Injured dove - need help, please!

[believer01]

When closing up the chicken coop I found an injured morning dove. No telling how long she's been trying to get out of the chain link.....her breast muscle is exposed, no feathers left on an area about the size of a silver dollar. It dripped blood when I picked her up. At that point she was still flying into the fence trying to get out.

Brought her in, sprayed the wound with colloidal silver (it looks clean and had stopped dripping); put her into a cat carrier on a clean white towel so I can watch for more bleeding. Gave her a dish a water, quiet, and dark.

She was laying totally still and hadn't moved after 2 min so I just left her alone.

Anything else I should be doing?
Thanks everyone!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

You should put a heating pad under her or a heat light on her, they need to be kept warm when in distress.

 

[believer01]

Shelley, the half bath I have her carrier in is very small and the warmest room in the house since there's a vent in there. It's probably 70 - 75 degrees ..... do you think it needs to be warmer?

 

[believer01]

Ok folks, more questions!

This morning, the dove was awake at first light and had moved to the back of the carrier. As I reached in for her she flapped around. I put comfrey ointment on the wound which is not bleeding (the towel only had one small spot of blood evident although it was really too dark still to tell for sure). She tried to get free of my hand so asap I put her back. Before I could recover the carrier she had flapped against the insides of the carrier enough to send feathers floating toward the front opening. She quit once I got it dark again. Didn't move when I put small dish of seed/chicken feed in as I hardly pushed the cover aside.

Should I release her once it warms up today? It's supposed to get above freezing by noon, with a low of 23, wind chill of 18 tonight. Tomorrow forecast is 42/27, no rain due till Mon.

Thanks!!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Is the wound still open? Personally I'd keep her until the wound is closed up then get her re-acclimated to the outside temps before releasing her. She could very easily re-open the injury if you release her now. Do you have a wildlife rehabber in your area? I don't know if they do doves, but it's worth a shot.