Fox attack, big flesh wounds

[Lonnie33]

keep her warm, and if you have some electrolytes give her some to help with the stress. besides cleaning, you can use a human first aid antibiotic as long as it doesn't have pain reliever in it, and keep an eye on it, it should stay clean and moist to heal

Ok thanks, I'll get some electrolytes as well

 

[Willowspirit]

It’s not bleeding so completely closing it right now isn’t necessary. You don’t want to close it and end up with an infection you can’t treat. So for now rinsing it with saline should help keep infection at bay, then spray with antiseptic and bandage with a gauze pad and possibly vet wrap around her body.

I just checked and it is called vet wrap or medi vet wrap in Australia too.

 

[Lonnie33]

It’s not bleeding so completely closing it right now isn’t necessary. You don’t want to close it and end up with an infection you can’t treat. So for now rinsing it with saline should help keep infection at bay, then spray with antiseptic and bandage with a gauze pad and possibly vet wrap around her body.

I just checked and it is called vet wrap or medi vet wrap in Australia too.

Thank you that's good to know it doesn't need to be closed up right now. I have some vetwrap and a gauze pad too, so I'll be doing this as soon as my husband gets home to help hold her still. She was trying to peck at the area when I sprayed on the Clorhexedine antiseptic (I guess it it must sting), and I'm having trouble keeping feathers out of the wound so getting it bandaged up properly is my next priority. Thanks again

 

[Slash3]

Poor little chicky. I know you said your vet doesn't treat birds, but all Vets are trained in pretty much every animal ( my uncle owned his own practice) they will be able to sterilise and stitch (if neccesary) so if you are concerned maybe pop down anyway. fingers crossed for you and your chicken.

 

[Lonnie33]

Thank you, that’s good to know, I wonder what their reluctance is. I will see how she is in the morning and reassess.

 

[Slash3]

Thank you, that’s good to know, I wonder what their reluctance is. I will see how she is in the morning and reassess.

Most Vets specialise in 2/3 animals most. They are usually reluctant in case there is a mishap in their treatment of the animal (if it's not their speciality) but all are capable of wound treatment in any animal. Fingers crossed x

 

[Lonnie33]

Update: This morning she is looking quite perky, eating, drinking, and having an annoyed peck at us when we were checking the wound. She has diarrhoea but I think that’s probably normal after stress plus maybe the aspirin? Her appearance gives me some hope she’ll live, though that gaping wound I am still a bit worried about. We have been using non-stick wound dressings from the first aid kit but this morning when checking it the wounds were starting to dry out and go a bit crusty. I haven’t been able to get any antibiotic cream/ointment (animal or human), we can’t get it here without a script but I thought I’d get some betadine cream today. About antibiotics though, I did see antibiotic powder for birds at the pet shop, which you mix into their water. Would this be any good?

 

[slordaz]

Update: This morning she is looking quite perky, eating, drinking, and having an annoyed peck at us when we were checking the wound. She has diarrhoea but I think that’s probably normal after stress plus maybe the aspirin? Her appearance gives me some hope she’ll live, though that gaping wound I am still a bit worried about. We have been using non-stick wound dressings from the first aid kit but this morning when checking it the wounds were starting to dry out and go a bit crusty. I haven’t been able to get any antibiotic cream/ointment (animal or human), we can’t get it here without a script but I thought I’d get some betadine cream today. About antibiotics though, I did see antibiotic powder for birds at the pet shop, which you mix into their water. Would this be any good?

Probably so, if you have access to some coconut oil or Vaseline to help keep it softened so it can heal would help too, Not so sure about covering it , other than if you can't put her in an ware to keep the flies off, not had the need for such large would care. Is there a local vet you could at least talk to about the injury? sometimes here even if they don't treat them they will prescribe or dispense medications. That is awesome she was so perky this morning.

 

[glassdragonfly]

So sorry for your hen! With the great advise given here I think your hen will heal well. They are remarkable!

 

[blackandtan]

No need to empty the first aid kit, ladies pantiliners and feminine pads make superb wound dressings and are non stick and available everywhere