dog attack, large wound

[freerange freaks]

I don't know what to do...

Three year old EE hen with a large wound on her back ( wound is one inch in diameter at the base of her tail, the skin in pulled back and flesh has been exposed. There is also a few small punctures along the back). She is in a rubbermaid container (with the lid off). There is a heating pad on under a towel and I put a blanket on top of her.

This happened sometime this afternoon. My husband found her at 6pm and I rushed home from work right away. I cleaned the wound gently and applied bactine antiseptic and packed with furacin and gauze. She has runny poop. She is not eating (I cooked her some oatmeal) or drinking. She is just sitting (like she'd sit on a nest) with her eyes closed. She was very alert when I was checking her over but now she seems uncharacteristically calm. How can I get her better? How can I get fluids into her? How long can she go with out water or food? Should I just leave her in a dark place for tonight and then try to make her drink in the morning?

Also, when I was cleaning her up I found a cluster of small white insect eggs. They where long and thin. I have never seen any bugs on my hens before and I handle them all the time. What could those eggs be from? They were actually right on the wound itself. I only found one cluster, could there be more?

I feel so terrible about this. She is my pet and I love her.

Jenn

 

[rooster-red]

The eggs are either lice or mites, you'll have to get her better before you can treat her for them.

DE works well to get rid of them.

 

[SpottedCrow]

If it's warm where you are, they could have been fly eggs...as long as you got them all off, that shouldn't be a problem for her.
Did you flush out the wound?
You can use saline solution or hydrogen peroxide.
To get her to eat and drink you may have to spoon feed her. Put the spoonful of food right into the tip of her beak and she should try and get it off so that will get some into her.
You can also put a baby aspirin in her water for the pain. She's probably in shock too, so being warm and quiet is a great help.
Now, here's the hard part?
Do you know the dog? Did you take pictures of her wound?
Did you call animal control?
If you know whose dog it is and you have a leash law, the owners are liable for any damage that their dog has caused. If it was running loose, animal control can fine the owners.
If it's a stray then they can trap it or you can just SSS.
Here's hoping your baby will be okay.

 

[arlee453]

They were actually right on the wound itself. I only found one cluster, could there be more?

If on the wound, they may be fly eggs of some type. Definately remove them and keep an eye out for maggots in the wound.

Susan​

 

[freerange freaks]

Do you really think they could have been fly eggs? They sure are quick. I have both saline and peroxide. I didn't use either because I was afraid of getting her wet. Should I flush the wound now? How often should I change the dressing?

Here's the really hard part... the dog was my own family dog. We have sled dogs and they are tied and fenced and the chicks have a fenced yard. I never imagined this would happen. I feel sick to my stomach because I know it is instinct in the dog and I can only be mad at myself. I didn't do my part in keeping my girl safe. I just don't think things will ever be the same for me and the dogs.

I can't thank you enough for responding so quickly.

Jenn.

 

[freerange freaks]

I've just been looking at different types of insect eggs. They definately were fly eggs. I think I will flush the entire area in a peroxide solution just to be sure there are no more eggs. That's all she needs complicating her recovery!

Jenn.

 

[arlee453]

Flies can be VERY quick to invade an open wound.

I had a very geriatric dog one time that got a cut at the base of his tail and he had fly eggs and it had only been a couple hours at the most.

Sounds like you are doing all you can for her - hope she makes a quick recovery!

 

[Chatychick]

You can try to dribble water on her beak with your fingers, that is what I have done when they arent drinking and place the food really close...she is in shock and may still not make it. Shock will kill them faster than the wouonds sometimes. Yep those were fly eggs and they are fast too . As long as you got them off the wound you still need to watch for more. Spray around her with fly spray as they will come back. They can smell really well and love open sores and wounds. Just keep her where she will fell clam and not in danger. Hopefully she will be fine. Also I would add some antibiotic to her water or food to ward off infection.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Darn, it's worse when it's your dog...

Now that you know that the dogs can get ahold of your birds, you need to reinforce their yards...
Sucks to learn things this way...

 

[freerange freaks]

She made it through the night. She ate some oatmeal out of my hand this morning and I dripped water onto her beak and she had no choice but to drink it. She loves the heating pad and seems quite comfortable on it. I did a more thorough cleaning late last night before going to bed with diluted peroxide. I also flushed things out first thing this morning and applied clean bandages with furacin. I will keep her in the house until things are completly healed because of those flies. She also had a poop this morning and it looked normal except for the smell (then again, chicken poop in one's bedroom just might seem stinkier than outside).

I keep batril and amoxil at home for the dogs. What are the doses for chickens? She is between four and five pounds, I will get an accurate weight before administering any drugs.

As for keeping the chicks safer. My husband and I are putting two snaps on each chain. And I purchased a solar powered electric fence. Do you think it is safe for the girls to string electric fence on the outside of thier run to repel attackers?

One more question... should I leave the lights on for her through the day or should I keep her in the dark 24/7 ?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
Jenn.