Can chickens be given Cephalexin for an injury infection?

kathiej4455

Chirping
9 Years
Nov 12, 2010
16
1
75
I have a Norwegian Jaerhon hen who suffered some sort of injury to the inside of her right leg, right at the "knee" joint. She is unable to stand on it - I think it is either broken, or the main nerve is severed or injured. She does attempt to use it just to "hobble" for balance. This occurred approximately 3-4 days ago, but I do not know if she just injured herself while free ranging, or if something attempted to attack her - there are no other injuries however. I have been cleaning it daily with an antimicrobial/antibacterial wash, and then applying Neosphorin and wrapping carefully with sterile non stick gauze pads and vet wrap - which actually seems to give the leg some support. She appears well able to hop around on the other leg, and is eating, drinking and eliminating normally.

However, last evening I picked her up to inspect, and the foot is hot, slightly swollen and a deeper, more purplish color. She is unable to move anything on the foot at all. I am worried that it is infected, and don't know if they can get gangrene or not.

My feed store does not have anything for something like this - only tetracycline or erythrymicyn for respiratory conditions.

I just got a double Rx of the Cephalexin for my tiny dog who has a bladder infection, and she does not need all the medication - can I try giving some to the chicken? It is a liquid.

Thanks,
 
You can, yes, but I don't know the dosage for a chicken. I was given Cephalexin for my rooster's hock injury years ago, one of several antibiotics he was on at the time. Do you think its broken? They can get gangrene, yes.
 

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