Chicken with an injured eye

[polishmom1744]

I purchased a Rooster and Hens at a local auction last week. Someone tore the wire cage they were in to steal my eggs and left the wire down and he poked his eye. I put him on a broad spectrum antibiotic and have been flushing it BID (2x daily) with a medicated wash. It has been 5 days. The eyeball is still intact and he opens the eye but still very inflamed and yellow spot in the middle of red angry tissue. What else can I do???

 

[ten chicks]

What antibiotic are you using?

 

[polishmom1744]

What antibiotic are you using?

sulfamethazine sodium

 

[dawg53]

Sulmet (sulfamethazine sodium) wouldnt be used for this type of injury. Here's what sulmet is used for in chickens:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/sulmet-drinking-water-solution-12-5.html
Consider using baytril or amoxicillin. I also recommended terramycin eye ointment or neosporin ointment if you cant find the terramycin eye ointment, a 1/4 inch strip of ointment in the eye twice a day until healed should work in conjunction with one of the antibiotics I mentioned. The key is eliminating the infection even if your rooster loses his eye. Hopefully that wont happen.

 

[polishmom1744]

Sulmet (sulfamethazine sodium) wouldnt be used for this type of injury. Here's what sulmet is used for in chickens:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/sulmet-drinking-water-solution-12-5.html
Consider using baytril or amoxicillin. I also recommended terramycin eye ointment or neosporin ointment if you cant find the terramycin eye ointment, a 1/4 inch strip of ointment in the eye twice a day until healed should work in conjunction with one of the antibiotics I mentioned. The key is eliminating the infection even if your rooster loses his eye. Hopefully that wont happen.

Thanks for the info. I considered using Gentamyacin eye ointment for people but did not know if that would work, I will call the vet and see if I can get that. I hope he keeps his eye..it is a little better but I am worried the yellow spot I am seeing may be it trying to abscess.

 

[dawg53]

Quote: Gentamicin eye ointment should work. I'm not sure, but the yellow spot you're seeing might be a scab. It would be best not to mess with it, just apply the ointment. Time heals.

 

[polishmom1744]

Gentamicin eye ointment should work. I'm not sure, but the yellow spot you're seeing might be a scab. It would be best not to mess with it, just apply the ointment. Time heals.

Oh I had no intention of touching it! I am a nurse so I usually do most stuff myself without difficulty but chicken eyes are not really my experience and my birds are my babies!!!
I think if I can keep infection out and allow the swelling to go down he may keep the eye

because I walked up to him on that side today and i startled him where as the 2 days before he hardly even opened the eye and I could walk right up and he didn't notice even when it was open.

 

[dawg53]

Quote: That's good news, great job!

 

[polishmom1744]

thanks!!!

 

[polishmom1744]

Sulmet (sulfamethazine sodium) wouldnt be used for this type of injury. Here's what sulmet is used for in chickens:
http://www.drugs.com/vet/sulmet-drinking-water-solution-12-5.html
Consider using baytril or amoxicillin. I also recommended terramycin eye ointment or neosporin ointment if you cant find the terramycin eye ointment, a 1/4 inch strip of ointment in the eye twice a day until healed should work in conjunction with one of the antibiotics I mentioned. The key is eliminating the infection even if your rooster loses his eye. Hopefully that wont happen.

I got Amoxicillin drops and terramycin ointmant from my vet, just wondering about dosage strength. Last time I gave a chicken amox. I gave 2 units from an insulin syringe for a 5-6 lb chicken. Does that sound right?