Dog attacked my Lucy!

[ameeks]

We made it through another night. I cleaned her again this morning and put more triple antibiotic ointment on, no "caines". No funky smells from her wounds. She is still seeping a small amt of liquid poo. She had good big, formed stool in my sink after a soak though. Still has a good appetite. I tried to give her some booster pellets but she quit eating so I took them out and she finished her egg and oatmeal. I guess I'm going to have to mash them up to for now. I just dont want her to get spoiled to soft food, how long should I feed her that? Also she doesn't seem to be drinking her medicated water. Maybe because it's yelliw from the med? I have seen her take a couple of small drinks, I just want to make sure she gets antibiotic. Should I look for something else and what else could I use? Thanks for the help, like I said before I'm a brand new chicken momma and trying to best I can for my poor girl.

 

[ten chicks]

We made it through another night. I cleaned her again this morning and put more triple antibiotic ointment on, no "caines". No funky smells from her wounds. She is still seeping a small amt of liquid poo. She had good big, formed stool in my sink after a soak though. Still has a good appetite. I tried to give her some booster pellets but she quit eating so I took them out and she finished her egg and oatmeal. I guess I'm going to have to mash them up to for now. I just dont want her to get spoiled to soft food, how long should I feed her that? Also she doesn't seem to be drinking her medicated water. Maybe because it's yelliw from the med? I have seen her take a couple of small drinks, I just want to make sure she gets antibiotic. Should I look for something else and what else could I use? Thanks for the help, like I said before I'm a brand new chicken momma and trying to best I can for my poor girl.

Tetracycline apparently does taste terrible,make it fresh daily as it is not long lasting. This is the problem with some meds,they taste terrible and the birds will not drink,keep giving her the meds,but if you see she is not drinking and wounds are becoming infected,then you may have to switch to something like penicillin G injectable or she may not need anything if wounds are healing fine. Feed her the soft foods for as long as she needs,make sure she does have access to her reg feed and have grit available. You can give her vitamins such as nutri drench or polyvisol infant drops(without iron) or similar product.

 

[ameeks]

Is it ok to give Lucy a warm epsom salt soak?

 

[ameeks]

Well, i found out it is ok to give an epsom salt soak. Lucy enjoyed it very much. Afterward i got a washcloth and scrubbed her wounds and got the dead stuff off. It looked much better. I was also able to see what happened. When the dog got her, she cut the top part of her vent. I could see it pulsing and the muscle was pink and bled when i scrubbed the outside to get the dead tissue off. Since it was a clean cut with no jagged edges I decided to try to sew it up. My husband held her while I carefully aligned everything and sewed her with a sterilized needle and hair from our horse's tail. I then put diluted iodine on everything and finished with Triple Antiobiotic. I was worried about her pooping, but guess what?! She pooped and it all came out her vent and nothing seeped through the stitches! I just hope it all heals good. Poor girl is hurting pretty bad right now. I put a baby aspirin in her food before her "surgery". Her thigh wound looks ok I think, still cleaning it with iodine and covering with Triple Antibiotic as well. She's now resting in her crate in a dark, warm room after eating some pellets and egg. I pray she makes it through. I know it's going to be a long road as this is only day 3. I'm so thankful I found this place otherwise I'd be lost and would have lost my girl for sure.

 

[ten chicks]

Excellent job on her care,great idea stitching with horse hair. She is in very good hands,b/c of this i expect her to pull through just fine. She is eating/drinking this is very good,the biggest hurdle is going to be preventing infection,with regular cleaning of wounds infection may not even be an issue.

I'm really impressed with your emergency skill,a vet probably could not have administered better care. Lucy is a lucky girl to have you for her chicken mom!




~Mia

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i agree with that !!! very impressed. when i first seen the pics. i thought there's no way but i have had a complete turn about.

 

[Sarevan]

Awesome job on stitching her up! Horsehair I wouldn't have thought of that, good choice nice and strong and shouldn't tear the skin as it heals. Hoping she fully recovers you are doing an awesome job.

 

[ameeks]

Thanks y'all! Today I got the leg cleaned up real good, top layer exposed was turning a funky color, no odor though. I got all the junk off and now it looks healthy. Tomorrow her backend will probably be ready for another debriding. Thanks to everyone for all the advice. I know I'll probably be asking more questions in the days to come as she heals. As for the horsehair stitches, I can't take credit for the idea. I was trying to think of something strong and natural to use. Then, I remebered in Old Yeller when the mom stitched him up with horsehair lol. Oh, and I do have a question. I know I need to keep her in a darkened room to help keep from laying an egg, but what else can I do like as far as what to feed her? Her regular feed is layer pellets and everything else I found is either chick starter or grow and finish. With her injuriy I want to try to delay egg laying as long as possible. But then I worry about egg binding too.

 

[ten chicks]

Thanks y'all! Today I got the leg cleaned up real good, top layer exposed was turning a funky color, no odor though. I got all the junk off and now it looks healthy. Tomorrow her backend will probably be ready for another debriding. Thanks to everyone for all the advice. I know I'll probably be asking more questions in the days to come as she heals. As for the horsehair stitches, I can't take credit for the idea. I was trying to think of something strong and natural to use. Then, I remebered in Old Yeller when the mom stitched him up with horsehair lol. Oh, and I do have a question. I know I need to keep her in a darkened room to help keep from laying an egg, but what else can I do like as far as what to feed her? Her regular feed is layer pellets and everything else I found is either chick starter or grow and finish. With her injuriy I want to try to delay egg laying as long as possible. But then I worry about egg binding too.

You can only delay laying for so long it is not something we can control,let her have her feed as it is more important for her to eat. She will lay even if on grower/chick feed. Often when they are ill/injured they will not lay,but this is not a guarantee.

Stitching with horsehair was a good idea,i have stitched with silk/cotton thread,but never horsehair,great improvising.

Keep her vent area lubricated this way laying may not be as painful and stitches should not pull as much.

 

[ameeks]

I was afraid of that since it is just a natural process. I'm so worried she'll bust her stitches when she does lay. But then again, God made us females to withstand a lot. I have been giving her the feed though. Up until last night she wouldn't even touch anythingvothervthan her mash. She still doesn't like the water with the medicine in it. Would it be better to just give her fresh water and start penicillin shots if she shows signs of infection.