Chicken neck attack!! Help!

[casportpony]

I had some Silkies a long tie ago that a dog got to and ate the top of the back, exposing organs inside. Just as bad as you have here. I bandaged it up with gauze which i had put neosporin on the gauze then used the sticky wrap for pets to wrap it to keep it in place. I keep it clean, etc...and I was amazed that the bird ended up completely fine!

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Kre8it]

View attachment 1136180 View attachment 1136182 One of my other concerns is if she gets Pneumonia. She was out alllllll last night in the cold and rain. it was in the 50's last night and she was completely soaked to the bone this morning. She's a tough hen though to survive the night with that laceration and being out in the elements. I'm hoping she has the strength to pull through. She is already eating again which is a good sign.

Beng out in the cold with that wound probably kept her from bleeding out. Just get her near a heating lamp.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Okay, so, I should throughly clean the area and assess if the darker area can be lifted and possibly cut away to pink(er?) tissue?

Also, should I be covering the wound all day, every day for X amount of days? Cover the whole wound or just the dark area?

I have been letting it air out and in all honestly, it looks excellent in color and appearance except for the one dark spot. The other areas look nice and peach colored like regular chicken skin minus the blue kote staining. :/

Clean it with saline---try to flush all the "crumbs." It looks like dried blood to me. You might have more luck with the cleaning if you wet a piece of gauze with saline and let it sit on the area for about a half hour or so before flushing and wiping as that will soften and loosen bloody bits.
If you don't have a clear view of healthier looking tissue than I would leave the darker spot. I might chance it myself but would hate to give you internet advice that might leave you with a bigger issue. Hard to tell whether it is simply poor perfusion that might get better as she heals. Pack the cleaned wound with a piece of gauze (try to get non-woven gauze if possible)that has been soaked with saline and squeezed out a little---wet but not dripping. Don't put wet gauze over the whole area, just into the open area. Stuff it in that open spot---gently, but into as much open area as you can. Not jammed tight but not fluffy either. You can top it with a dry gauze pad and put a cute little shirt on Gretchen like you've been doing.
If you can get "plain packing gauze" in the 1/4" size that would be great. It is a continuous length of gauze that can be packed into a wound and cut when you're done packing. Easy to push into crevices with forceps or a tweezer. It comes in a plastic jar.
Change at least twice a day, more often if you see drainage coming from the wound. Wet the gauze thoroughly before removing---if it sticks, wet it again and wait. Pulling off a stuck bandage will damage delicate new tissue. Assess the area with each dressing change for color, warmth, and drainage.
Keep up the wonderful work and give Gretchen (and yourself!) a hug from me!

 

[twilightgecko]

rooting for Gretchen.. you both are troopers. hugs

 

[WVduckchick]

Beng out in the cold with that wound probably kept her from bleeding out. Just get her near a heating lamp.

I understand you are new, so i mean no offense, but that comment was a few days ago (notice the date/time at the top of each post) Your help is certainly appreciated, but on long threads like this, it's usually good to read ahead and see what happened already, or what others may have suggested. Just a tip for newbies

Welcome aboard!

 

[andreanar]

Wow, just read all this! Another nurse here, and great advice has been given and followed. Y'all rock! Pulling for Gretchen. You have done a great job, very brave!

 

[guineapeeps]

Okay, so, I should throughly clean the area and assess if the darker area can be lifted and possibly cut away to pink(er?) tissue?

Also, should I be covering the wound all day, every day for X amount of days? Cover the whole wound or just the dark area?

I have been letting it air out and in all honestly, it looks excellent in color and appearance except for the one dark spot. The other areas look nice and peach colored like regular chicken skin minus the blue kote staining. :/

I am a nurse too. Just shared this thread with my hubbie who's an ER doc. We are completely blown away by you all! So much compassion and care, not to mention the incredible advise and info given on this thread!

Anabariful, you've done an absolutely amazing job and should be giving yourself a huge pat on the back!
Also, Everyone's advise and help on here is truly awesome! It's so nice to see people helping each other out.....very inspiring!

 

[Anabariful]

Clean it with saline---try to flush all the "crumbs." It looks like dried blood to me. You might have more luck with the cleaning if you wet a piece of gauze with saline and let it sit on the area for about a half hour or so before flushing and wiping as that will soften and loosen bloody bits.
If you don't have a clear view of healthier looking tissue than I would leave the darker spot. I might chance it myself but would hate to give you internet advice that might leave you with a bigger issue. Hard to tell whether it is simply poor perfusion that might get better as she heals. Pack the cleaned wound with a piece of gauze (try to get non-woven gauze if possible)that has been soaked with saline and squeezed out a little---wet but not dripping. Don't put wet gauze over the whole area, just into the open area. Stuff it in that open spot---gently, but into as much open area as you can. Not jammed tight but not fluffy either. You can top it with a dry gauze pad and put a cute little shirt on Gretchen like you've been doing.
If you can get "plain packing gauze" in the 1/4" size that would be great. It is a continuous length of gauze that can be packed into a wound and cut when you're done packing. Easy to push into crevices with forceps or a tweezer. It comes in a plastic jar.
Change at least twice a day, more often if you see drainage coming from the wound. Wet the gauze thoroughly before removing---if it sticks, wet it again and wait. Pulling off a stuck bandage will damage delicate new tissue. Assess the area with each dressing change for color, warmth, and drainage.
Keep up the wonderful work and give Gretchen (and yourself!) a hug from me!

Thank you for the detailed responses! Much appreciated even though I know they're a pain! <3

 

[Anabariful]

rooting for Gretchen.. you both are troopers. hugs

Thank you!

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Thank you for the detailed responses! Much appreciated even though I know they're a pain! <3

STOP---they are NOT a "pain"!
If we didn't want to be here all we would have to do is **CLICK** and we would be gone.
The internet is like that, you know.
Everyone here is pulling for Gretchen. Our hearts go out to you and your girl.