Last Saturday Sirius sustained a bite wound slightly more concerning than the typical scratch. He approached some food that was apparently claimed by Ella; she came at him in her usual dominant manner to give him a bite on the rump. The encounter occurred on the ice which has formed on the pond so when Sirius attempted his retreat a minor bite wound became an inch long laceration.
Wolves have an amazing ability to heal without intervention so in most situations we observe any minor injuries from a distance and don't treat unless absolutely necessary. Because wolves are highly social, singling out one wolf for treatment (or any other form of attention) can cause the rest of the pack to target that wolf. Thanks to the difficult and amazing process of hand raising/socializing, our staff have the ability to view most injuries up close during greeting sessions with the pack, eliminating the need for sedation and separation.
The wound Sirius sustained required a little more attention. Because he is lower ranking, it is sometimes difficult to engage in lengthy greeting sessions, which would be needed in order to fully assess his injury. Keeping in mind 'what you do to one wolf, you do to the entire pack', our vet and I decided to let the entire pack have access to their holding pen. Again, thanks to the socialization process and for the creative chute system used to weigh our wolves, we were able to examine Sirius (and all the other pack members)! The wound was not as deep as initially believed and so it was decided to give it a day without treatment and check again the next day. By the next day it has already began to close and heal without any sign of infection!
Sirius scent rolling on some chicken on Thanksgiving Day!
