Dog attacks

[Isabelstu]

Recently my boss has given me one of her silver laced chickens because it wasn’t doing too well with her… I agree see to take it in and when I looked at it the first time I thought it might’ve just had depression or have been under the weather. I’ve had a much closer look now and I can tell that it’s been attacked by dogs, there’s puncture wounds pieces of flesh torn out and skin missing from the flesh. These wounds seem about 2-4 weeks old and so far I’ve treated them with alcohol spray, antibacterial cream mixed with Vaseline and then a bandage over the top. I’ve quarantined her away from my other flock but is there anything else I can do for her?

 

[Tookie]

Pictures would help.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Sorry about your hen! I would spray her wounds with verericyn and apply some plain antibiotic ointment, pictures might help. @azygous.

 

[azygous]

Here's what you do in the event of a predator attack to treat the survivor.

1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix a half teaspoon of sugar into a fourth of a cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the PH of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You can order this https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/250mg once a day for ten days. Or you may be able to find this or something similar at TSC or a pet store.

4. Spray with Vetericyn wound treament and let dry. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or a generic without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place.

5. It's useless to try to stitch a wound on a chicken. Don't even try. It's also useless to try to bandage a wound other than on the feet. The chicken will not tolerate it. It will be pulled off faster than you can blink an eye.

6. Clean the wound every day following the above steps. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

 

[Isabelstu]

Sorry about your hen! I would spray her wounds with verericyn and apply some plain antibiotic ointment, pictures might help. @azygous.

This is what she currently looks like for anyone asking

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

How is she acting?

 

[Tami2]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. Great advice above. I hope you can heal her up quickly. Please keep us posted.

 

[Tami2]

Here's what you do in the event of a predator attack to treat the survivor.

1. Treat for shock as the number one step. Give warm Gatoraid or mix a half teaspoon of sugar into a fourth of a cup of warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda. Have the patient drink it all or syringe it into the beak.

2. Flush the wound well with saline. This is better than soap and water as it maintains the PH of the tissues. But warm soap and water will do. You need to wash away the bacteria from the wound.

3. Inspect the wound carefully. If it has a skin flap dangling, keep that. Do not cut it off. Look for bite, tear or puncture marks indicating a puncture wound. If you see this, the patient will need an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin. Bacteria from the predator’s mouth can be injected deep into tissue and can kill in as little as 24 to 48 hours. You can order this https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/250mg once a day for ten days. Or you may be able to find this or something similar at TSC or a pet store.

4. Spray with Vetericyn wound treament and let dry. Use a topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or a generic without pain killer in it to coat the wound. If there's a skin flap, lay it across the wound that has just been coated with the ointment. Then smooth on a generous amount over the top of the skin flap to hold it in place.

5. It's useless to try to stitch a wound on a chicken. Don't even try. It's also useless to try to bandage a wound other than on the feet. The chicken will not tolerate it. It will be pulled off faster than you can blink an eye.

6. Clean the wound every day following the above steps. Keep the wound covered with the ointment. Never allow the wound to get dried out or it will not heal.

Thank you for this detailed intervention. Are you a Vet or a medical professional?
I just ordered some Vetericyn for my emergency kit.

 

[Isabelstu]

How is she acting?

She acting completely fine as far as I can tell, my boss didn’t grain feed and only free ranged so she’s quite underweight. I’ve got her on a light grain feed. Since my boss didn’t treat her for trauma I’m surprised how well she’s doing

 

[azygous]

Thank you for this detailed intervention. Are you a Vet or a medical professional?
I just ordered some Vetericyn for my emergency kit.

No, I'm not a vet or medical professional. But I used to be a park ranger and had regular first responder training. Even a basic Red Cross first aid course can train chicken keepers in how to treat a badly injured chicken and quite possibly save your chicken's life knowing basic things like treating shock and how a little sugar can stabilize a badly injured chicken or a very sick one. And, come to think of it, sugar sprinkled on a bleeding wound can stop the bleeding. Sugar belongs in your chicken first aid kit as much as Vetericyn.