Cockarel with open side wound

[lmadeline146]

I found one of my young cockerels with a 1 inch wide wound in his side today. I don’t know how long it’s been there or what caused it. I didn’t have my phone at the time to get a picture but I’m pretty sure it went down to the meat. Is it too late if I already poured hydrogen peroxide and dressed it with Neosporin? I don’t think it was infected. No pus but it was oozing some type of clear fluid.

How should I continue to treat it? It’s behind his wing on his side close to his leg and is the only area he’s missing feathers.

 

[lmadeline146]

These are two pictures I got. The blue and white stuff is Neosporin and Blue kote

 

[Krazikatlady64]

@Eggcessive
@azygous
I don't know about the deep wound, but maybe someone else can assist you.

 

[azygous]

It looks like the wound is already granulating. That means new tissue is growing inward toward the center of the wound from the edges.

How is his behavior? Does he behave normally? Or is he lethargic and acting sick?

You should follow this wound care protocol including treating for shock even though he may have been hurt days ago.


1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix one teaspoon of sugar into one cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak. Dip the beak to show the patient it’s sweet.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the ph balance of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound. Scrub away all blackened or dead tissue.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling and it’s still pink and warm to the touch, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You may want to try to obtain some amoxicillin from your vet to treat the bacteria that may have been left behind in the puncture wound.

4. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, triple antibiotic ointment without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place. Manuka honey is also a good wound treatment for a large wound and will keep it moist.

5. Gently scrub the wound every day with a soft wash cloth following the above steps. This will get rid of any non-viable skin cells that will attract and support bacteria. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

 

[Susan Skylark]

If it’s oozing serous fluid (clear liquid) suturing is an option, article here, whether fresh or over a granulation bed (pink lumpy looking stuff inside wound). Muscle is red initially but turns dark red/black as it ages/dies back. Fat is white and squishy bone is white and hard.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It looks like the wound is already granulating. That means new tissue is growing inward toward the center of the wound from the edges.

How is his behavior? Does he behave normally? Or is he lethargic and acting sick?

You should follow this wound care protocol including treating for shock even though he may have been hurt days ago.


1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix one teaspoon of sugar into one cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak. Dip the beak to show the patient it’s sweet.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the ph balance of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound. Scrub away all blackened or dead tissue.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling and it’s still pink and warm to the touch, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You may want to try to obtain some amoxicillin from your vet to treat the bacteria that may have been left behind in the puncture wound.

4. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, triple antibiotic ointment without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place. Manuka honey is also a good wound treatment for a large wound and will keep it moist.

5. Gently scrub the wound every day with a soft wash cloth following the above steps. This will get rid of any non-viable skin cells that will attract and support bacteria. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

Article! Article!

 

[lmadeline146]

It looks like the wound is already granulating. That means new tissue is growing inward toward the center of the wound from the edges.

How is his behavior? Does he behave normally? Or is he lethargic and acting sick?

You should follow this wound care protocol including treating for shock even though he may have been hurt days ago.


1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix one teaspoon of sugar into one cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak. Dip the beak to show the patient it’s sweet.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the ph balance of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound. Scrub away all blackened or dead tissue.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling and it’s still pink and warm to the touch, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You may want to try to obtain some amoxicillin from your vet to treat the bacteria that may have been left behind in the puncture wound.

4. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, triple antibiotic ointment without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place. Manuka honey is also a good wound treatment for a large wound and will keep it moist.

5. Gently scrub the wound every day with a soft wash cloth following the above steps. This will get rid of any non-viable skin cells that will attract and support bacteria. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

Thank you for the help. He’s been acting fine and is still eating and drinking.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have another rooster with spurs or some sharp fencing material, it could happen again. Sharp spurs can be trimmed slightly and dulled with a file.

 

[lmadeline146]

If you have another rooster with spurs or some sharp fencing material, it could happen again. Sharp spurs can be trimmed slightly and dulled with a file.

I do have a 2 y/o rooster along with a few cockarels but we were supposed to get rid of them this weekend but had to cancel. I’m trying to find them all homes quickly so this won’t happen again.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can separate them from the flock in a pen or crates with food and water, that would be good.