Baby chick attacked by dog

[Spekai]

Hello,
We recently got three baby chicks, all just a couple days old. My little brother let them out and our chihuahua/yorkie mutt (around 9 pounds) pounced and possibly bit one of the chicks. It has been around a day and she is still alive. We make sure she is drinking and she seems to be acting normal, except for the fact that it looks like she is struggling to breathe. She looks up and breathes heavily with her mouth open. Could the dog have crushed something or damaged an organ? I am very worried, I am scared she won't make it until the morning. Please help! Thank you.

 

[nightowl223]

Oh, dear! Sadly, yes. That kind of thing does lead me to suspect there is some internal bleeding going on, pressing against her lungs. As tiny as she is, I would hate to give advice about doing a chest tube! I'm so sorry. I will tag several others that are good at answering questions. Perhaps they will have some ideas to help.

Other than tagging them, all I can suggest is to keep her comfortable and make sure she can get to feed and water. If she is sluggish, watch to make sure a) that she isn't getting run over by the rest, and b) make sure she isn't directly unde the heat lamp so she doesn't get overheated. Set a thermometer next to her and see what temp it reads. You don't want it over 35C or 95F, and not under 29.4C or 85F

Oh the bright side, they are *usually* fairly hardy, and can sometimes handle things we think they could never survive.

@casportpony
@azygous
@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@rebrascora
@sylviethecochin
@sourland
@chickens really
@micstrachan
(Sorry for tagging so many of you, but I have no clue what to tell this person other than what I already told her - I'm hoping you guys can do better!)

 

[Spekai]

Oh, dear! Sadly, yes. That kind of thing does lead me to suspect there is some internal bleeding going on, pressing against her lungs. As tiny as she is, I would hate to give advice about doing a chest tube! I'm so sorry. I will tag several others that are good at answering questions. Perhaps they will have some ideas to help.

Other than tagging them, all I can suggest is to keep her comfortable and make sure she can get to feed and water. If she is sluggish, watch to make sure a) that she isn't getting run over by the rest, and b) make sure she isn't directly under the heat lamp so she doesn't get overheated. Set a thermometer next to her and see what temp it reads. You don't want it over 35C or 95F, and not under 29.4C or 85F

Oh the bright side, they are *usually* fairly hardy, and can sometimes handle things we think they could never survive.

@casportpony
@azygous
@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@rebrascora
@sylviethecochin
@sourland
@chickens really
@micstrachan
(Sorry for tagging so many of you, but I have no clue what to tell this person other than
what I already told her - I'm hoping you guys can do better!)

Thank you! I do not have a thermometer but made sure she can move into a better area if she gets to hot or cold. She is sleeping now but is still looking up and breathing weirdly. She is a tough little thing, I'm sure she can get through this :').

 

[nightowl223]

Thank you! I do not have a thermometer but made sure she can move into a better area if she gets to hot or cold. She is sleeping now but is still looking up and breathing weirdly. She is a tough little thing, I'm sure she can get through this :').

I will sure keep my fingers crossed! I hope she is just in a bit of shock and doesn't have any internal bleeding. I wish you the best of luck! Keep us updated on her!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello,
We recently got three baby chicks, all just a couple days old. My little brother let them out and our chihuahua/yorkie mutt (around 9 pounds) pounced and possibly bit one of the chicks. It has been around a day and she is still alive. We make sure she is drinking and she seems to be acting normal, except for the fact that it looks like she is struggling to breathe. She looks up and breathes heavily with her mouth open. Could the dog have crushed something or damaged an organ? I am very worried, I am scared she won't make it until the morning. Please help! Thank you.

It is possible that the attack has crushed some internal organs. If this is so then there is nothing you can do about it. I'm sorry, it's just the way it is.
If the chick is struggling to breath the kindest thing to do is put it out of its misery rather than try to keep it alive.

 

[Eggcessive]

Feel her neck, back, and sides for any balloon-like area that has air under the skin. It is possible to have a leaking air sac under the skin from being bumped or injured. Those can cause trouble breathing, and can be treated by needling the skin to get the air out. If you don’t find air under the skin, then I would suspect internal injuries. Try getting it to drink some fluids or a little chicken feed mixed with warm water to make it mushy. Small dogs are dangerous around chicks. Sorry about your chick.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your chick?

 

[Spekai]

How is your chick?

She is still alive and acting like the other chicks! Still breathing strangely though. I guess we'll just have to hope that she can get through this!

Feel her neck, back, and sides for any balloon-like area that has air under the skin. It is possible to have a leaking air sac under the skin from being bumped or injured. Those can cause trouble breathing, and can be treated by needling the skin to get the air out. If you don’t find air under the skin, then I would suspect internal injuries. Try getting it to drink some fluids or a little chicken feed mixed with warm water to make it mushy. Small dogs are dangerous around chicks. Sorry about your chick.

I didn't feel any balloon type air bubbles. I am now just making sure no one is stepping on her and she is drinking and eating. I really do hope she will be ok, I am hoping she is just in shock and it will pass,

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Probably bruised or broken ribs......

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is still alive and acting like the other chicks! Still breathing strangely though. I guess we'll just have to hope that she can get through this!



I didn't feel any balloon type air bubbles. I am now just making sure no one is stepping on her and she is drinking and eating. I really do hope she will be ok, I am hoping she is just in shock and it will pass,

Poor little thing!
It's good that she's eating/drinking. Let's hope she's just badly bruised/sore and there's no long term damage.