Dog attaked chicken stitched back together *graphic pics*

[blue fire]

This is exactly what happened to our chicken Wingus. Unfourtunetly she died due to depresson i think.We had to keep her inside and when we did let her outside the other chickens acted like they did not know her.

 

[FarmerDenise]

WOW! I'm impressed.
Our puppy recently injured one of our tamer sex links. Naturally this happened in the pm and I couldn't afford to pay for emergency vet care. I cleaned out the wounds, put on neosporin and bandaged it. I also gave her aspirin and electrolites, using a feeding syringe. The next day I took her to our vet. She was doing well, when the vet called me that evening, but she died early the next morning.
I think if I had stiched her up the evening she was injured, I might have been able to save her.
I also have first aid supplies on hand for our animals, but it only helps, if you know what to do when the animal is in trouble.
I have found that printing out information, when I come across it, helps me a lot. I keep it in a binder for each different kind of critter.

 

[picklespickles]

you are so cool to have stitched her up. you make me want to go get taht stuff from the farm store, too. i have some things that i made a little kit of for the various animals, but not stichery. you are an inspiration to me, no joke.

good luck with your hen.

no matter what happens, you definitly did the best you could. she was lucky to have you there. take care.

 

[skunknchatter]

I would leave the stitches in for at least two weeks maybe longer. I've had lots of critters with stitches and two weeks seems to be the norm. Poor hen. Hope she feels better.

 

[Alleyoops25]

Well my hen is still doing good. There is no sign of a infection and she is very active now. Bruises are almost gone and things seem to be healing relativly well. The stitches arent the disolvable kind. And Unfortunatly My husband took the trash out and it was taken before I got the packaging it came in. I dont think the stitches could hurt as bad coming out as they did coming in. When I go to take them out I will make sure that her skin is wet and softend. Washing her and then putting a little vasiline on the stitches should make them slide right out. This was a trick I learned from my Uncle who is the Vet. I am confident she will live, she is her self again. I still have her in away from the others to minamize the chances of the wounds getting inctected. Or another chicken spotting the stitches and starts pecking on her and creating a bigger wound or ripping the stitches. While my DH isnt here I left her out of the dog crate and she hangs out with me and loves me lightly scratching around her stitches. I was worried she would pick the stitches out herself and thought about making a cone kind of like the ones they put on Dogs and cats. But she hasnt touched them. I am going to stop the antibiotics here in a day or two. And I think the end of this next week I might attempt to remove the stitches. She is happy and is eating up all the extra attwntion. Since she has been in I finally figured out that she is the hen that keeps laying double yolkers. Since she is on antibiotics We cant eat the eggs, but at least I know it was her that is laying them. Every egg she has layed in here has been a double yolker. When I go to the feed store to get more feed this week I will find the stitches ( especially since I am going to need to get more). If you ever get a chicken that needs to be stitched up wether its from a raody roo, or dog, and you dont have real stitching tread I would take regular sewing thread and soak it in alchol and then using it. I have seen that done before. And it didnt cause any problems as far as healing the wound. Its not the best but it may save your chickens life in the end. If you all want I could maybe sit down tomarrow and try to explain how to do stitches. Tonight I dont have the time as it Dh's birthday and we actually have guests over. I need to go out there and be socialable. I will keep you all updated.

 

[arlee453]

Wonderful news on your healing hen! I hope she continues to have a healthy and speedy recovery.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I'm glad she is doing so well! I just can not believe she is still laying. I would have thought the trama would have had her stop laying until she healed more.

 

[picklespickles]

glad she is gettin better. you saved the day!

that info about the regular thread and alchol is informative. i would LOVE to hear more about stitching when you have the chance.

 

[SeaChick]

Oh, I am so glad she is doing well.... I searched this thread out today to check on her. Please keep us updated!!
Stacey

 

[Alleyoops25]

Our hen whom we now named "Stitches" is showing a lot of improvements. She was pacing back in forth in the dog crate so I took her out and put her on our back porch which has a open dog door sop she can go out and free range a little on my front lawn. I have been really watching her close so she doesnt go into my flower beds and try dusting herself. So far so good with that, but she is going to need a new stitch or two on her back. Our dogs pushed out a corner of the screen on the porch and she hopped up there and got cuaght in it. I will have to change them here in just a couple of minutes. I am waiting for my Duaghter to get the vet kit back in the house and every thing sterilized again. I will have to use regular thread on her. I went to the feed store and they were out and still havent had any come in today yet. I feel pretty confident it will work. I will take some more pictures of her, and pictures of each step I took in removing and replacing the stitches. I am guessing now that her stitches wont be able to come out until maybe Friday after next. Some places were really bad and I want to make sure that they heal well enough that it doesnt come apart. The main area is on her breast, I am concerned that if I take them out to soon, she will eat a lot which will fill her crop and make the wound pull apart. I may have a chicken under my tree this christmas. Well if not under maybe at the top, since she has been trying to purch in my hanging baskets, and on top of every thing else. Anyway stay tuned I will be getting a bunch more pictures posted really soon.