Antibiotic recommended? After Fox attack-swollen eye

[Souffle]

My 2 year old barred rock was dragged off by a fox last Saturday. I ran out and got her before the fox had killed her and other than feather loss she seemed fine, but 3 days later she's very tired and heroine eye is swollen shut. Should I start her on antibiotics? What kind?

 

[dawg53]

She might have unseen internal damage, time well tell. You can give her liquid amoxicillin 1/2ml and 1/2ml water mixed together. Give it orally once a day for 5 days. Dose her 1/2ml at a time orally so she wont aspirate. After she swallows the first 1/2ml dose, then go ahead and give her the second 1/2ml dose.

 

[Souffle]

Thank you. Her eye is much worse looking today. I'll get some antibiotic and put a compress on it a bit this morning.

 

[Michael Apple]

She might have unseen internal damage, time well tell. You can give her liquid amoxicillin 1/2ml and 1/2ml water mixed together. Give it orally once a day for 5 days. Dose her 1/2ml at a time orally so she wont aspirate. After she swallows the first 1/2ml dose, then go ahead and give her the second 1/2ml dose.

X2. Clavomox comes in an oral suspension liquid. It is amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium. Most veterinarians have it. It absorbs quickly and works within 3 days. I'd give 1/2 ml for 5 days. Then follow up with vitamins & probiotic powder in the water for 3 days. Souffle, the warm compress on the eye is a good idea. Some terramycin eye ointment or neo-poly-back will relieve the eye.

 

[Michael Apple]

Terramycin eye ointment is often sold at feed/livestock supply stores.

 

[Souffle]

Well I picked up what they had which is powder tetracycline. I don't dare use it as it doesn't seem appropriate for an eye infection...now that I see this latest post.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you post a picture of the eye? If you could get some amoxicillin or clavamox from your vet, it would be best. The Terramycin ointment is actually oxytetracycline, that is a type of tetracycline. If you can't get Terramycin ointment (and sometimes you need to ask for it in farm stores) you can also use most any antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.

 

[Souffle]

I'll put a compress on her eye again today. There's quite a bit of discharge. Plus I'll dab on some neopsporin and keep her separated from the other hens.

 

[Michael Apple]

I'll put a compress on her eye again today. There's quite a bit of discharge. Plus I'll dab on some neopsporin and keep her separated from the other hens.

Right. It is best to keep her separated from the others, in a warm comfortable place. Is the bird eating and drinking on her own. Stress weakens a bird's immune system, so it is important the bird remains hydrated and fed. Scrambled egg, moistened feed, and feeding small amounts of water with a syringe are a few things you can give if the bird isn't eating/drinking on her own. The problem with some antibiotics, like tetracycline you mentioned, is that any minerals like calcium should be withheld from diet since they block absorption. Vitamin C helps with absorption of tetracyclines. Chlortetracycline has 5x the absorption rate compared to other tetracyclines. Is the eye the only injury? Amoxicillin that was mentioned, or penicillin are much better antibiotics when it comes to wounds, injuries at risk of infection.

 

[Souffle]

Thank you for the info on antibiotics and which are best for wounds. As far as I know this is her only injury. She ate and drank some today so I think she's going to be okay. She is a huge ten pound hen which I think is working for her. Also the reason why the fox didn't just scoop her up and run off with her when he saw me bounding down from the deck. I'll keep at the neosporin and warm compresses and hope she makes it. I may try some arnica in her water, not the tetracycline though. Maybe a little garlic and some red wiggler worms too. No scrambled eggs, that's a revolting source of protein in my opinion. Mad cow anyone?
Merci for all of the help! Much appreciated!