Chicken Mauled by my dog...help.

[GreenForest81]

My 2 month old Production Red hen was mauled by my dog about an hour ago. The right eye is gone/bleeding and there is a laceration to the right neck area.

I have my hen in isolation and cleaned with wound with water and peroxide. Have also provided cool water and food within short reach. But she isn't touching it.

The chicken seems to be in shock. Won't eat or drink and actually lets me near it without too much fuss. I don't have balm but I do have Neosporin. Should I use this?
These are my first chickens. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GreenForest81]

Anyone out there?

 

[thechickenchick]

I am sorry that I don't know enough to help you. I too am a newbie to chickens! I hope someone can help soon. Hang in there and good luck!

 

[Guitartists]

I don't think you're supposed to use peroxide! Hang in there.... there are knowledgable folk here. Try some Neosporin on the neck wound. I don't know what to say about the eye....

try these posts....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=24127

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=49636

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=53714

 

[dlhunicorn]

First off, re the eye injury, I just want to say I really feel it better if a vet pack that for you and give you instr on how to treat and meds. IF you truly cannot get to a vet , then here are my thoughts based on the wound management articles I have read (links at bottom of post)

FIRST:
Your bird is in shock and needs electrolytes...she may find it difficult to drink on her own so you will need to regularly dribble the rehydrating electrolyte solution along her beak to encourage her to drink (do nOT squirt in beak as it will get into her lungs)... your feed store should have this (DURVET electrolytes/vitamin mix) here is the dosage for the durvet electr/vit:
http://p098.ezboard.com/fbackyardchickensfrm30.showMessage?topicID=113.topic
If you have the 4 oz. packet of (Durvet) Vitamins and Electrolytes then you would mix ½ teaspoon into 1 gallon of water.

If you have the 8 oz. packet of (Durvet) Vitamins and Electrolytes then you would mix ¾ teaspoon into 1 gallon of water "
You need to make FRESH daily

if you do not have this (DURVET) in your house and cannot get to the feed store to get it today,as a stop-gap solution you can give some diluted childrens pedialyte... if you do not have that and cannot get to the feed store today for the electrolytes then here is an emergency electrolyte solution (the first is better to use than the second):
From "Practical Wildlife Care" by Les Stocker:
It is possible to mix your own equivalent oral rehydrating salts by using the following ingredients:

7g sodium chloride (NaCl, common salt)
5g sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
3g potassium chloride ( >Salt substitutes contain mostly potassium chloride>commonly called "Muriate of Potash")
40g glucose (a common source is corn syrup)
2 litres water
The solution must be mixed thoroughly and discarded after 24 hours.

or>>> if you do not have the ingredients for the above:
NOTE FROM DL: (emergency electrolyte solution WHO):
1 cup of water
2 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda

Make sure the neosporin you have does not have the pain relief med in it.

NEXT:
Make up some sterile saline... >you can do this by boiling 1/2 tsp salt in one half gallon of water for seven minutes. Cool to room temp . Put in a bottle (also sterile) of some sort in order to SQUIRT/FLUSH it into the eye cavity...it is important to flush out any and all loose debris! Fan with something to air dry then gently pack with neosprin packed gauze ... repeat twice daily If the eye is totally gone and only the cavity remaining (if you do not have the neosporin triple antibiotic creme (or only the one with the pain med which is nOT to be used) then you can use gauze soaked in honey) until you can get some GRANULEX V > here is a link to show the product which you can get usually in the horse section of your feed store or order from this link:
http://www.bullwrinkle.com/ShoppingPages/granulex.htm

>>>flush with saline and use neosporin and granulex V for the neck wound also.

It would be a good idea to try and find some AMOXCILLIN as recommended in the avian wound management article below:
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/august/Cousquer/Avian-Wound-Assessment.html
"...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. ..."

more basics on wound management here:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=practical&action=display&num=1158141893

 

[arlee453]

She probably is in shock.

Keep her warm and quiet - a darkened room may help to keep her settled. Clean the wound (sounds like you've already done this)

You might also want to get a broad spectrum antibiotic for her as well. Animal bites are notorious for getting infected.

I'll wait until others chime in here...

Good luck! Hope she makes a full recovery for you.

 

[GreenForest81]

Thank you, I'm heading to the feed store now. I appreciate your help.

 

[MrsClucky]

Just wondering how your chicken is doing? Hope she's improving!

I saw your post when I went looking for advice for the same issue this morning. I was actually attempting to introduce my dog (on a leash) to the chicks and he grabbed at one, getting a mouthful of feathers and a strip of skin off her side. We're going to the vet at 4:00 today. I'll post any new advice/information he offers about chicken wounds.

Good luck with your chick. I had a one-eyed opossum for a few years and he was a delightful little fellow. Got around just fine.

 

[rooster0209]

I hope all turns out well for your chicken. I dont have any advice on the wounds, other than what you have already done.

Break your dog of this behavior..now..please. It can be done. This is how I broke my dog of chasing guineas.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=58016&p=2

 

[trishiadavis]

Our puppy recently decided to play with a young gold laced wyandotte. My regular vet doesn't do chickens so I took Coco to a local vet known as Dr. Dan the chicken man. He said that chicken skin wounds actually heal quite well and that her back and neck injuries were totally treatable. I don't know about your chicks eye but here's what we did for the back and neck:
1)Clean with betadine solution
2)place nonstick bandage pad on open wounds
3)wrap liberally with rolled gauze in a figure eight pattern under the wings and around the chest. Dr. Dan stressed that she needed lots of padding so she had room for breathing expansion.
4) next use some of that bandage wrap that sticks to itself in the same figure 8.
5) change bandages every other day until wounds have grown a sugared over scab.
6) also Metacam .4ml once daily for pain and Clavimox .3 ml twice a day for 10 days


it has been about 3 weeks and our chicken is healing nicely. It was an expensive trip but the guilt was weighing heavily on me. Dr. Dan also said that chicken skin gets really green while they heal so don't be alarmed.

good luck,trish