Dog attack - from sweet chicken to super chicken - need advice

[SweetChicken]

Sweet chicken was viciously attacked 2 days ago. A large lab/chow looking dog ripped into her cage, drug her 60 feet into the street and attacked her. By some miracle, she got away and found a safe haven 100 feet away under a car (evidently too low to the ground for the dog to fit under). Combine that with the fact that my neighbor saw the dog with feathers covering its face and neck and chased the dog away with a hammer in hand.

What a scene!

To the point. She came out from under the car when I arrived home. She hobbled out looking very scared and beaten. She had a hole (big dog tooth size) in her back, behind her wing. It has now shut with twice a day application of antibiotic cream. I put her in a cat cage in my basement and have kept a light for warmth, food, water, treats, etc. in close reach.

Today I took her outside to see if she would walk, because she has had not interest in movement for the past 2 days. She is hobbling. Her right leg is injured and I can't tell where. The foot looks ok, and nothing is visibly broken. But she holds the foot up, then limps on it to move forward. I almost think the injury is up toward her hip area (or whatever you call it in chicken anatomy). She tried to jump up on a ladder that leads to her roost to no avail. She fell after 2 attempts, so I put her back into the cage to keep her still in hopes of a better chance at healing.

Anyone know how I can do a physical check to find out where/what her pain is? What reaction should I get? what would a break or out of socket injury feel like.

I'm 9 months in to urban farming. Any advice will help Sweet Chicken!

 

[lengel]

I can't help you on your question but I feel for your chicken. Our surviving chicken from a dog attack didn't move for four days and is now fine. Yours might need to be confined for longer so that she can heal.

 

[ChickNLittle]

You can check to make sure all her toes are straight and intact too. IMO I would run my fingers gently from top of the hip to end of the ankle. I know this sounds stupid, but if you eat chicken and you've ever cut it up, you can probably figure out if a bone is out of place. I know sometimes I have to break the bones of the chicken I'm getting ready to cook, so you may be able to tell.

Good luck! And I would definitely keep those chickens away from that dog. Once they do it, they usually repeat it.

 

[BeckyLa]

I am so glad she survived!! So many don't...

I think it would be a good idea to dissolve an aspirin in her water. I think that one plain aspirin dissolved in a gallon of water is the right dosage. Anyway, this will help her with the pain as she is healing.

 

[Beekissed]

I would also check the area around the puncture wound. If it is "sealed up" it may have become infected and be holding a pocket of infection which is pretty common with puncture wounds, especially from a dog's mouth. If the area is soft, edematous, reddened, you may want to open that wound, if possible, and cleanse with peroxide/water solution and apply neosporin with Q-tip. This could cause the ongoing pain she is having. I would also confine her for awhile, as mentioned, maybe a dimly lit, quiet place?

 

[SweetChicken]

Thank you all for your concern and quick response.

With regard to the puncture wound. I flushed it with peroxide on shortly after the incident. And that night began the neosporin treatment. Since then, it closed up and now looks white and fleshy (not a lot of redness around....more light pink). Does the white color indicate anything?

Regarding light: I read to keep them warm, hence the heat lamp. But, should I keep her covered all the time to block out most of the light?

Thanks again!

 

[Cetawin]

I would set it up with a red heat lamp and difused light so she rests.

Thank goodness she survived. And hopefully the owner of the four legged beast will deal with that so that it does not happen again. I mean... on your property, breaking into her cage, and carrying her...no way that dog needs some disciplining and a stout chain attached to a stout tree to keep it where it belongs...in its yard.

Oh irresponsible pet owners tick me off!

 

[jjthink]

So sorry about your poor hen. If I had a nickel for every dog-attacked-chicken story, I could save every square inch of rainforest left on this earth, or open umpteen no kill shelters.

As to the aspirin dosage usually recommended on BYC, it's 5 regular (325 mg) aspirin (NO SUBSTITUTES) crushed per gallon of water. (or 1 and 1/4 aspirin per quart). Or 1 baby aspirin (81 mg) per cup of water - just be sure you're using pure aspirin and nothing else. And don't mix anything else in the water at the same time without first checking to see if okay.

Keeping her hydrated is important. If she likes plain yogurt, maybe with bits of fresh fruit in it, this can't hurt and may lift her spirits as she is likely stressed and hurting. Sunflower seeds can make chickens very happy too. None of this is to disregard her regular food, the main dish. If she isn't that interested in food right away, that's not as important as hydration. Probably once her pain is alleviated and her stress level is reduced, she will eat.

Depending upon the depth of the puncture wound, and the level of infection, your hen, may need more than topical neosporin.

JJ

 

[SpottedCrow]

More well wishes for your Sweetie...

If no bones feel out of place, it may be something in the soft tissue, like a tear or a sprain, which means it will just take time for her to heal...
Did you check near her leg to see if there might be another wound?

 

[SweetChicken]

Sweet Chicken died today. She suffered for one full week after her dog attack. She was such a super chicken! We will miss her dearly!

The dog attack did too much internal damage, I suppose.

All I know is that it is a sad, sad day.