chart available for medication dosages?

[talkinboutmygirls]

I am new to this site and new to chickens, but have fallen in love with my girls. I have free ranged a dozen pullets and 3 guineas all summer and just recently have acquired stray dog attacks.
I've lost 2 guineas and 2 of my beautiful girls. Who knew the devastation you could feel??!! I currently have them fenced in, but apparently now there is a stray dog that is charging into the fence causing them to freak and fly. He doesn't kill them, just chases and grabs.
I've avidly read everything here and a couple of other sites regarding wound management and this evening visited Tractor Supply for electolytes, antibiotics and wound care. As of 2 hours ago, I have 3 girls in my "ICU" - a Barred Rock and 2 RIR, bitten but bleeding has stopped, lots of feather loss, but they are standing, eating mashed egg yolks and some chick starter and drinking "Vitamin and Electrolyte" solution.
They are isolated in a separate cage to avoid others pecking their wounds, but still in henhouse with rest of 'family' - I hesitate to totally isolate them, they have been together since 1 day old chicks the middle of May. I read that they should be kept warm, but am not sure that I need to provide more heat in 95 degree weather...
Purchased Tetramycin but have no idea how to dose. I read in another injury post that someone on here has a chart of medications and the dosages broken down for poultry.
I sure could use it - and any other help you may to offer.
I was hoping to have beautiful fresh eggs around October but things aren't looking good.

I'm borrowing a shotgun tomorrow to take care of the main problem...

Thanks!!

 

[BlueMoon]

Oh wow, how awful...
I've found a bottle of rescue remedy and the polyvisol to be incredibly helpful. I think the most important part, or one of them, is to keep the critters warm, dry, comfortable. 95f is probably warm enough, but I've got my traumatized little hen on a low heat blanket. Also, keeping them fed and watered. I reckon they can't go for long without either.
best of luck

 

[ivan3]

A member was kind enough to post this one a while back:

http://ultimatefowl.atwiki.com/page/Poultry Disease

Keep the injured girls in a quiet area with low light (calms them down). I'd probably bring them in (heat stress/flies).

Good luck with the administering the lead suppositories as well...

 

[dlhunicorn]

Here is collected articles on avian wound management:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=practical&action=display&num=1158141893

The type of antibiotic suggested for wound management is (clav) amoxcillin if you can get this... IF the wound get infected then terramyacin will be insufficient to deal with it.
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/august/Cousquer/Avian-Wound-Assessment.html
excerpt summary on TREATMENT measures:
First aid
Traumatised birds often have multiple injuries and may be further compromised by dehydration, malnutrition and other problems, especially if there has been a delay (hours or days) between injury and presentation [1]. Fluid and nutritional therapy and treatment for shock are critical in the early management of all traumatised birds. Overzealous wound and fracture treatment before stabilisation of the bird may prove fatal [1]. Some first aid of the wound, however, will inevitably be required.

Cleaning - The wound should be cleaned quickly to remove as much contamination as possible,,,,,,,Sterile isotonic saline (0.9%) or a solution of 0.05% chlorhexidine may be used. Care should be taken not to wet the bird excessively as this is likely to increase the risks of hypothermia.

Analgesia and antibiotics - broad spectrum antibiotics can be provided in the first instance: clavulanic acid potentiated amoxycillin (150mg/kg orally or subcutaneously) will provide cover against most aerobes and anaerobes. Analgesia can be provided with NSAIDs (e.g. carprofen (Rimadyl)) 5mg/kg subcutaneously or intravenously. Local anaesthetics should not be used in birds due to the suggested sensitivity of birds to drugs of the procaine group "."

You need to flush the wounds daily with sterile saline (you can make this yourself by boiling 1/4 tsp of salt in a quart of water for five minutes >make fresh daily)
The best wound creme after the initial first few days of triple antibiotic creme) is GRANULEX V :
http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&pf_id=11806

 

[talkinboutmygirls]

Thanks for all the info!

I have been all over Dandelions and Dragonflies looking for help, but sometimes the wording was over my head. Thanks for the saline measurements! I had read "salty to taste" and wondered. I'm not looking forward to dousing them down with it - any suggestions as to how to do this with the least amount of trauma? I've also read not to soak them due to chilling them - quite unsure how to cleanse the wound without getting them totally wet. The bites seem to be on backs and sides.

I finally located Rescue Remedy last night so I will be picking that up today, along with the Polyvisol. I am trying to figure out how to house them indoors - the only cage I have is the one they are currently in and it is way too bulky to move back and forth from the house to the coop - thinking I might put them in the bathtub until I can do better - any suggestions there? I have a cat carrier but it is well used and not sure how clean that would be for injured critters. Probably not big enough for all 3 either.

Would a heating pad or their old chick heat lamp work better for keeping them warm? They really don't seem to be laying down as much as they are standing - I had thot I would set up the old lamp but maybe I should do the pad...or both?

I'm feeling kinda lost here.
And I am not quite getting the "good luck with the lead suppositories" comment!
Help!

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

Your right about chilling them even a healthy chicken after a bath needs to be dried or getting really wet, I use a heat cube or any space heater . A hair dryer will work but will probly stress them more,

 

[dlhunicorn]

The bathtub is always what I use (the higher humidity is also better for them) Get yourself a couple cardboard boxes and put a towel in there and set them in that after you have them in the warm water (put a towel on the bottom) blow dry them (the cardboard box will help keep the warmth in)... you dont need to do the bath every time but once to get off all the dirt would be a good idea (fill to just their tummy level and put a few drops of a puppy shampoo in the water and swish them around a bit in that and rinse off)...after you need to let the water out and then take the saline and FLUSH the wounds with that thoroughly (if a puncture you need to put it up to the hole and squirt in a copious amount). Dry and then put on the antibiotic (neosporin) or granulex.
line the tub with cardboard and paper towels and put a big lowsided cardboard box with papershavings (change each time) for the first couple days (then you can change over to shavings) for them to sleep in (they will all pile in there>I use the boxes that oranges and apples come in)... put a feeder and waterer in there and be sure to plug the drain hole so it wont get stopped up. If you need to use the tub just remove the box and cardboard lining and wash out with bleach before use and put the birds elsewhere until you are finished.
The birds will calm during the bath and as long as you take care when putting your hand near them (to pick up to apply saline or neo) to stay away from putting it immediately on their back instead approach them slowly and insert your hand under their abdomen and then if necessary sneak the other hand over their back if you need to) for flighty birds use a towel to wrap around them and hold enclosed in the towel while applying the creme or flushing with the saline.
Once you are finished and have them settled in you will find they will be more calm and comfortable if you can drape a towel or sheet over the "top"/rim of the tub to make a kind of "roof" over their nesting box as they will feel much more safe with that above them... if someone needs to come in and use the bathroom it will not scare them so much.