HELP! BIG INJURY

[OstrichEmu]

TLDR: Neighbours dog attacked main hen, open wounds, very weak leg. Medical question: what can I put on the cuts? I have Dermadine on hand, is that safe?

Hi everyone.
With a heavy heart I come asking for advice post-dog attack. Neighbours dog got into our yard and killed one of our hens and (badly) injured our main hen. They're free range but we've cordoned them off in a very safe area and the dog has been returned. Saddened heart but dogs will be dogs, no bad vibes...

So Sprinkles (the patient) was obviously exhausted when my husband got her out of the dogs mouth and at first, after noticing her refusing to stand and a very splayed leg) I thought the most humane thing to do would be to get the axe since we are hours away from a vet. In the chaos I just wrapped her in a towel and let her rest while sorting out the "safety area" and gathering up the other two hens. I checked her wings, they're okay but there's nasty open cuts on her back. She can now stand on her leg but she's incredibly off balance. She has eaten and had a drink (food and water has been moved right beside her and her sister, they're in the shade as well)

Medical question: what can I put on the cuts? I have Dermadine on hand, is that safe? I can do a saltwater wipe also?

Please don't berate me for the attack, we have a huge Labrador who sleeps with the hens just because, and two cats so I think the hens got too comfortable with dogs and cats and didn't freak out like they should have. We (the neighbours included) have no idea how the dog got out since out walls are extra high... We are in the process of making a super massive coop but in our area, materials are hellishly expensive and the fencing needed is going to need a bit of saving up... It's a lesson to us as well though to make sure our gates are meshed so that this doesn't happen again.


Please raise your glasses for our fallen Queenie, and send the best vibes to Sprinkles

Picture of Queenie attached, off topic but I was starting to think Queenie was a HE but I'm not sure. Same story with Sprinkles. Beautiful, gentle and peaceful giant chickenshe used to run up like a jumping T-Rex whenever I'd bring out the food

 

[swamphiker]

I'm so sorry for your loss and your injured chicken!

Chickens can often recover pretty severe-looking injuries as long as they don't have severe internal damage and don't succumb to infection. I would recommend you isolate the injured chicken and treat her for shock. More information here: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/predator-attack.

I'm not familiar with that particular antiseptic; I use chlorhexidine for my chickens. Additionally, you may consider starting your chicken on antibiotics, animal bites often transmit nasty germs.

From your photo, Queenie was definitely a cockerel or rooster. I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately everything loves to eat chickens, and accidents happen!

 

[OstrichEmu]

I'm so sorry for your loss and your injured chicken!

Chickens can often recover pretty severe-looking injuries as long as they don't have severe internal damage and don't succumb to infection. I would recommend you isolate the injured chicken and treat her for shock. More information here: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/predator-attack.

I'm not familiar with that particular antiseptic; I use chlorhexidine for my chickens. Additionally, you may consider starting your chicken on antibiotics, animal bites often transmit nasty germs.

From your photo, Queenie was definitely a cockerel or rooster. I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately everything loves to eat chickens, and accidents happen!

Thanks, I've got the two chickens in a bricked up area for now.
I suppose the fallen soldier is "King" then... Sprinkles must be a He too then.. I don't have any animal antibiotics at the moment but it's not yet fly season and the climate is incredibly dry so hopefully wounds dry up fast. The dog is a very healthy dog, regularly dewormed/antiparasitics, hopefully nothing fowl comes from this. Sprinkles is still standing, still wobbly but alert


Off topic, Do you Sprinkles is a rooster too? I thought it was just dominant hen crowing after we rehomed the rooster (he would crow throughout the night and keep us and the neighbourhood awake. I literally took these pics two or three days ago for the forum to ask for gender identification because I'm still green...

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes Sprinkles is a rooster too. Sorry about your chickens. It looks like Dermadine ointment has povidone iodine in it. That is okay to use. Many of us use Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment for wound.There is also a mouth wash. What does your label say that is the ingredients of Dermadine? Weak povidone iodine or chlorhexidene are good for initial wound care of a dirty bite. Then you can rinse with saline or home made saline, then apply an antibiotic or Betadine ointment twice a day. Leave wounds open to air. Keep him separated and positioned on rolled towels or in a chicken sling if he can’t stand. Make sure that he is drinking fluids and eating. Initially, sugar water can be given for shock. Mushy wet feed with a little egg can be good to hold up to his beak. Pictures of any wounds would be helpful. Puncture wounds can abscess if they close up too soon.

 

[OstrichEmu]

Yes Sprinkles is a rooster too. Sorry about your chickens. It looks like Dermadine ointment has povidone iodine in it. That is okay to use. Many of us use Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment for wound.There is also a mouth wash. What does your label say that is the ingredients of Dermadine? Weak povidone iodine or chlorhexidene are good for initial wound care of a dirty bite. Then you can rinse with saline or home made saline, then apply an antibiotic or Betadine ointment twice a day. Leave wounds open to air. Keep him separated and positioned on rolled towels or in a chicken sling if he can’t stand. Make sure that he is drinking fluids and eating. Initially, sugar water can be given for shock. Mushy wet feed with a little egg can be good to hold up to his beak. Pictures of any wounds would be helpful. Puncture wounds can abscess if they close up too soon.

Could I use cloves? I could make clove tea and dab it on.. Also analgesic I believe. I've read that they're antiseptic and antibacterial, and I don't have much else in the way of medications. Sprinkles is eating and drinking so I'm assuming the shock is over now. I'll try get photos of the wounds but I don't want to stress him out more, now that he is calm.