A terrier named Mouse sustained a chest injury from loose barbed wire, resulting in a tear that exposed muscle tissue. Initially, Mouse allowed the application of five drops of undiluted yarrow, which quickly absorbed into the wound, staining the surrounding area where it was not needed. Following this, he selected green clay, sniffing it before positioning himself for its application to the wound. The next day, Mouse again chose yarrow but declined the clay. By this point, the wound had already reduced significantly in size, with some of the skin beginning to close over. 

On the third day, Mouse opted for both yarrow and green clay. A small hole in the scab was noticed, possibly serving as a drain, though no discharge was seen. On the fifth day, Mouse selected yarrow again. While he did not sniff the green clay, he clearly indicated that he wanted it applied to the wound.

On the sixth and seventh days, Mouse showed no interest in yarrow but continued to permit the application of green clay. By the eighth day, part of the scab had detached, and Mouse lost interest in both yarrow and green clay. At this stage, the wound was barely visible.

Steve, Mouse’s guardian, recounted, “Given Mouse’s disposition, pursuing veterinary intervention would have caused him significant stress, requiring muzzling, restraint, and general anaesthesia, from which he often took days, sometimes weeks, to fully recover. Instead, the wound healed remarkably quickly, in days rather than weeks, without causing Mouse any distress, who guided his own healing.”