Chicken won't stop itching her face. Can I give her Benadryl?

[Olivia or Oliver]

I rescued a feral chick about a week ago. She was diagnosed with Avian Pox and secondary eye infections when we took her to the vet. For the pox there seems to be no real treatment but for the eye infections we've received antibiotic eye drops. She has pustules all over her face but the vet said that she believes the chick will make it, so we're hopeful.

The problem is that she won't stop scratching the pox lesions. It seems like it is very very itchy for her. If I leave her alone she will scratch it with her feet at least 5-6 times per minute. She will actually scratch until she bleeds. As a result the facial swelling has been getting worse by day, and now both her eyes are completely swollen shut. We wrapped her in socks to prevent her from scratching which seemed to work, but then she started wheezing so we stopped doing that.

We've been literally holding her in our hands to stop her, but then she chirps really loudly as if to say, "I'M ITCHY! ITCHYYY!". If we put her down then she goes right back to scratching her face.

So my question is... Can I give her Benadryl or any other antihistamine to help her? Is there anything else I can give for her swelling as well?

 

[azygous]

I doubt the permitted dose of Benedryl would do the chick much good for pox. Scratching can also mean pain, not just itching. Cortisone cream would reduce the swelling and soothe the pain.

 

[Olivia or Oliver]

I doubt the permitted dose of Benedryl would do the chick much good for pox. Scratching can also mean pain, not just itching. Cortisone cream would reduce the swelling and soothe the pain.

Oh man. Can Cortisone cream go on somewhat open wounds? I ask this because I have really sensitive skin and remember putting hydrocortisone cream on a bug bite in the past, and it hurt like a $&%! that I had to wash it off right away, and even after that it still hurt. Glad to know that is an option though. Maybe I will try a small patch on her face and see how she responds. Thanks so much.

 

[azygous]

It should not be applied to any spots that are open, oozing sores. It's just for swollen areas of skin. If there are too many open sores, then it's not a good idea to use it. You can use witch hazel on the open sores to soothe them.

 

[Olivia or Oliver]

Update for anyone else having a similar issue with their chicken: we put this on her face and her scratching has gone down dramatically (***this is not regular Neosporin!).