Help Turkeys leg is Horrible

[Rachel92]

I have a bronze female who has a gash on her leg from a dog bite that happened awhile back. I did salt soak her and washed her then let her go till 2 months after I began to smell a decay and it was her leg know for 3 weeks everyday I have been salt soaking, blue kote and putting drawing salve but it is not healing shut recently iv been pushing out pus the decay smell has gone away since my start of cleaning but I just don't know what to do or how to heal this gash shut. The black is from the blue kote Please I don't wanna lose her she's a happy bird she eats drinks and wonders normally but doesn't run as fast as the others when they do.

 

[CrazyHenLady386]

it looks like thats some muscle,there. You will definitely have to get some antiboitics in her, there may not be any smell but it could still be infected. Keep her fom walking on the leg, she'll need to rest too. Goo luck!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Do you have a Trader Joe's nearby or a health food store?

I'd highly recommend Manuka honey. Honestly, any locally crafted honey would do, but Manuka is the best. It's maybe $12 for a small container, but it goes a very long way.

I know this sounds quaint, but the medical research is abundant, and I can attest to the truly deep and miraculous healing from Manuka honey. Apply three times a day so the wound is always coated. It won't look pretty, but this is powerful stuff. I started a discussion with tons of updates on my rooster's own healing these past two weeks. He was attacked by a coyote and has extensive deep wounds. I've only used honey and epsom salt baths, and the wounds are healing marvelously well.

 

[ThatCrazyChickenGirl]

Is there a vet nearby you could take her to?

Even non-avian vets will sometimes treat bird wounds, as wound care is usually similar across species. I would call and explain the situation to the clerk, and request that they ask the vet in regards to this particular case. Even if they won't treat, they may give you advice or direct you to someone who can.

In the meantime, i would suggest using a syringe (no needle!) to flush the wound. If those aren't available, ive seen my mother (she was a veterinary tech) use a small turkey Baster to clean wounds.

You want to flush the wound thoroughly, and be sure that the salt water is penetrating the wound and flushing out pockets of infection. This might take a good amount of forceful squirting, and your turkey may fight you on it, so it would be helpful to have someone else hold and soothe her.

Hopefully if you get the wound clean and speak with a vet, she will be just fine! She may need antibiotics, to prevent the infection from spreading through the bloodstream and making her septic. That's usually the reason animals die from older wounds. High temperatures, panting, befuddlement, and going off food are signs of septicemia, so watch for those. If you see those symptoms, she needs medication immediately, as they can die pretty quickly from this.

I hope you can get it clean and keep her healthy and free of pain! Sounds like she's active, so that's a great sign.

Also, make sure that the others don't attack her or abandon her for the injury - I'm not sure if turkeys do this, but I know chickens will. She's likely in more pain than she lets on, as most animals will hide weaknesses with amazing skill!