Help! Predator Attack and Open Neck Wounds!

[wlhtx]

When I went out to let our 6 African Geese out of their pen this morning, I discovered that something had tried to attack them during the night. One of them has several open wounds on the back of her neck. The wounds are not actively bleeding, but there is flesh showing. My guess is a raccoon or something tried to reach in through the fencing and managed to grab her, but thankfully she was able to get out and away from its grasp. But now I'm trying to figure out the best way to treat her. I've read that you shouldn't put hydrogen peroxide on an open wound as it destroys the good tissue - so what do you use on a goose?!?! Just soapy water? Can anyone give any advice on the best way to clean out something like this?

I'm going to try and get a picture. She is about 6 weeks old.

 

[sourland]

I would suggest slathering on 'non pain killing' Neosporin and make sure that flies do not lay eggs in the wounds. Some bandage or seal the wounds with 'super glue', but I prefer leaving them open to the air unless they are excessive in size. Understand that the predator will be back for another try. Good luck at fortifying your pens and resolving this situation.

 

[wlhtx]

Why "non pain killing"? Is there something in the pain killing version that is bad for them?

 

[CherishHolland]

the pain killer in the neosporin with pain relief is toxic to the them.

 

[wlhtx]

Okay - that's very good to know... THANK YOU!

 

[Iain Utah]

Sorry to hear your goose was attacked. Per my vet (avian certified & waterfowl specialist), the best way to clean a fresh wound on a goose is with betadine, diluted with water to the color of light iced tea. He also does not recommend Neosporin as it is greasy and attracts dirt. If necessary, he prefers to prescribe silvadene crème, a topical antibiotic.

 

[wlhtx]

My poor baby! This shows the larger gash at the top of her neck. There is another one, similar in size at the lower part - it just doesn't show here because of how she's sitting.

We've washed with warm soapy water and treated with iodine (all we had) and some non pain relief antibiotic ointment (again, all we had). I chose not to bandage her for now, but rather opted to let it breathe. The wound is not Ctively bleeding, but you can see that there is a half-dollar size portion of flesh showing. They've finally calmed down, but have been skittish as March hares all morning.

The one night we let our dog sleep inside...

 

[Miss Lydia]

My poor baby! This shows the larger gash at the top of her neck. There is another one, similar in size at the lower part - it just doesn't show here because of how she's sitting.

We've washed with warm soapy water and treated with iodine (all we had) and some non pain relief antibiotic ointment (again, all we had). I chose not to bandage her for now, but rather opted to let it breathe. The wound is not Ctively bleeding, but you can see that there is a half-dollar size portion of flesh showing. They've finally calmed down, but have been skittish as March hares all morning.

The one night we let our dog sleep inside...

I'd get something like Swat to put around the wounds or you may have flies laying eggs inside the wounds, especially since your in Texas warm weather bring out the flies and you don't want maggots in those wounds. I would also put hardware cloth up at least 3' on your pen. your lil one may not be so lucky next time. Or locked up inside at night. Glad it wasn't any worse.

 

[sammark]

My poor baby! This shows the larger gash at the top of her neck. There is another one, similar in size at the lower part - it just doesn't show here because of how she's sitting.

We've washed with warm soapy water and treated with iodine (all we had) and some non pain relief antibiotic ointment (again, all we had). I chose not to bandage her for now, but rather opted to let it breathe. The wound is not Ctively bleeding, but you can see that there is a half-dollar size portion of flesh showing. They've finally calmed down, but have been skittish as March hares all morning.

The one night we let our dog sleep inside...

Aw god love him/her such a shame, glad it wasn't worse.

 

[RURU]

Just a suggestion but I would put hardware cloth around the whole bottom of their pen so the raccoon can Not reach into your birds. It is well worth the money to put the hardware cloth around it. Because if that coon gets ahold of one of the geese it will pull it right through the wire you have. I know it has happened to us.