Dog attack!

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

I have an OE that was attacked by a loose dog about an hour ago. I ran out in time to stop him before he killed her but she is wounded. He had her cowering in brambles while he was ripping out her tail feathers. I can't see it very well but it looks like a chunk is hanging off. How bad is this and what should I do? Right now she is isolated in a small coop. No water or food yet. I was advised to use blu-coat. What else can I do? Please help!

 

[casportpony]

Check out this thread:
Fox Attack - Wound Care - Graphic Pictures - Happy Ending

 

[Anon112]

Rinse with saline immediately to try and flush out bacteria. Chickens can't get rabies, but they can get bacterial infections.

I would rinse well (possibly with a very dilute betadine), then with saline, then apply Neosporin (NOT the kind with pain relief---can be toxic) or Vetracyn.

You want to keep her somewhere warm to help with the shock, but not too hot. Just somewhere quiet and sheltered and safe. You can offer food and water. You can consider offering sugar water and/or some scrambled egg.

There are many threads on here (like the one linked above) with similar injuries and advice on how to treat them.

Do not cover the wound. You will want to watch as it starts to heal to make sure no feathers are getting "sealed in" by the healing skin. You might need to clip/trim a few feathers near the wound if they keep getting into it.

Is she breathing okay?

You'll want to look her over super carefully to try and catch any punctures that are hiding in the feathers because you'll want to at least flush out everything.

 

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

Rinse with saline immediately to try and flush out bacteria. Chickens can't get rabies, but they can get bacterial infections.

I would rinse well (possibly with a very dilute betadine), then with saline, then apply Neosporin (NOT the kind with pain relief---can be toxic) or Vetracyn.

You want to keep her somewhere warm to help with the shock, but not too hot. Just somewhere quiet and sheltered and safe. You can offer food and water. You can consider offering sugar water and/or some scrambled egg.

There are many threads on here (like the one linked above) with similar injuries and advice on how to treat them.

Do not cover the wound. You will want to watch as it starts to heal to make sure no feathers are getting "sealed in" by the healing skin. You might need to clip/trim a few feathers near the wound if they keep getting into it.

Is she breathing okay?

You'll want to look her over super carefully to try and catch any punctures that are hiding in the feathers because you'll want to at least flush out everything.

Thank you!

 

[Anon112]

Thank you!

Good luck!

Chickens can survive and really bounce back from some pretty serious injuries. (Like in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...wound-with-wheezing-from-hawk-attack.1681435/)

If after a day or two she's not eating/drinking, you may want to seek veterinary care (if that is an option for you).

Definitely check out other injury threads. It will help you get a sense of what a wound looks like as it slowly closes up. My hen, Candy, got two horrible injuries from a rooster's spurs, and she is still healing. She was injured back in December! (She's currently back with her flock but wearing a lovely saddle to prevent reinjury).

Definitely come back here to update, and if you have other questions we can flag some more of the injury experts.

 

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

Good luck!

Chickens can survive and really bounce back from some pretty serious injuries. (Like in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...wound-with-wheezing-from-hawk-attack.1681435/)

If after a day or two she's not eating/drinking, you may want to seek veterinary care (if that is an option for you).

Definitely check out other injury threads. It will help you get a sense of what a wound looks like as it slowly closes up. My hen, Candy, got two horrible injuries from a rooster's spurs, and she is still healing. She was injured back in December! (She's currently back with her flock but wearing a lovely saddle to prevent reinjury).

Definitely come back here to update, and if you have other questions we can flag some more of the injury experts.

Thank you. I am in panic mode but reading advice here and up on the other threads is helping.
It was a tiny but vicious dog so nothing looks too deep but there is a loose chunk that is freaking me out. I held her in my arms for an hour while talking to the police which resulted in the owners getting a fine for a "potentially dangerous animal at large" citation. Sweetie was calm and breathing fine the whole time so I am hoping she makes it through the night so I can start healing her tomorrow.

Do you think she needs a brooder plate for some gentle heat in her coop? It's supposed to get down to 39° tonight.

 

[Anon112]

Thank you. I am in panic mode but reading advice here and up on the other threads is helping.
It was a tiny but vicious dog so nothing looks too deep but there is a loose chunk that is freaking me out. I held her in my arms for an hour while talking to the police which resulted in the owners getting a fine for a "potentially dangerous animal at large" citation. Sweetie was calm and breathing fine the whole time so I am hoping she makes it through the night so I can start healing her tomorrow.

Do you think she needs a brooder plate for some gentle heat in her coop? It's supposed to get down to 39° tonight.

I would think you'd be okay with it being above freezing and her having shelter, but adding some gentle heat probably wouldn't hurt as long as you're confident she can get away if it's too warm and everything is well ventilated. Her "calm" might be shock.

One thing about chicken skin is that when it gets ripped it can "slide" and it's very alarming. When Candy was hurt, it was like her whole side was opening up.

The good news is that over the first few days the skin will start to pull back together onto the body.

Chicken bodies are also good at self-amputating anything that they can't save. So there's a chance she might lose a piece that isn't vital. (Sorry, I know that sounds scary.) Keep an eye on that area with the "chunk." Get a sense of how warm it is so you can tell if it's getting hotter than it should be. Keep her as clean as you can, maybe rinsing twice a day and applying whatever ointment you are using. It's probably a bit cold for fly strike (where flies lay eggs in wounds, which then hatch into maggots that burrow into the chicken---very nasty), but keep a close eye on anything that is still "open' injury wise.

Thinking good thoughts for you and Sweetie!

 

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

I would think you'd be okay with it being above freezing and her having shelter, but adding some gentle heat probably wouldn't hurt as long as you're confident she can get away if it's too warm and everything is well ventilated. Her "calm" might be shock.

One thing about chicken skin is that when it gets ripped it can "slide" and it's very alarming. When Candy was hurt, it was like her whole side was opening up.

The good news is that over the first few days the skin will start to pull back together onto the body.

Chicken bodies are also good at self-amputating anything that they can't save. So there's a chance she might lose a piece that isn't vital. (Sorry, I know that sounds scary.) Keep an eye on that area with the "chunk." Get a sense of how warm it is so you can tell if it's getting hotter than it should be. Keep her as clean as you can, maybe rinsing twice a day and applying whatever ointment you are using. It's probably a bit cold for fly strike (where flies lay eggs in wounds, which then hatch into maggots that burrow into the chicken---very nasty), but keep a close eye on anything that is still "open' injury wise.

Thinking good thoughts for you and Sweetie!

Thank you soooo much! Sweetie and I really appreciate it.
She is one of my 7 year olds favorites, he's the one that named her.
I'll post an update.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is she in the house? If so, she should not need heat. In the coop, 39 - 40°F is not cold for chickens, she'll be fine without added heat.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Just be sure you put her away dry so frostbite isn't an issue.