Injured Turkey - Can see her lung and inside her chest cavity WARNING:graphic picture

[AquaCluck]

My Heritage White turkey pet Momo is injured under her wing. We found it tonight. She did not seem to be injured a few hours ago. Do not know what happened. We just moved so this is a new pen for her and our other birds. One tom turkey and bunch of chickens. Most of them were raised together and it's a cohesive flock. Looked through the pen she's in with several chickens. There are a few nails, board corners but can't find anything that shows blood, feathers or skin. Working on removing any sharp edges for safety's sake.

It's through her skin, facia and muscle. You can see into her chest cavity and watch her lung when she breathes. If she were a cow or a horse or a dog it would be easy. She's a 45 lb turkey instead. She's moving, eating, drinking, hopping on her perch by herself. However...what's her prognosis? Any ideas? I've tried calling vets, just getting answering machines and answering services. A trip to the emergency vet in the next town would be veerrry pricey just to get her looked at and I do NOT want to travel with her.

I had a hen who had the back of her head pecked open and the skull and tendons showing. Kept her inside for over a month living in my bathroom to keep out infection and insects and treat her wound. She made a full recovery and returned her flock with flying colors. It's possible I could keep Momo inside but...sutures? I just don't see something like this closing up by itself.

 

[hayley3]

Oh poor thing. I would keep her as still as possible and get her to a vet as soon as you can. I'm not the expert on wound care but just wanted to say I hope Momo recovers. That's a nasty wound and I hope you can figure out what did it later.

 

[AquaCluck]

Finally spoke to a vet. He said it definitely needs to be sutured and he said the healing and resilience of birds is amazing so don't despair. Keep it clean, keep her quiet, bring her in Monday first thing. He also suggested the emergency vet but we discussed my concern they don't deal with a lot of birds. You can easily kill a bird with the wrong amount of sedation. So taking special care of her and taking her in the vet Monday.


So how many of you would pay several hundred dollars to have your bird stitched up?

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

Finally spoke to a vet. He said it definitely needs to be sutured and he said the healing and resilience of birds is amazing so don't despair. Keep it clean, keep her quiet, bring her in Monday first thing. He also suggested the emergency vet but we discussed my concern they don't deal with a lot of birds. You can easily kill a bird with the wrong amount of sedation. So taking special care of her and taking her in the vet Monday.


So how many of you would pay several hundred dollars to have your bird stitched up?

I would, if I had the money at the time. I was going to bring my bird to the vet but I didn't have the money to spare, sadly and she died

 

[hayley3]

I wouldn't think it would cost several hundred dollars just for sutures? Maybe a couple..did he say it how much it was gonna cost. I know an Emergency vet would be way too pricey.
I'm just really curious how she did it without being attacked.

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

I wouldn't think it would cost several hundred dollars just for sutures? Maybe a couple..did he say it how much it was gonna cost. I know an Emergency vet would be way too pricey.
I'm just really curious how she did it without being attacked.

same like how the heck did that even happen?!

 

[Eggcessive]

Get some chlorhexidene (Hibiclens in some stores,) and use it with water to clenase the wound. Betadine (Equate Povidone iodine) would also be good. Some people close wounds with superglue instead of sutures. The edges should be disinfected and dry. If you don’t glue it, I would use plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the wound. Normally we don’t recommend a dressing, but a kerlix gauze or a wrap (clean old TShirt) around the wound to keep it clean might be good. Then if you feel that you need to see a vet tomorrow, you can think on it. I don’t know turkeys well, but spurs on chickens can rip skin like this, or a hawk attack. Hopefully, you can get her to heal.

 

[AquaCluck]

That's the crazy part of it. No obvious attack. All the other chickens are fine and who would go for the huge turkey when there are tasty little hens every. Plus the area is completely enclosed. Part in the barn covered with wire and outside covered with head duty deer netting.
The only thing we can think of is a nail or a sharp corner but....even those don't seem to be enough to make a gouge like this. I doubt Goldie did this and he doesn't have big spurs anyway.

I have used super glue plenty but since it's over 6 inches I'm a little hesitant. A t-shirt is a great idea. I'm just wondering if she would be averse to a t-shirt holding her one wing down however. It seems like the best protection for this is her wing right now. It's right up in her arm pit so to speak and it well protected as long as she isn't taking dirt baths.

As of this morning it's not looking scary and seems a little better. Not as scary at least. I'm thinking I may put her in a large dog pen with a blankie on the top for a few days in the garage where it's warmer and see how she does as well as the other treatment you suggested.

 

[AquaCluck]

I wouldn't think it would cost several hundred dollars just for sutures? Maybe a couple..did he say it how much it was gonna cost. I know an Emergency vet would be way too pricey.

It's the sedation. Holding down a 45 lb bird and suturing under her wing would take some serious restraint. Since it's into the thorax I think I'd rather sedate than wrestle.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

I am so sorry.

I had an incident in July involving a predator, the neighbor's dog. The injuries involved muscle only and did not permeate through to major organs. Still and all, it cost nearly $1,000. Your situation was far more complicated.