EMERGENCY!!! DOG BITE WOUND TO CHICKEN

[TheGreatEscapees]

Please help! A few of my chickens got out when I was going to check for eggs. I accidentally left their run door open and my dog came and bit my chicken. She has a large portion of her skin ripped off (pictured below) and has lots of feathers missing. She has a bare patch of skin on her crop. Going to and finding a vet is not an option. Please share your tips and inform me what I should do going forward. Note: I have her in separation currently. Anything helps, Thanks!

 

[coach723]

Watch for signs of shock and treat that first. Standard wound care is to flush them out well with chlorhexidine (hibiclens), diluted betadine, or sterile saline. Trim back any feathers getting into wounds to make it easier to treat, and to keep them cleaner. Apply a plain triple antibiotic ointment, neosporin, polysporin etc. to cover wounds liberally with it. Don't bandage usually. If you can adhere that flap with the ointment, that may help with healing in that area. Keep her separate, in a crate, so she is safe from pecking and so you can monitor. Once the wounds are scabbed enough to be safe from flies you can move the crate out to the coop or run with the other birds so they can all see each other, but she will still be safe. That will reduce her stress and make it easier to reintegrate. Clean wounds again, if and as needed, and reapply the ointment 2-3 times a day to keep wounds covered with it. Watch for signs of infection which would be swelling and redness more than the injury would indicate, bad smell, discharge. They are able to recover from some pretty horrible injuries as long as there is no infection. Make sure she's drinking, give electrolites if you have them, in her water for 1/2 the day for a day or two, then switch to plain fresh water. Bruising may show up, which will look dark or greenish.

 

[TheGreatEscapees]

Watch for signs of shock and treat that first. Standard wound care is to flush them out well with chlorhexidine (hibiclens), diluted betadine, or sterile saline. Trim back any feathers getting into wounds to make it easier to treat, and to keep them cleaner. Apply a plain triple antibiotic ointment, neosporin, polysporin etc. to cover wounds liberally with it. Don't bandage usually. If you can adhere that flap with the ointment, that may help with healing in that area. Keep her separate, in a crate, so she is safe from pecking and so you can monitor. Once the wounds are scabbed enough to be safe from flies you can move the crate out to the coop or run with the other birds so they can all see each other, but she will still be safe. That will reduce her stress and make it easier to reintegrate. Clean wounds again, if and as needed, and reapply the ointment 2-3 times a day to keep wounds covered with it. Watch for signs of infection which would be swelling and redness more than the injury would indicate, bad smell, discharge. They are able to recover from some pretty horrible injuries as long as there is no infection. Make sure she's drinking, give electrolites if you have them, in her water for 1/2 the day for a day or two, then switch to plain fresh water. Bruising may show up, which will look dark or greenish.

Thanks for the reply @coach723 ! While I was waiting on a message, I washed her with homemade saline, and then sprayed MicrocynAH on the wound. Do you think I should gently wrap the wound? Also, I don't have electrolytes, but would ACV water be a good substitute? Thanks again.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can make some homemade electrolytes to use for a day or two. To a quart 32 ounces of water, add 1 tsp of sugar, and a small pinch of salt. You also can use Gatorade or Pedialyte. If she is eating and drinking, she may not need electrolytes.