Dog attcked our chicken

[Lizz Cage]

My husband and I got home to a note that someone’s dog got one of our chickens. Cleaned her up and she has two pretty big lacerations on her back, lost almost all the feathers on her back, and seems pretty traumatized. She is inside and we’re keeping her warm and comfortable. What should we do to make sure the wound stays clean and uninfected? We used some hydrogen peroxide, will this help? Also can we do anything to help with the pain she is probably in? We are going to monitor her through the night and see how she does. Would the vet be the next move?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do not use peroxide, it destroys tissue. Generally they will be shocky that first 12- 24 hours. Depending on the wounds they may stay in a hunched state for a few days. Sometimes they don't eat or drink for a few days. It should start perking up after a few days, and start to show interest in food and water, and should look a bit better after a week.

I personally either leave wounds alone or spray them with bluekote.

Others will hopefully help with aspirin dosage, and other wound treatment. I mostly leave them be in a quiet warm place and let them heal. They are pretty good at it.

 

[venymae]

You can use regular antibacterial ointment on the wounds as long as it does not contain the pain killers (anything with '-caine'). Keep your hen in a warm area, consider putting electrolytes in her water (available at most farm stores), and give her a tempting high protein snack like canned tuna or scrambled eggs. This will help with the stress and facilitate healing. If you put her back in the pen she should have blukot on the wounds so the other hens don't pick at them. (blukot turns them blue instead of red). Let us know how she does

 

[Xlcandylx]

When my dog got ahold of my hen I used a little bottle and cleaned her wound then I put iodine to make sure no bacteria. After I placed ointment and I have a section of the coop were I was able to block her off from the other hens. I kept clean shaving, water, food in there for her. When I was able to watch her I would let her out with the other hens. Then locked her back up after 3 days of applying ointment once a day it finally had a hardened scab and the hole mark wasn't visible any more. So I left her with her group and just kept checking the wound until I seen her new feathers growing back.

 

[Xlcandylx]

My papa taught me how to doctor animals and one thing he always had was iodine. You can buy the 2% at any Walgreens or Walmart but if you get the stronger stuff dilute it. I don't know what happens if you don't but pretty sure it's bad. My papa was stressing out about making sure I dilute it if it was stronger than 2%.

 

[getaclue]

Neosporin, or any triple antibiotic WITHOUT PAIN RELIEF, applied 2 - 3 times a day will stop it from getting infected, while the skin regranulates. She will be traumatized for a bit, but should get over it.