg gardens and extremely rarely in the wild, making it hard to come by. Cats must be quarantined before the sickness can spread.
TORN CLAW(S)[/u][/size]
Most cats will undoubtedly tear a claw in their lifetime. This should not be all that much of a problem -- a cat may limp for a sunrise or two as it heals and there may be a bit of swelling and pain.
TREATMENT: If there is bleeding, then cobwebs should be applied, and marigold to prevent infection. Poppyseeds should not be necessary unless the cat is complaining of intense pain.
THORNS[/u][/size]
You've heard your mentor deal with them I expect -- thorns turn strong warriors into pathetic kits, and they're not even all that bad! You have to tease them a little of course, I've heard full grown cats moaning like they're at StarClan's camp just to show me a thorn stuck in their pad. Twoleg debris are much more serious, which is why we train cats to stay away from twolegs! A cat with a thorn will limp, probably wail about it, and their pads will be swollen. If they don't realize they have a thorn they will lick the pad persistently. An infection can develop when a cat treads on the paw too much or dirt gets into the wound.
TREATMENT: Pull the thorn out with your teeth -- it will hurt for a second, and then it will be over. The wound may bleed a bit, but it shouldn't be serious enough to demand your supply of cobwebs, just as well have the cat lick their paw carefully to clear out any debris and stop the bleeding. If there is an infection, apply marigold poultice, and if not you may want to apply a mild salve of chamomile to bring down swelling or a different herb to prevent infection.
CARRION PLACE DISEASE[/u][/size]
Medicine cats don't have a real name for this, so I've given it my own. It's greatly feared in ShadowClan, and all apprentices are taught never to bring back rats as prey from any sort of carrionplace, lest they bring the epidemic into the Clan, where it will surely take lives. The disease is dangerous and very contagious -- and formerly incurable, that is, before the great Cinderpelt of ThunderClan's past cured it! The carrionplace sickness comes on and spreads quickly. A cat will find it harder to breath, much like greencough, with violet coughing fits that shake the entire body and a wheezing, labored breath. A cat will develop a fever before other symptoms arrive, and will also experience exhaustion, loss of appetite, and the desire to sleep a lot. The stench of the sickness is unmistakable, and will make your fur crawl. Usually a cat afflicted will die.
TREATMENT: Use borage for the fever, coltsfoot for breathing and to stop the awful wheezing, and maybe some juniper too for that. Bit of honey for the throat, and feverfew for the cough.
CRACKED PADS[/u][/size]
Cracked pads are uncomfortable -- but they are not very dangerous unless they become infected. Cracked pads are not especially common, long-distance running over hard surfaces (especially a Thunderpath) can be very damaging. Rocks, dirt and other debris can get stuck between pads and cause damage if they are not properly washed. Cracked pads may appear worn, cracked and bleeding. Debris caught between claws and pads may be visible, and a cat will limp on the tender pads.
TREATMENT: When individual symptoms are treated, pads will heal on their own. Bleeding, if there is any, can be cleaned and stopped with cobwebs and horsetail poultice if necessary. Cleaning the pads can be done by the cat themselves, or another cat, with a good gentle wash. The washing is very important! The pads will now heal themselves, and if the cracks are deep a bit of horsetail will aid in recovery. Make sure the cats stays off their paws until their rested.
ANXIETY & SHOCK[/u][/size]
There can be many reasons for anxiety and shock, the death of a loved one perhaps, or a great disaster like ThunderClan's fire. It can create pain and lack of sleep (leading to exhaustion) so it may be necessary to treat. Keep in mind some cats may not want to take sedatives to treat this because they want to be alert, depending on the circumstances. When a cat is disturbed or upset it is crucial for a medicine cat to use discretion. Anxiety will probably be pretty easy to see -- if it isn't, your cat probably doesn't need treatment. There are different kinds though, but general symptoms include a fast heartbeat, uneasiness, tension, restlessness, need for isolation and possibly exhaustion.
TREATMENT: There are several herbs in which just the scents aid in calming cats, but you can have the cat eat chamomile and/or thyme for calming the nerves, and poppy seeds to help relax a cat and have them sleep. If they are willing, another cat can sit with them to keep them warm. Make sure they get rest!
JUVENILLE KIDNEY SYNDROME[/u][/size]
We medicine cats don't have a real name for it, since it's uncommon, but the symptoms include a young but middle-aged cat suddenly becoming very thirsty, general weakness, and sometimes vomiting and loosing the ability to pass dirt. It can also weaken the pads on the foot and create cracks.
TREATMENT:There is no treatment. A cat with these symptoms will die, because currently there is no cure, but we are hoping to discover one...
CATARACTS & BLINDNESS[/size]
There is little you can do for a cat who's eyes are injured so far as that blindness may be an option. Unfortunately eye injuries are sensitive and tricky to deal with. Cataracts on the other hand are completely different, and don't usually cause full blindness. They appear among aging cats and are visible by a semi-translucent white covering over the eye. They impair vision, but rarely cause full blindness. They're just a part of your elder's den.
TREATMENT: Depending on the problem, different treatments are recommended. Celadine is good for merely weak eyes, and water soaked with willow bark can refocus mildly blurriness. For the more serious ailment, cobwebs for bleeding, and poppyseeds for pain is often the most you can do -- the rest is up to StarClan, though mallow can help heal ailments with the eyes.
BROKEN BONES & FRACTURES[/u][/size]
I'm asking all you medicine cats to personally do you absolute best when it comes to broken bones. Not only is it painful, but you have to be confined to the den for a long time as it heals. You'll know if a cat has broken a limb; they often wail about it, because it's very painful. You also can't walk on a broken limb. If a cat has been hit on the Thunderpath or fallen out of a tree you should make sure they're okay.
TREATMENT: Broken bones are hard to treat, and sometimes will never completely heal properly. Comfrey is quite the useful plant in this situation, as it speeds the recovery of all bruises, wounds and breaks, and will also deal with the pain (as will poppyseeds, standard usage rules apply). A poultice of mallow will heal bruises and aid in the recovery of the breaks when applied to the area. Keep that cat in the medicine cat den, and keep them still, or else the rush dressing could loosen and the set would come undone. Once the leg has been healed then make sure they do some stretching exercises to ensure it's good as new.
RAT BITES & SNAKE BITES[/u][/size]
The treatment for rat bites is pretty well-known, there are a few, and in the usual case they will be as easily healed as normal bites and scratches. However, rats tend to be pretty dirty animals, so you need to be prepared for infection! Snake bites are even more dangerous and potentially deadly, especially those of the adder. Well, rat bites are pretty obvious, and the cat will probably come to you first. Infection can include swelling, soreness, stiffness and sometimes pus around the wound. Snake bites on the other hand should be dealt with most urgency! A wound will appear as two small punctures, and symptoms can include intense pain, breathing problems, weakness, vomiting and even death.
TREATMENT: To ward off infection, treat rat bites with burdock root, which is a natural blood purifier. Use of wild garlic; your den mates won't thank you for it, but it works even better then burdock to make sure you'll be healed quickly. Tansy can also be used, though it is too mild to be recommended. Snake bites are a bit more difficult of course, and there isn't much you can do for a cat who has been bitten. There are a few things known to help, such as a poultice of ash tree shoots, burdock (again), or juniper berries, but they only slightly increase odds. Chances are, tragic as it may be, they will die.
QUEENS & KITTING[/u][/size]
The birth of kittens is a beautiful and natural thing, and will usually go well and uneventful. However, there are many herbs that are useful in making kitting a less painful and smoother process, including helping queens feed their kits with milk. A queen may request a medicine cat be present for a birthing, and they often are, but a queen can give birth without help.
A queen's belly will slowly grow larger as the kits develop, usually over a two-moon or so period. At the end of which a she-cat will begin to have a sudden drop of body temperate (which can be checked by touching the pads with your nose). As she gets ready to give birth she may begin to purr and breath heavily, and her chest will rise and fall. She will then have to push out the kittens as she gives birth, which can be painful. Most cats will give birth to two to four kittens, but it is not unusual for a she-cat to only give birth to one. A she-cat will have to lick her kittens at birth to start them breathing and get rid of the filmy sac that covers them at birth.
This should go rather uneventfully! Poppyseeds should never be used on a pregnant queen because the she-cat needs to feel the pain to push out the kittens, but juniper, mallow or thyme is useful to give a queen before kitting to ensure a smooth birth. Feverfew is good to give queens after they've finished kitting, to expel anything left and to ease any pain or bleeding. Mallow and borage can both help a queen to keep a good supply of milk for their kits.
POISONING & NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES[/u][/size]
As you might know, maybe your mentor told you, we Clan cats not only have the knowledge of medicine cats before us, but also have fine senses to tell us if something might be dangerous or not. That said, there are some exceptions to the rules (especially among troublesome kits!) that can lead to a cat being poisoned, which needs to be dealt with imminently and can be potentially disastrous. You can tell is a cat is poisoned because they may vomit, salivate, have diluted pupils and even trouble breathing. Depending on the severity, they probably also have a bellyache. If you don't catch it early enough and the poison travels into the body, then StarClan be with the poor soul! They may suffer from convulsions, lack of consciousness, and even death.
TREATMENT: The best thing you can do for a poisoned cat is to get them to the medicine cat den. Catch it early and you have a good chance if you can make the cat throw up the poison with yarrow (mallow or juniper berry also works, though to a slower effect), and make sure another cat keeps them warm. I think it's best to educate young kits quick on the dangerous plants though, to avoid the drama of a poisoned kit.
INFECTION
Infection is most common in dirty or untreated wounds, especially bites left by animals such as rats that are disease ridden and dirty themselves. Infection often results in a high fever, depending on how serious, swelling at the afflicted area, and extreme pain. It is best to avoid, but there are many known treatments, luckily.
TREATMENT: A poultice of the whole yarrow plant often works, along with marigold, echinacia, alder bark, and burdock. Apply to the afflicted area after washing it. Repeat this treatment until the infection is cured. Herbs for fever are also recommended to help with that.
TOOTHACHE/TOOTH DECAY
Toothache is a painful affliction that sometimes comes up. It is signified by soreness and pain in the tooth, especially when chewing or eating, and swelling around the affected tooth/teeth.
Tooth decay is similar to toothache, but is more common in elderly cats in comparison. Identification is similar to toothache, but often there are telltale black/brown spots on the teeth.
TREATMENT: Chewing alder bark helps, mainly with toothache, though the cat in question may be difficult to convince about putting anything in their mouth at that point. This also helps prevent futher complications. Alfalfa can be used as a preventative to tooth decay.
SLEEPING ISSUES
Some cats have trouble sleeping, due to shock or other problems. There are not usually chronic, but may require some help if it becomes a problem.
TREATMENT: A fine syrup of bramble twigs is known to do the trick, as well as poppy seeds, though these are not as recommended as they can be a little too effective. Take care not to let the patient become dependant on these.
---
Known Poisons[/size]
YEW (DEATHBERRIES) Most famous of all the deadly plants in the forest is the yew, we medicine cats have named it's fruit the deathberry, and rightly so. Even one of these will kill a grown cat, but some kits seem to think their bright red berries would make a tasty snack. Think again!
BLEEDING HEART Who would want to eat this plant anyway? It's a funny looking thing with green leaves and round, pink little flowers with white bottoms. But it can be deadly, so watch out!
CHERRIES These aren't especially common that I know of -- they are deep red fruits that grow on small trees. Again, they don't sound as tasty as a fresh caught mouse!
APPLE SEEDS Also relatively uncommon, though too many of the seeds can be toxic, so stay away!
ENGLISH IVY English ivy isn't super dangerous -- it'll just give you a stomach ache, but it is common in Clan territory.
NIGHTSHADE These little purple flowers remind many of honey bees, and they have a much nastier sting! The leaves and green fruit of the plant are deadly.
There are a lot of others out there of course, but those will be the most common and most dangerous you might encounter as a medicine cat. Twoleg substances can also be very dangerous poisons. The best rule for that is to just stay away from Twolegs in general...
Thank you to Warriors Wish for providing some information.
Permissions to be edited by: Nightstar, Honeymilk. Please only refer to herbs that are listed in the medicine cat herb list for clarity, please.
Last update: 12-17-08 (Nightstar) I is going to revamp it a little. Thanks for putting all of the info up, though, Honeymilk!
UPDATE IN PROGRESS- Don't mistake this page for complete, I've made a mess of it right now, so I'd just read the complete part (starts under Smoke Inhalation at this point- all above is incomplete)
To look for a certain ailment with a keyword, please press {CTRL}+{F} and then search for the KEYWORD.
E.G. Greencough = search for Green
E.G.2 Bee stings = search for Bee
BROKEN BONE
A broken bone will sometimes happen, usually after a great fall or impact when it does. Sadly, a fractured bone is somewhat difficult to mend, and it may never fully heal.
Symptoms- Bruising around the affected area, severe swelling, extreme pain in affected area, any visible bone sticking out.
Seriousness- Needs to be treated immediately so that bone heals as properly as possible!
Treatment- A poultice of comfrey applied to the fracture often helps speed healing of the bone, bruises, and to help with pain. Poppy seeds also help, standard usage of course applied. A splint of reeds is the best thing to use to keep the leg still so the bone can mend, and mallow can also be applied to help healing. This can be difficult to treat, but it is possible...
COUGHING
Coughing is... well, constant coughing. It is not very complex to treat, and it often comes along with a cold, or many other sicknesses. However, some varieties of cough can be deadly.
Symptoms- Coughing
Seriousness- Varies, usually is relatively harmless except in cases of Whitecough and Greencough.
Treatment- Wild poppy flowers, tansy flowers, catmint works but is NOT recommended because of its scarcity, so it is best saved for something more serious. Be careful with tansy, as it is NOT to be given to pregnant or nursing queens.
DISLOCATION
A dislocated leg or other limb can be extremely painful or dehabilitating, but it is easily treatable. It is caused by the bone coming out at the base of the socket, rendering the limb usually immobile.
Symptoms- Pain in the affected joint, inability to move the leg or other dislocated spot, swelling, bruising.
Treatment- To treat it, first a numbing of the area is recommended via poppy seed. Then, hold down the patient, and pop the bone back into the socket. Beware, this is painful for the patient despite the poppy seeds, and they may claw, so that is why it is recommended to hold them down.
BELLYACHE[/u][/size]
A bellyache is often caused by a stomach bug, or eating bad food. It is usually not very dangerous unless caused by eating poison, or something of that sort. It is usually not difficult to treat, either.
Symptoms- A sore feeling in the stomach, cramping stomach, etc.
Treatment-
SMOKE INHALATION[/u][/size]
Clan cats usually avoid all things to do with fire -- it's a rare sight, but StarClan knows it can strike in times of drought. Smoke may be uncommon, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!
SYMPTOMS: If cats have been exposed to a forest fire or inhaled smoke they will often have a bad cough and a sore throat. Talking and eating may be difficult, and their voice will often be reduced to a rasp.
TREATMENT: When a cat dies from smoke inhalation it's because the smoke has filled their lungs and suffocated them. When you're dealing with a patient chances are it isn't that serious and they will be suffering from a raw throat and maybe a cough. A bit of honey and poppyseeds will soothe the throat, and you may need to treat for shock. Coughs can be treated with tansy flowers, juniper leaves, or the flowers of the wild poppy. If a cat has burns and it is available to you, apply water soaked with alder or willow bark, or aloe vera. Be sure to get down to the skin as well, and not just the fur.
TICKS AND FLEAS[/u][/size]
Ticks and fleas appear most often in the elder's den when a cat may not be able to groom properly because of failing mobility. It's often another elder or an apprentice who must help them by grooming, but sometimes a tick will be too burrowed in for a cat to get at without risking it just going deeper.
TREATMENT: In this case, Mousebile soaked moss can be pressed into the fur with the paws to suffocate the little critters and have them fall off. Make sure to wash your paws in a stream when you're done! Mousebile tastes awful.
BELLYACHE[/u][/size]
A cat with a bellyache will complain of a sore feeling in their stomach, which can come from eating too much, sickness, or poisoning.
TREATMENT: When the pain is mild a medicine cat should use discretion and reassure the patient instead of wasting herbs. However, for a sore stomach can be TREATED with a poultice of chervil, juniper, mallow or watermint. If a cat has not eaten their stomach may be sore, but there is little a medicine cat can do for this if prey is unavailable. If this is a more difficult ailment, feverfew can help do the trick.
ACHING JOINTS AND BONES[/u][/size]
This ailment most often affects the elders den again, and is a result of damp nests, cold weather or just plain old age. It's important to teach apprentices how to dry moss carefully so you can avoid aching joints when possible! There are two closely related ailments here: aching joints, which is often a swelling of the joints and results in stiffness and aches that results from damp nests and age. The similar aching bones comes from cold weather and age, and is also stiffness. A cat with aching joints may have trouble with full mobility, and will complain of pain at the joints. It's fairly easy to recognize.
TREATMENT: Wrapping the afflicted area with wetted burdock can help relieve pain and stiffness, and daisy or a ragwort poultice is also a useful herb for treating aching joints. Also, eating the leaves of the poppy have been known to help as well. Tansy works, but is only recommended if the patient is NOT a pregnant or nursing queen, as this can cause severe complications with the kits.
BEE STINGS & BUG BITES[/u][/size]
Bee stings and other bug bites are usually not especially serious, a cat does not need treatment and the bite may be uncomfortable for a day or so, though it will heal. Occasionally though you may have a patient who has an especially sore, inconvenient, or infected bite which will need to be treated. A cat with a bee sting will complain about pain at the spot of the sting, which itself will be a small wound that may not even be visible. A small bump will appear from swelling.
TREATMENT: Nettle is especially good for bee stings though onion is a fair substitute and will prevent infection. Also, many other herbs that will prevent infection will also help. (refer to the medicine cat herb list on this board.) For swelling, apply alder bark chewed into a poultice. Cobwebs and poppyseeds should not be necessary, the latter only if the cat is complaining of great pain.
FEVERS[/u][/size]
Fevers are more symptoms for colds and sickness then a complete ailment of their own, and appear in sicknesses such as greencough, whitecough, colds, carrionplace sickness and more, as a fever indicated an infection, and easily dealt with, to a warning for a much graver situation. Touch your nose to a cat's pads to check for unusual heat. This indicates a fever.
TREATMENT: Fevers can be treated effectively with feverfew or borage.
COLDS/MILD COUGHING[/u][/size]
There is no established connection between a common cold and whitecough, though they are different sicknesses they are somewhat similar in symptoms. A cold should heal fast when rested properly, and can come about by cold wet fur most commonly. A cat with a cold will often have a running nose, sneeze a lot, be very tired and sleep a lot. They may also have a sore throat and aches.
TREATMENT: Borage or feverfew is a good herb to treat a high fever, and a poultice of feverfew can also be applied to relieve headaches from colds. Catmint is also highly effective, but is not recommended for casual use because of it's scarcity. Coltsfoot is good to open up lung passages if a cat has shortness of breath. The best cure for colds is a good amount of rest!
WHITECOUGH AND GREENCOUGH[/u][/size]
Whitecough is similar to a cold, with a few added symptoms. It is dangerous because it can develop into greencough, which is deadly. Whitecough's symptoms are usually that of a cold, with the added coughing fits, streaming eyes and shortness of breath, though it will be minor. It may give a fever as well.
Greencough is a dangerous respiratory sickness that develops from whitecough. The difference? Greencough is a killer. It can spread quickly, and is particularly lethal to kits and elders. It appears in later leafbare or early newleaf, and must be confined.
Cats with greencough will experience a high fever, running nose, streaming eyes, extreme tiredness, breathing problems and wheezing. It's a respiratory illness, the equivalent of pneumonia in cats, and phlegm develops in the lungs, which creates coughing fits in the body. Cats will be able to do little else then sleep and cough until they get better, or die.
TREATMENT: Whitecough can be treated well with borage, or feverfew for the fever aspect. Catmint is one of the best remedies, but it is scarce enough that it is not recommended for use as other herbs can be found to work well. Coltsfoot is good for shortness of breath, as it opens up the airways to more effect. It is recommended to seperate patients from other cats in order to contain the sickness.
Greencough is complex to treat, and symptoms need to be dealt with first. Lavender and marigold can bring down chills, while borage is used for quelling a fever. Coltsfoot is good for clearing the lungs and stopping wheezing, as feverfew, juniper berries and nettle roots are. Catmint is an effective medication for the sickness by quelling aches and opening the lungs, but only grows in Twoleg gardens and extremely rarely in the wild, making it hard to come by. Cats must be quarantined before the sickness can spread.
TORN CLAW(S)[/u][/size]
Most cats will undoubtedly tear a claw in their lifetime. This should not be all that much of a problem -- a cat may limp for a sunrise or two as it heals and there may be a bit of swelling and pain.
TREATMENT: If there is bleeding, then cobwebs should be applied, and marigold to prevent infection. Poppyseeds should not be necessary unless the cat is complaining of intense pain.
THORNS[/u][/size]
You've heard your mentor deal with them I expect -- thorns turn strong warriors into pathetic kits, and they're not even all that bad! You have to tease them a little of course, I've heard full grown cats moaning like they're at StarClan's camp just to show me a thorn stuck in their pad. Twoleg debris are much more serious, which is why we train cats to stay away from twolegs! A cat with a thorn will limp, probably wail about it, and their pads will be swollen. If they don't realize they have a thorn they will lick the pad persistently. An infection can develop when a cat treads on the paw too much or dirt gets into the wound.
TREATMENT: Pull the thorn out with your teeth -- it will hurt for a second, and then it will be over. The wound may bleed a bit, but it shouldn't be serious enough to demand your supply of cobwebs, just as well have the cat lick their paw carefully to clear out any debris and stop the bleeding. If there is an infection, apply marigold poultice, and if not you may want to apply a mild salve of chamomile to bring down swelling or a different herb to prevent infection.
CARRION PLACE DISEASE[/u][/size]
Medicine cats don't have a real name for this, so I've given it my own. It's greatly feared in ShadowClan, and all apprentices are taught never to bring back rats as prey from any sort of carrionplace, lest they bring the epidemic into the Clan, where it will surely take lives. The disease is dangerous and very contagious -- and formerly incurable, that is, before the great Cinderpelt of ThunderClan's past cured it! The carrionplace sickness comes on and spreads quickly. A cat will find it harder to breath, much like greencough, with violet coughing fits that shake the entire body and a wheezing, labored breath. A cat will develop a fever before other symptoms arrive, and will also experience exhaustion, loss of appetite, and the desire to sleep a lot. The stench of the sickness is unmistakable, and will make your fur crawl. Usually a cat afflicted will die.
TREATMENT: Use borage for the fever, coltsfoot for breathing and to stop the awful wheezing, and maybe some juniper too for that. Bit of honey for the throat, and feverfew for the cough.
CRACKED PADS[/u][/size]
Cracked pads are uncomfortable -- but they are not very dangerous unless they become infected. Cracked pads are not especially common, long-distance running over hard surfaces (especially a Thunderpath) can be very damaging. Rocks, dirt and other debris can get stuck between pads and cause damage if they are not properly washed. Cracked pads may appear worn, cracked and bleeding. Debris caught between claws and pads may be visible, and a cat will limp on the tender pads.
TREATMENT: When individual symptoms are treated, pads will heal on their own. Bleeding, if there is any, can be cleaned and stopped with cobwebs and horsetail poultice if necessary. Cleaning the pads can be done by the cat themselves, or another cat, with a good gentle wash. The washing is very important! The pads will now heal themselves, and if the cracks are deep a bit of horsetail will aid in recovery. Make sure the cats stays off their paws until their rested.
ANXIETY & SHOCK[/u][/size]
There can be many reasons for anxiety and shock, the death of a loved one perhaps, or a great disaster like ThunderClan's fire. It can create pain and lack of sleep (leading to exhaustion) so it may be necessary to treat. Keep in mind some cats may not want to take sedatives to treat this because they want to be alert, depending on the circumstances. When a cat is disturbed or upset it is crucial for a medicine cat to use discretion. Anxiety will probably be pretty easy to see -- if it isn't, your cat probably doesn't need treatment. There are different kinds though, but general symptoms include a fast heartbeat, uneasiness, tension, restlessness, need for isolation and possibly exhaustion.
TREATMENT: There are several herbs in which just the scents aid in calming cats, but you can have the cat eat chamomile and/or thyme for calming the nerves, and poppy seeds to help relax a cat and have them sleep. If they are willing, another cat can sit with them to keep them warm. Make sure they get rest!
JUVENILLE KIDNEY SYNDROME[/u][/size]
We medicine cats don't have a real name for it, since it's uncommon, but the symptoms include a young but middle-aged cat suddenly becoming very thirsty, general weakness, and sometimes vomiting and loosing the ability to pass dirt. It can also weaken the pads on the foot and create cracks.
TREATMENT:There is no treatment. A cat with these symptoms will die, because currently there is no cure, but we are hoping to discover one...
CATARACTS & BLINDNESS[/size]
There is little you can do for a cat who's eyes are injured so far as that blindness may be an option. Unfortunately eye injuries are sensitive and tricky to deal with. Cataracts on the other hand are completely different, and don't usually cause full blindness. They appear among aging cats and are visible by a semi-translucent white covering over the eye. They impair vision, but rarely cause full blindness. They're just a part of your elder's den.
TREATMENT: Depending on the problem, different treatments are recommended. Celadine is good for merely weak eyes, and water soaked with willow bark can refocus mildly blurriness. For the more serious ailment, cobwebs for bleeding, and poppyseeds for pain is often the most you can do -- the rest is up to StarClan, though mallow can help heal ailments with the eyes.
BROKEN BONES & FRACTURES[/u][/size]
I'm asking all you medicine cats to personally do you absolute best when it comes to broken bones. Not only is it painful, but you have to be confined to the den for a long time as it heals. You'll know if a cat has broken a limb; they often wail about it, because it's very painful. You also can't walk on a broken limb. If a cat has been hit on the Thunderpath or fallen out of a tree you should make sure they're okay.
TREATMENT: Broken bones are hard to treat, and sometimes will never completely heal properly. Comfrey is quite the useful plant in this situation, as it speeds the recovery of all bruises, wounds and breaks, and will also deal with the pain (as will poppyseeds, standard usage rules apply). A poultice of mallow will heal bruises and aid in the recovery of the breaks when applied to the area. Keep that cat in the medicine cat den, and keep them still, or else the rush dressing could loosen and the set would come undone. Once the leg has been healed then make sure they do some stretching exercises to ensure it's good as new.
RAT BITES & SNAKE BITES[/u][/size]
The treatment for rat bites is pretty well-known, there are a few, and in the usual case they will be as easily healed as normal bites and scratches. However, rats tend to be pretty dirty animals, so you need to be prepared for infection! Snake bites are even more dangerous and potentially deadly, especially those of the adder. Well, rat bites are pretty obvious, and the cat will probably come to you first. Infection can include swelling, soreness, stiffness and sometimes pus around the wound. Snake bites on the other hand should be dealt with most urgency! A wound will appear as two small punctures, and symptoms can include intense pain, breathing problems, weakness, vomiting and even death.
TREATMENT: To ward off infection, treat rat bites with burdock root, which is a natural blood purifier. Use of wild garlic; your den mates won't thank you for it, but it works even better then burdock to make sure you'll be healed quickly. Tansy can also be used, though it is too mild to be recommended. Snake bites are a bit more difficult of course, and there isn't much you can do for a cat who has been bitten. There are a few things known to help, such as a poultice of ash tree shoots, burdock (again), or juniper berries, but they only slightly increase odds. Chances are, tragic as it may be, they will die.
QUEENS & KITTING[/u][/size]
The birth of kittens is a beautiful and natural thing, and will usually go well and uneventful. However, there are many herbs that are useful in making kitting a less painful and smoother process, including helping queens feed their kits with milk. A queen may request a medicine cat be present for a birthing, and they often are, but a queen can give birth without help.
A queen's belly will slowly grow larger as the kits develop, usually over a two-moon or so period. At the end of which a she-cat will begin to have a sudden drop of body temperate (which can be checked by touching the pads with your nose). As she gets ready to give birth she may begin to purr and breath heavily, and her chest will rise and fall. She will then have to push out the kittens as she gives birth, which can be painful. Most cats will give birth to two to four kittens, but it is not unusual for a she-cat to only give birth to one. A she-cat will have to lick her kittens at birth to start them breathing and get rid of the filmy sac that covers them at birth.
This should go rather uneventfully! Poppyseeds should never be used on a pregnant queen because the she-cat needs to feel the pain to push out the kittens, but juniper, mallow or thyme is useful to give a queen before kitting to ensure a smooth birth. Feverfew is good to give queens after they've finished kitting, to expel anything left and to ease any pain or bleeding. Mallow and borage can both help a queen to keep a good supply of milk for their kits.
POISONING & NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES[/u][/size]
As you might know, maybe your mentor told you, we Clan cats not only have the knowledge of medicine cats before us, but also have fine senses to tell us if something might be dangerous or not. That said, there are some exceptions to the rules (especially among troublesome kits!) that can lead to a cat being poisoned, which needs to be dealt with imminently and can be potentially disastrous. You can tell is a cat is poisoned because they may vomit, salivate, have diluted pupils and even trouble breathing. Depending on the severity, they probably also have a bellyache. If you don't catch it early enough and the poison travels into the body, then StarClan be with the poor soul! They may suffer from convulsions, lack of consciousness, and even death.
TREATMENT: The best thing you can do for a poisoned cat is to get them to the medicine cat den. Catch it early and you have a good chance if you can make the cat throw up the poison with yarrow (mallow or juniper berry also works, though to a slower effect), and make sure another cat keeps them warm. I think it's best to educate young kits quick on the dangerous plants though, to avoid the drama of a poisoned kit.
INFECTION
Infection is most common in dirty or untreated wounds, especially bites left by animals such as rats that are disease ridden and dirty themselves. Infection often results in a high fever, depending on how serious, swelling at the afflicted area, and extreme pain. It is best to avoid, but there are many known treatments, luckily.
TREATMENT: A poultice of the whole yarrow plant often works, along with marigold, echinacia, alder bark, and burdock. Apply to the afflicted area after washing it. Repeat this treatment until the infection is cured. Herbs for fever are also recommended to help with that.
TOOTHACHE/TOOTH DECAY
Toothache is a painful affliction that sometimes comes up. It is signified by soreness and pain in the tooth, especially when chewing or eating, and swelling around the affected tooth/teeth.
Tooth decay is similar to toothache, but is more common in elderly cats in comparison. Identification is similar to toothache, but often there are telltale black/brown spots on the teeth.
TREATMENT: Chewing alder bark helps, mainly with toothache, though the cat in question may be difficult to convince about putting anything in their mouth at that point. This also helps prevent futher complications. Alfalfa can be used as a preventative to tooth decay.
SLEEPING ISSUES
Some cats have trouble sleeping, due to shock or other problems. There are not usually chronic, but may require some help if it becomes a problem.
TREATMENT: A fine syrup of bramble twigs is known to do the trick, as well as poppy seeds, though these are not as recommended as they can be a little too effective. Take care not to let the patient become dependant on these.
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Known Poisons[/size]
YEW (DEATHBERRIES) Most famous of all the deadly plants in the forest is the yew, we medicine cats have named it's fruit the deathberry, and rightly so. Even one of these will kill a grown cat, but some kits seem to think their bright red berries would make a tasty snack. Think again!
BLEEDING HEART Who would want to eat this plant anyway? It's a funny looking thing with green leaves and round, pink little flowers with white bottoms. But it can be deadly, so watch out!
CHERRIES These aren't especially common that I know of -- they are deep red fruits that grow on small trees. Again, they don't sound as tasty as a fresh caught mouse!
APPLE SEEDS Also relatively uncommon, though too many of the seeds can be toxic, so stay away!
ENGLISH IVY English ivy isn't super dangerous -- it'll just give you a stomach ache, but it is common in Clan territory.
NIGHTSHADE These little purple flowers remind many of honey bees, and they have a much nastier sting! The leaves and green fruit of the plant are deadly.
There are a lot of others out there of course, but those will be the most common and most dangerous you might encounter as a medicine cat. Twoleg substances can also be very dangerous poisons. The best rule for that is to just stay away from Twolegs in general...
