Fox attack - limp neck

[FlyingNunFarm]

Go ahead and laugh but you can get solar powered electric fence. I've looked.

 

[Loona]

Yes, I've seen that and it looks great, so easy to set up. I'd love to set up a video camera and watch that sucker get shocked!

 

[wvchics]

I'm so glad she's continuing to improve. I must admit it was grim for a while but I think she's going to be just fine. I'm excited to see how she likes the sling when you do it. Please let us know.

 

[Loona]

Today I'm worried about a 'squishy bottom' on Olga. Its like her rear end has fluid in it. Her vent looks better, the swelling has come down alot, the large corner scab has fallen off, but this fluid filled rear end is worrying me. I have noticed she would wince whenever I wiped her butt on the right side but I thought it was from the swollen vent. Now that the vent's swelling has gone down considerably it seems the butt area has not and actually feels like a sac of fluid. : {
Does anybody know what this could be? I've massaged it very lightly on both sides at the same time, just kinda trying to stroke things downward, she did let out a little bit of a poop but just a wiping. Every morning she has done mouth breathing but it goes away with food and water. This morning after feeding and watering it didn't completely go away and she's doing it occasionally. I don't like the looks of that either. : \
Here's a video of what she's doing. I will take vent pics in a little while.

 

[Loona]

here's a picture of her vent. Swelling has come down quite a bit and the scab fell off.

 

[6PeckinChickens]

When I was in cosmetic surgery and we did tummy tucks we had to check to see if there was fluid around the abdominal flap. If you poke it you will see a "waterbed" wave. If you do that to Olga, does that happen? If she did have internal bleeding, the body will break that down or injury could cause the body to produce serous fluid.

Also, in one of your posts on Sunday or Monday you were using an ice pack. Swelling and bruising peaks at day 3. After that if you use a moist heat, it helps to open blood circulation to carry bruising and swelling out. They sell moist heating pads, you could put that on the lowest setting and try to get the one that turns off on its own.

I know that this isn't cosmetic surgery, just hoping that my knowledge in this area could help your sweet Olga! Her vent already looks much better!

 

[Loona]

Yep, that's the way I know it, ice pack is best for only a few days and then it's not necessary. So after your post, I applied it to her rear end (in a plastic bag) and let her sit on that. Only one day did I do that. The next day the 'squishy balloon' felt less squishy. No more ice packs. I think she's done there. Yesterday we prepared the sling in the bin and she's been in it ever since. She looks more comfortable and is up off that left side, which is apparently her weak side. The 'balloon' looks more evenly distributed and isn't as big. If I lift up her tail feathers this balloon thing looks like a saggy balloon now rather than a full balloon. So swelling and fluid is going down.

Today is a new problem. As of yesterday afternoon she is becoming harder to feed. Refusing to drink a whole cup of anything. Water, food, yogurt, anything we offer. I have the feeding tube in hand and I will try to do this today. What's happened is she's become stronger in her neck, so holding her beak in a cup is not as easy. And I think she quite frankly sick of eating out of this cup. I put a small tray of layer feed in front of her and she does like to look at it and get a few pecks but she eats nothing. So today will be interesting.....

Yesterday when we took her outside she laid in the grass and then she pushed off with her right side and managed to get out away from the towel propping her up and spun herself around to the left. This is a problem. If she does have neuro damage making the left leg and neck weak, I'm not sure if the outcome of nursing her was all in vain. She can't live like that. But we are going to give her time, at least a month to see what we end up with. I'm optimistic that she can remain alive and may regain her ability to eat and drink on her own, but her ability to walk again is going to be a struggle : \

Last night I put a 2" limb of round wood in the bottom of her bin so she could be in a roost-like position. This morning she was still gripping it. But I removed it so she could set her feet down. I think she approves of the sling.

Now the balloon butt is going down, but the eating is the new problem. Will let you know how that goes. We plan to attempt it shortly.

Thank you so much for your insight. I do believe your experience in surgery is a great tool of knowledge!

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Her vent looks way better! I'd offer her soft food on something flat. Her throat my still be sore so hard food wouldn't feel the greatest. Her left leg looked a little swollen in the video. It could just be me. Can you get her walking in her sling? A little exercise will help strengthen her legs and get circulation going.

 

[Loona]

Her vent looks way better! I'd offer her soft food on something flat. Her throat my still be sore so hard food wouldn't feel the greatest. Her left leg looked a little swollen in the video. It could just be me. Can you get her walking in her sling? A little exercise will help strengthen her legs and get circulation going.

Cannot get her walking in that, but outside I just kinda bend over and hold her up to see how she does, but she doesn't want to take a step. In the sling in the bin, she'll stand on her right leg some especially when she pushes back to resist food. Was actually able to get her to eat two cups of food a while ago. That would be 2 of those Advil cups, ea one is 15ml. She also ate yogurt. I guess everyday is going to be different from the next. Her right leg is the one she stands on. It doesn't look swollen, but the her butt behind that leg is where the 'balloon' is. She will wince if I rub it to wipe her butt. I don't see any bite marks there at all. Probably internal. : \ I just don't know.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Time will tell. I thought if you could hold the sling and walk with her, save your back. I'm sure she is tender and sore all over. If she keeps eating and drinking, then pooping, I'd say it's a good day.

Keep us posted!