Help bear attack... should I euthanize?

[CCinVT]

We had a bear tear into our coop. I dont know if this hen was then attacked by a racoon that got I to the openings or it was the bear. Deep puncture wounds on her back. One I can hear is sucking air. I'm worried about flushing and cleaning the wound like I would with just a gnarly flesh type wound. She is clearly in pain, but alert and oriented. I dont want to put her through the process of rinsing and trimming feathers and such if this is futile. Quality of life matters. She looks half skinned

 

[ryneaeiel]

We had a bear tear into our coop. I dont know if this hen was then attacked by a racoon that got I to the openings or it was the bear. Deep puncture wounds on her back. One I can hear is sucking air. I'm worried about flushing and cleaning the wound like I would with just a gnarly flesh type wound. She is clearly in pain, but alert and oriented. I dont want to put her through the process of rinsing and trimming feathers and such if this is futile. Quality of life matters. She looks half skinned

If one of the wounds is sucking in air, then it reached either her chest cavity, her lungs, or her trachea.

Honestly, I would trim the feathers just to get an idea of where to go from there and see the extensity of the wounds. A zoomed-out photo would help to gauge exactly where the wound is on her back and how large it is.

She may survive the wounds, but you need to take into account whether or not she'll survive the shock of receiving them, or the possible infections/future complications she may face because of them.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'd give her a chance.

Sounds like a tooth punctured through her ribs.

Just trim the feathers, wash the wounds really good. Do not cover it, let it air heal? Use Triple Antibiotic Ointment to keep it moist.

 

[CCinVT]

If one of the wounds is sucking in air, then it reached either her chest cavity, her lungs, or her trachea.

Honestly, I would trim the feathers just to get an idea of where to go from there and see the extensity of the wounds. A zoomed-out photo would help to gauge exactly where the wound is on her back and how large it is.

She may survive the wounds, but you need to take into account whether or not she'll survive the shock of receiving them, or the possible infections/future complications she may face because of them.

Thank you for the quick reply! Zoomed out, but not finished trimmed yet. I've started trimming since my post. I'm spreading the feathers up to the spot where I can see skin gone that far under the feathers. The last photo where I'm pointing is where I can hear air at times coming out. Seems like a large area of her body. I've handled some gnarly wounds but this seems to cover so much of her body

 

[ryneaeiel]

Thank you for the quick reply! Zoomed out, but not finished trimmed yet. I've started trimming since my post. I'm spreading the feathers up to the spot where I can see skin gone that far under the feathers. The last photo where I'm pointing is where I can hear air at times coming out. Seems like a large area of her body. I've handled some gnarly wounds but this seems to cover so much of her body

Yeah, that definitely looks gnarly, but I've seen birds survive worse.

The sucking sound you hear is one of her lungs, which was punctured. I agree with MysteryChicken -- clean the wounds well and use the ointment to keep it moist. It looks like most of the bleeding has stopped. Keep an eye on her through the night -- she may or may not have blood in her lungs.

I'd be worried about possible kidney damage given the location of the lower wound, but only time will tell.

If she's standing and eating/drinking, she has a chance.

 

[nuthatched]

quite frankly, I'd put her down.
She could survive those injuries BUT since chickens can't take pain meds, it will be excruciating.

 

[MysteryChicken]

quite frankly, I'd put her down.
She could survive those injuries BUT since chickens can't take pain meds, it will be excruciating.

They can have half a baby aspirin, but not sure that'll be good in this situation.

 

[nuthatched]

They can have half a baby aspirin, but not sure that'll be good in this situation.

That's what I thought but doesn't asprin thin blood? it's such a deep wound.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's what I thought but doesn't asprin thin blood? it's such a deep wound.

Yes, that's why I said it may not be good for use in this situation.

 

[ryneaeiel]

It will be excruciating, but I'd argue that it's worth it if she survives.

If she begins to decline, then I would euthanize her. There's no point in her having a long, drawn-out death.

So long as she is fighting, though, I'd give her a chance. I had a hen that lost her leg to a bobcat and was infested by maggots, but she lived a long and happy life after she healed.