Chick mauled by dog down to muscle; help :(

chickedee817

Hatching
Apr 16, 2016
3
0
9
Fort Worth, TX
Soon to be 4 days ago my chicks got mauled by my chihuahua whom escaped his section of the yard and killed all my chicks except one. Sadly I got home just in time to save the last girl, Chicky. Instantly took her inside, flushed the wounds with Hydrogen peroxide/water mix, clipped surrounding feathers, coated with neosporin & gauzed her up temporarily.(also gave her save-a-chick electrolytes with some aspirin mixed in) I called at least 30 different vet offices/ animal hospitals and there was only 1 who would see her but I just don't have the money to Pay for the vet($200 just for an office visit).. I've been constantly keeping an eye on her as she's inside in a clean environment with food and water available. She eats/drinks and walks fine; HOWEVER today I noticed that her tail is broken very badly. Before I thought the tissue sorrow ding it had just been torn since she wouldn't let me touch it before but now she's getting more comfortable with me touching and checking on her. I had to clean her wound today because she got a piece of dog hair in it so there are a little bit of bubbles in the pictures below. Some of the yellow is fat, and some of it is her chick fur as I call it. It doesn't smell infected, and I keep it fairly clean.. I need more advice on what to do!!! Please!
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Welcome to BYC. So sorry about your chicks. Dogs will usually kill chicks even if they are trained to not attack grown chickens. Continue using your plain Neosporin or Bacitracin ointment, or get Vetericyn Wound Spray from your feed store. Offer her some probiotics or plain yogurt and chopped egg along with her normal crumbles. Unless she has suffered internal injuries, her wounds should eventually heal in a few weeks. Can she stand? Don't use the peroxide anymore, but if you see any signs of infection (reness, swelling, pus, or a bad odor,) use the Vetericyn or some weakened betadine. Hopefully, you can get a few more friends for her when she heals a bit. Good luck, and please update your thread on how she is getting along.
 
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I am sorry about your little one! As a Vet that DOES see chickens, I am sorry to hear you were unable to get the help you needed when you needed it. I have treated many chickens mauled by dogs and I can tell you Chickens are the toughest creatures in the animal kingdom (in my humble opinion). From the picture you posted it looks like there is evidence of healing by third intention (from the outside of the wound in). This is a good sign! I would anticipate if your chick has made it this far she has a good chance of making a full recovery. Keep her in a warm, draft free area and try to keep her booder as free from fecal material as possible. If you are using shredded paper or sawdust bedding- get rid of it and replace if with paper towels or a puppy pad or even an old bath towel if you don't object to washing it when it gets covered with poop. Discontinue the aspirin- it can damage her liver and kidneys (and please don't ever give it to your dog). I also recommend not using hydrogen peroxide in the future- our mother's lied to us, it is terrible for fresh wounds- it kills tissue and all the wonderful body helpers that invade fresh wounds to promote healing. Next time opt for dilute bedadine (iodine without alcohol).
 
Thank you! Right now I have her in a box using a puppy pad that I change 2 or 3x daily. Should I continue to gauze her after I clean her wound? The first 2 days I cleaned it 2x a day and have now started cleaning it every other day. I think her tail is broken but it's hard for me to tell..
 
I would continue to clean her wound daily until the wound is closed or covered with a solid scab. After that, cleaning won't be very beneficial but application of Bacitracin or Neosporin every 12 hours will help keep the scab pliable and prevent it from cracking. I have had infection develop after a wound has closed- watch the tautness of the scab, if material is building up under it, the scab will appear tight and shiny and may pull at the edges of the wound. As far as her tail- time will tell. Her uropygial or preening gland is located at the base of her tail- if this structure has been damaged she may potentially have trouble grooming. I took a Rhode Island Red hen to surgery after 'something' (prob. a fox or raccoon) essentially severed her tail. Two hours of surgery later she made a full recovery and has a very functional preening gland, so I would anticipate your girl should be just fine- Nice Job! I can comment further if you are able to post updated photos.
 

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