Help! Post Attack Care

[kjorgey]

1 hour ago, my son saw a large cat or fox running away from our property. Concerned, I did a chicken head count. Found 1 missing hen from their afternoon of free ranging. I'm guessing it was a cat, because yesterday he paid a visit and I chased him into the woods then. Could have been fox, but unlikely by outcome. I found my girl laying in the woods at the edge of our property. I have her in the air conditioned workshop. She seemed in shock. I cleansed her wounds which appears as punctures. There was minimal to no blood loss, though it looks like some hematomas firming under surface of skin. One puncture in mid back over trachea midclavicular area and one under wing. See pics. Interventions done so far: Cleansed wounds with peroxide. Currently hydrating by hand offering water in cup and hen is taking fluids well. Dressed wound with Neosporin and pressure bandage. As a nurse practitioner, I listened with my stethoscope over her inter clavicular air sacs. No sign of pneumothorax or air emphysema. My questions are: 1. Are these puncture wounds or claw attacks as noted on my pics. 2. Any more suggestions for care? She will spend the rest of the day and night in my spare bathroom where I can watch over her. I am hand offering electrolyte fluids designed for chickens. Note: This is one of 7 hens which are my pets and garden companions. I just spent 2,000 dollars on a sick cat who was euthanized this weekend. I don't want to drive 2 hours to an aviary vet. Can I do anything else to help my furry friend? Thoughts on outcome? She is alert and resting comfortably at present. Thanks in advance.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may be a lucky hen since she doesn’t have more major wounds or a leaking air sac. As you know, the use of peroxide can damage tissue, although using it once can clean out puncture wounds. I prefer 2% chlorhexidene, saline, or Vetericyn wound spray to clean wounds, followed by the plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment or similar. She should be kept from flies as long as she has open wounds. Internal injuries can be serious, but hopefully, she should heal okay. The other chickens can peck at any red wounds, so keep her separate if she has any until they are healing, or covered with BluKote. As long as she is drinking well, I would offer some moistened chicken feed, scrambled egg, and you can alternate canned cat food or tuna, to tempt her to eat. Usually, antibiotics are not necessary unless infection or abscess is seen.

 

[kjorgey]

1 hour ago, my son saw a large cat or fox running away from our property. Concerned, I did a chicken head count. Found 1 missing hen from their afternoon of free ranging. I'm guessing it was a cat, because yesterday he paid a visit and I chased him into the woods then. Could have been fox, but unlikely by outcome. I found my girl laying in the woods at the edge of our property. I have her in the air conditioned workshop. She seemed in shock. I cleansed her wounds which appears as punctures. There was minimal to no blood loss, though it looks like some hematomas firming under surface of skin. One puncture in mid back over trachea midclavicular area and one under wing. See pics. Interventions done so far: Cleansed wounds with peroxide. Currently hydrating by hand offering water in cup and hen is taking fluids well. Dressed wound with Neosporin and pressure bandage. As a nurse practitioner, I listened with my stethoscope over her inter clavicular air sacs. No sign of pneumothorax or air emphysema. My questions are: 1. Are these puncture wounds or claw attacks as noted on my pics. 2. Any more suggestions for care? She will spend the rest of the day and night in my spare bathroom where I can watch over her. I am hand offering electrolyte fluids designed for chickens. Note: This is one of 7 hens which are my pets and garden companions. I just spent 2,000 dollars on a sick cat who was euthanized this weekend. I don't want to drive 2 hours to an aviary vet. Can I do anything else to help my furry friend? Thoughts on outcome? She is alert and resting comfortably at present. Thanks in advance.

It sounds like she may be a lucky hen since she doesn’t have more major wounds or a leaking air sac. As you know, the use of peroxide can damage tissue, although using it once can clean out puncture wounds. I prefer 2% chlorhexidene, saline, or Vetericyn wound spray to clean wounds, followed by the plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment or similar. She should be kept from flies as long as she has open wounds. Internal injuries can be serious, but hopefully, she should heal okay. The other chickens can peck at any red wounds, so keep her separate if she has any until they are healing, or covered with BluKote. As long as she is drinking well, I would offer some moistened chicken feed, scrambled egg, and you can alternate canned cat food or tuna, to tempt her to eat. Usually, antibiotics are not necessary unless infection or abscess is seen

 

[kjorgey]

Thanks. Floppy will spend the night in my bathroom where I can offer her fluids. She is panting every so often. How often should I offer fluids? If she survives into tomorrow, I will clean out an old feed trough and move her into the garage where she will be safe and climate controlled. I'm not having a good week with my animals. Anything for pain control other than comfortable climate? She is defecating. Hopefully a good sign. I feel so I'll equipped for this. Ugh!

 

[Eggcessive]

I hope she makes it. The wounds look a little deeper than I thought. Can she or has she tried to stand? If she is awake enough you can try to put a lid or small scoop/cup up to her beak to offer fluids. Some place a spoon to the side of the beak, and you can use a dropper as well. Chickens can be tube feed into the crop by placing a tube down the chicken’s right side of the back of the throat, avoiding the trachea/airway in the center of the beak. The 4 th picture in this article shows that:
https://unitedpeafowlassociation.org/articles/oral-medication-dosing-of-peafowl/

 

[kjorgey]

I hope she makes it. The wounds look a little deeper than I thought. Can she or has she tried to stand? If she is awake enough you can try to put a lid or small scoop/cup up to her beak to offer fluids. Some place a spoon to the side of the beak, and you can use a dropper as well. Chickens can be tube feed into the crop by placing a tube down the chicken’s right side of the back of the throat, avoiding the trachea/airway in the center of the beak. The 4 th picture in this article shows that:
https://unitedpeafowlassociation.org/articles/oral-medication-dosing-of-peafowl/

Thank you. I have been going in every 20 minutes to offer fluids from a small medicine cup for the past 6 hours and she takes a few laps every time. I just checked on her. She is sitting up and appears to be trying to sleep, but she has no perch in the crate. She seems to be hanging in there. Hoping and praying for improvement in the morning.