HELP! Chicken attacked by dog! *update* with pics

[ThatCrazyChickenGirl]

One of our hens was left out of the coop tonight (usually they’re kept in a run, and closed in there at night) and she got attacked by the tenants dogs.

I’ll take pics first thing in the morning, but I don’t want to overstress her tonight.

Her wounds aren’t very bloody at all, but seem to have torn up a good chunk of fatty tissue and skin near her vent, on the back of her thigh.

I’ve rinsed her wound with saline solution (1/4 tsp to 1 cup warm water) but I’m unsure whether to do anything else. We’ve never had an injury. She can still stand on one leg at least, and she drank some water of her own accord.

Should I be stiching her? Cutting off the loose flaps of the torn skin? Do we need to do an antibiotic treatment?

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's hard to suggest with out seeing but the main thing is cleaning out the wound. You could put some Neosporin without the pain relief for now. Vetericyn is a good too. Best to keep her in & quiet, depending on the severity of the "attack" she maybe in shock. She's drinking so that's good, in the morning see if she'll eat her feed (wet to entice her) or even scrambled eggs. Pictures would help ....

 

[ThatCrazyChickenGirl]

Took some pics! She’s very awake and is eating. Haven’t seen her drink since the sip she took last night, but since she’s so alert I’m pretty sure she’s not dehydrated.

 

[silkiemother]

from what I have heard,catnip can help make her sleepy so that she calms down and won't mess wither wounds.

 

[ThatCrazyChickenGirl]

She’s still alert, but I can see her trembling faintly. She hasn’t messed with her wounds, she just sits still and chirps when we come near her. We set up a screen around her pen to keep off flies, since we can’t move her indoors.

I also put neosporin without pain relief and rinsed her wound with saline solution again this morning.

We have never had an injury before, so I’m not really sure whether hers looks severe or not.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Please get some neosporin no pain killer and nutri drench snip feathers that are in the way you have done very well with the saline she will be fine a few hard boiled eggs may help

 

[roosterhavoc]

Blue kote with the dauber in the bottle. The wound isn’t that bad. Just cover the entire area with blue kote real good. She should be fine if she’s awake and alert. Her feathers will be stained bluish/purple but it works good.

 

[Eggcessive]

You did the right thing with saline and plain neosporin to her wounds. Repeat the neosporin twice a day. Her wound is severe, but chickens can easily recover from those if she hasn’t sustained internal injuries or stops eating and drinking. She may be in shock still, but offer some water often, and some cooked egg or tuna along with her usual chickens feed. Make sure that she is warm enough, since she may be cold or in shock.

Is she alert or eating and drinking? Do no use BluKote until her wounds are completely scabbed over. It is meant more for minor wounds or scrapes, not an open wound with fat and fascia showing. Look for signs of infection. Let us know how she is getting along.

 

[roosterhavoc]

You did the right thing with saline and plain neosporin to her wounds. Repeat the neosporin twice a day. Her wound is severe, but chickens can easily recover from those if she hasn’t sustained internal injuries or stops eating and drinking. She may be in shock still, but offer some water often, and some cooked egg or tuna along with her usual chickens feed. Make sure that she is warm enough, since she may be cold or in shock.

Is she alert or eating and drinking? Do no use BluKote until her wounds are completely scabbed over. It is meant more for minor wounds or scrapes, not an open wound with fat and fascia showing. Look for signs of infection. Let us know how she is getting along.

How many wounded chickens have you treated? Your saying blue kote won’t heal that wound just fine? I’d bet a dextrose mixture for her to drink. Clean the wound with betadine then apply blue kote will work fine. You won’t have to spend a ton of money and extra time buying and doing all kinds of other crazy things. I see such ridiculous things recommended on here. For some that may be fine and others excessive. I understand chickens are pets to many people but just because you don’t agree with me doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
You could take the bird to the vet and spend $500 on something you can do at home for $5.
By the way if that bird was still in shock she’d be dead by now.

 

[Eggcessive]

Roosterhavoc, if you read the label on BluKote, it contains alcohol, gentian violet, and it says to not use it on serious wounds, burns, or puncture wounds. I have used it for years on my chickens, and I do not take chickens to the vet. I did recommend that the OP use it once the wound has scabbed over. The OP’s wound is very deep, so saline which can be homemade, and plain neosporin ($1 for feneric at Daollar Tree) is an excellent treatment. BluKote does a great job on abrasions, minor cuts, and I love it for hiding a wound so chickens don’t peck at red skin.