Dog attack

[kbev]

One of my hens was attacked by my pup yesterday. My wife quickly intervened but he got a good chunk of feathers from her rear side. We separated her from the other girls keeping her inside in a dog crate. We cleaned her wound, put poultry aid on it (TSC recommended). She is eating normal-ish and drinking (added hydrohen to her water). Shes acting normal-ish considering everything. We have not started her on antibiotics yet, not sure if we should since she's not really showing any signs of infection yet. One thing we noticed is she is packing off her feather around the area of the wound, is this normal?

I just hope we're doing right by her. Open to any suggestions.

Picture attached of her injury.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry about your hen.

It might be good to start from square one, and trim all the feathers around the wound (3cm circumferential zone), then try to flush any debris out of the wound, using some saline, in case you haven't already. Once you have a clean wound bed, you can apply an antibacterial ointment or cream, like Neosporin, Silver sulfadiazine cream, or Preparation H which increases the respiratory content in the epithelium thus promoting fibroblasts growth.

I prefer ointments over sprays as they tend to keep the wound moist longer and prevent drying out which is vital to keeping the wound healthy. I would not continually use an antiseptic on the wound, as long-term, it can have damaging effects to the healthy flora on the wound (Firbrolasts, WBC's, Macrophages), especially near the debridement stage.

Keep her in a stressful free, warm area, away from flies. Since it is a bite wound, there is a decent chance the wound may get infected, so you may consider using a broad-spectrum antibiotic. I would avoid Peniccilin since so many bacteria have become resistant to it. That said, I would lean more towards Enrofloxacin, or Cephalexin, which you can buy here.

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
https://fishmoxfishflex.com/products/fish-flex-cephalexin-keflex-250-mg-capsules-100-count#:~:text=Fish Flex Cephalexin 250 mg,associated with ornamental fish diseases.

 

[azygous]

Terrific advice from a lot of caring folks. I also highly recommend an antibiotic immediately for a dog bite. Infection can kill in as little as 24 hours from bacteria injected into tissue in this manner. (Experience talking.) Fish mox is an excellent antibiotic. I prefer it over penicillin unless penicillin is all you can get.

 

[Chicalina]

dog bites can introduce all sorts of nasties into wounds. I would give antibiotics asap.
Plus some baby aspirin for the pain.

is that white gunk some cream you put on?

some wounds heal better wet and some are better scabbing over and kept dry. You say you cleaned it first?

I would be inclined to clean it again with iodine or an antiseptic solution and trim any feathers so it heals clean of feathery bits sticking into it. And leave it open to dry. Keep her separated. If/when you put her back, then blukote it so the chickens are deterred from pecking it.

Antibiotics though, asap.

Keep her warm and quiet and calm. Feed a multivit and whatever food she will take. She will be in shock at first.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Amoxicillin is a good broad spectrum antibiotic. Tagging some folks for further advice. I usually try to avoid using antibiotics unless it becomes necessary. This may be an instance where it's necessary at the beginning of treatment versus waiting to see how she does with basic external wound care. I certainly don't want to discredit others advice because we all want the best outcome for your girl. We all do things differently, and that's OK, as long as you're getting accurate advice that will help improve your hens health and well-being. Definitely clip those feathers back from around the wounded area
@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

 

[Chicalina]

Amoxicillin is a good broad spectrum antibiotic. Tagging some folks for further advice. I usually try to avoid using antibiotics unless it becomes necessary. This may be an instance where it's necessary at the beginning of treatment versus waiting to see how she does with basic external wound care. I certainly don't want to discredit others advice because we all want the best outcome for your girl. We all do things differently, and that's OK, as long as you're getting accurate advice that will help improve your hens health and well-being. Definitely clip those feathers back from around the wounded area
@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

I agree with you generally, but in this instance I am echoing the advice given by the hospital to my husband when he got bitten by a dog. Any animal bite (foxes especially) is laden with bacteria, and the problem with chickens is that you often don't know how serious or deep the wound is at first because they mask it. Then, without antibiotics, they go downhill fast into sepsis a week after the injury as the infection has had time to take hold, and they've hidden how sick they are. So getting antibiotics into them early on will save their lives.

If it was an injury from a bit of broken fence, or a fall, or from pecking then I wouldn't necessarily advise antibiotics unless the wound got visibly infected. Bites are different ime.

Those you've tagged will hopefully be along soon and can advise on which brand, dosage etc. (or may disagree with me!)

 

[lyleg5895]

This might sound odd but honey makes a very good wound ointment. It has natural antibacterial properties but doesn't have as big an impact on overall flora of the bird. Bacteria simply doesn't grow in it so it will keep the wound from drying and keep bacteria out. Sounds like you're through the worst part but this might help in the future if this happens again. Our pup has attacked more than a few birds in the past so I feel your pain.

 

[kbev]

Thank you so much for all of the responses.. my wife and I are very grateful.

API EI - erythromycin for fish is what I found in my area. Would this work for now until we can get Fish Mox?

 

[kbev]

Quick update, started the erythromycin yesterday dissolved it in her water. She seems to be doing well. Laid another egg today, same size and hardness consistency. Eating normally, drinking normally. No obvious signs of infection.

We are going to keep her separate for at least a few more days if not a week. Should I be concerned about the cold weather when she goes back out? The coop is not heated nor fo I plan on adding heat to it

 

[kbev]

Okay so it's been a week. She's still doing good. Stopped laying for 2 days and then started laying again yesterday. We're going to put her back in the coop tomorrow. Any further advice?