dog bite reassurance please - help save lil Peep

[chickieBok]

•California grey, born Feb 2023

•Dog bite occurred 5pm yesterday

•Found her immediately following attack, under woodpile, wouldn’t move but breathing

•2 wounds: 1 puncture to back near tail into fatty tissue and 1 skin tear / flap on back partially under right wing (when observing from back)*

•Missing most of back feathers + bottom feathers around vent

•Potential swelling in abdomen under vent, but hard to tell as I’ve not seen a lot of featherless butts. Feels firmish to the touch, not unlike the other ladies who were not attacked but again, it’s hard for me to tell

what we did

• immediately into lukewarm epsom bath to calm and clean, then second epson bath to rinse (she sat calmly and let me pour water over her, only tried to flap out once)
• rinsed until skin tear wound stopped bleeding
• Dried feathered areas gently with clean towel
• Applied Aquafor gently to all open wounds
• Moved her to quiet secluded cage inside the house
• Offered treats crushed over mash made with electrolyte supplement, and she ate when hand fed
• Did not witness drinking from waterer
• 1st poop in cage was a bit watery but normal colored, + 3 poops after have been totally normal firm poos
• Making periodic normal sounding “hey there” peeps/clucks

this morning

• she made it though the night ♡
• Was standing last night, sitting this morning but stood when I came into the cage to scoop poops
• Not moving much from her standing spot
• moved bowl of mash closer to her, & when checked on 2nd time she had eaten most of it on her own
• Still no sign of consuming directly from the waterer (normal water)
• Offered bowl of water with electrolytes, but she wasn’t interested in that either (but she has been iffy about electrolyte water previously)
• Quieter today, but made small vocalizations (she is usually very talkative)
• Comb bright red but slightly droopy

next steps

• going to tractor supply to pick up Vetrycin
• Also read to flush with saline to avoid the big movements of the entire bath procedure 2x day, so I will be picking that up
• Picked up original neosporin to replace Aquafor as this is also what I read is used
• read that they can have baby aspirin, but have been unsure to use since 1 of the wounds had been bleeding when I found her

I guess I’m just asking if we’re doing the right thing, & if there is anything else I can do for her. Anecdotes of dog-bite-recovered chickens welcome. Any and all advice is so appreciated, she is our favorite girl with the most personality. Thank you for reading.

* I was unable to take photos yet because I am extremely squeamish and i was so focused on stabilizing her, but I can when my partner comes home later if needed.

EDIT: I also have some expired (in April) liquid Tylosin on hand if that’s relevant at all

 

[nuthatched]

She'll be fine, don't worry.

 

[chickieBok]

She'll be fine, don't worry.

Thank you ♡ I think I am mostly concerned with possible internal bleeding, is there a time table where we would know if she is going to succumb to that?

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you ♡ I think I am mostly concerned with possible internal bleeding, is there a time table where we would know if she is going to succumb to that?

That's a good question, I'm not sure about that. Not being able to see the wounds, it's impossible to say.

 

[chickieBok]

That's a good question, I'm not sure about that. Not being able to see the wounds, it's impossible to say.

okay I asked my partner & he had photos from this morning!

The wounds will be okay I think, but the possible swelling under her tail is what I can’t really tell about

 

[LaFleche]

I would have her on antibiotics as dog bites carry nasty bacteria which can cause sepsis if left untreated.

 

[chickieBok]

I would have her on antibiotics as dog bites carry nasty bacteria which can cause sepsis if left untreated.

All I have on hand right now is expired (in April) injectable tylosin (I’ve given before by mouth)

Please let me know if there is anything I can pick up at tractor supply otherwise ♡

 

[LaFleche]

Amoxicillin-clavulanate or doxycycline would be the way to treat dog bites, but I do not know if your tractor supply carries it as I am located in Germany.

 

[Penpal]

The reason an injured bird seems calm is because they are shock.

I keep lavender essential oil on hand. I would have put a drop at each damage site. I also have frankincense essential oil, which I have found stops the bleeding of a puncture wound.

Vitamin C will aid with healing and inflammation. You can just sprinkle a little powder onto something she will eat.

 

[LaFleche]

I also have frankincense essential oil, which I have found closes a puncture wound.

Puncture wounds from a dog bite need to be kept open to allow the bacterial gunk to drain