Injuried hen is now having spasms - why

[JJWW]

Just hoping someone might have had experience with this...

5 days ago one of our Chickens was attacked by a dog. She has 1 large area where the skin was torn and muscle exposed and another smaller area with the same. To my surprise I read that she could recover from this. They recomended not stiching, due to infection. Because the gap was so wide though(on her thigh and leg)I did put 3 stitches in just to bring it together after I had cleaned her in the tube and latherd her with betadine. Then I covered her with neosporin. I have done this for the past 3 days. I decided to start her on antibiotics in her water to head off any infection that might try to creep up. As of yester day though she has been jerking as if she had hickups. She has been eating well, (layer crumble, worms, clover) an drinkng well, (until I put antibiotics in her water,now I have to give it to her by dropper). And she has had a BM (do you call it that in the chicken world)every day that is soft but not runny. She seems to have a lot of gas too. She can't stand so I try to reposition her or even hold her and "stretch" her legs so she doesn't atropy. The co op also recomended putting a wound dressing called BLUE LOTION on the wound but I don't know that, that was a good idea because it tends to dry up the wound and I don't know if it should be "drying" up the muscle though. Well, this is long enough so I'll end here. Any help or suggestions would be encouraging.

Jwebb

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi so sorry to hear about your hen, and hope fully she will recover, they are amazing at doing it. wanted to give you this link since this injury is much worse but has alot of good info and hopefully will give you encouragement to keep going with her.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6026978 please keep us updated on her progress. when you click on this link go to pagwe 1 so you can see the pictures and get the whole story.

and

 

[luvmigrls]

I am sorry to hear that. I too have been treating my girl who was attacked by dog 2 weeks ago today. She also had torn tissue/mussel trauma between wing and leg, so she had a limp for about a week. I haven't heard about the blue stuff but I would be carefull to not seal in any infection. Do you smell infection? When the wound is healing it can look pretty messy but will harden by itself as air dries it out. I used an antibiotic gel that I got at the Ag store that kills bacteria in 30 seconds, works where you can get it (they have the spray too). A little pricey but works. If you suspect /smell infection you might consider the Penniclen G Procaine shots that you can get at the Ag store as well for deeper unreachable infection. There is an article pasted on a post here somewhere that explains how to do it. Also you might want to slow down on worms (may be harder to digest)?? At the good advice of members, I have been giveing her some yogurt mixed with her morning grains, electrolytes in her water, fish w/ some Vit E oil in it, all these are good for healing and nutrition. I also give her some chopped apple & lettuce to keep her regular. I am letting her out for a few hours a day to get fresh air, sunshine, dust bath/grit, and to be with the others. She has pecked off the section of dried dead skin and seems to be well on the road to recovery. There is HOPE, don't give up. Prayer goes along way too! Best of luck.

 

[DTRM30]

The gas and runny poo could be from the antibiotic. They will kill the "good" flora in the digestive system along with any "bad" ones. Antibiotics are not discriminatory against which bacteria they kill. Some yogurt may help with that.

BlueKote is available an pretty much any feed/Ag store such as TSC or etc.

As for the spasms - can't really say. Could be neurological injuries from the attack. Could be something else .... but as to what I really don't know.

I hope she recovers though !

 

[Country4ever]

I had a hen attacked. 2 others died, but she lived. She had an area on her back that had been torn off. It was about 4" long and 2" wide. It was mostly skin.
I brought her into the house, into a dog crate, washed her up with diluted betadine and put alot of neosporin on her. I didn't stitch or cover it. I kept neosporin on it for about a week, and then nothing. I was totally amazed at fast she recovered. Within 2 weeks she was fine again, with new feathers covering the area. They have an incredible ability to heal.
You stitching it closed concerns me........so just keep your eye on it. Any signs of infection, I would cut the stitches and re-clean her up and start over. Antibiotics is a good idea, at least to start with.

Are you giving her any scratch? I've had chickens get a cough with scratch stuck in their throats.
My hens were totally traumatized by this attack. This was in June, and they quit laying the rest of the year. They were very subdued after that too, so there's alot of "emotional" trauma involved in being attacked too.
Good luck and keep us posted on her progress. I wouldn't exercise her leg yet.....not until the muscle is healed.

 

[JJWW]

Thanks all for the great information! "Lacy" is doing well. Great advice on the yogart! I'll give her some. She is eating gravel with her crumble and doesn't seem to be having any problems,so far with digestion. I haven't seen, nor smelled any infection as of yet. I didn't stitch up the whole thing, just 3 stickes in the middle to bring the two pieces together, nut i will keep an eye on it. My latest concern is that she, can't walk. Nothig is broken but that on leg is painful that she can't put any weight on it. I am also afraid that it might atrophy from not using it. i try to hold her some and move it to keep the circulation up Should I work the leg up and down so the muscles don't get use to not being used? Thanks again, everyone for your great advise and encouragment!

Proverbs12:10

JWebb

 

[Country4ever]

Her muscle is injured. I would wait until it is healed, before doing any PT.

 

[JJWW]

OK great! I'll wait on the PT. Thanks for the help.