Inky won’t open her eyes! Help!?

[Ryn]

Friday night Inky got attacked by an owl, and came through remarkably well! She was a bloody mess when I found her but after some baths, she has one smaller wound on the back of her head which is healing nicely and some significant swelling to her head/neck. My concern is her eyes! She won’t open them, or can’t? She is very alert, much recovered from Friday-preening herself and drinking well. She will eat raw egg but isn’t interested in feed- possibly bc she can’t see it? It seems as if her eyes are moving under her eyelids but I just wonder how long it will be before she opens them! We have been keeping the eyelids moist with erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. Will she open them? I tried to search for this type of thing before posting but am coming up empty!

 

[micstrachan]

Poor Inky! Can you post a pic? Maybe it’s just from the swelling?

 

[Ryn]

I will do that!

 

[Then I Will]

Owls have a terrific grip! I'm so glad she survived the initial blow/trauma!
I would be concerned about infection. That's my take on the swelling.
I know chickens can get blood poisoning from dog/cat bites. Can owl talons do the same??? Just keep that in mind in case. Prayers for your little Inky!

 

[Ryn]

Ok here is a picture and I will preface it with I know she has a dirty face. She has had several baths and that stuff is stuck right to her skin. I’m sure she is sore there as well so she doesn’t just love me trying to get that dried stuff off! I put warm compresses on her eyes (as she tolerated) bc I was afraid they were stuck together with dried blood- BUT i do not think they are! I also started her on Tylan 50 bc she sounded like what I associate with a pleural effusion which I know isn’t the same in birds but it sounded like that- she is no longer sounding like that. I read that Tylan is generally used for respiratory issues, would you suggest something else for prevention of wound infection?

 

[micstrachan]

Poor baby. Yes, the skin around her eye looks swollen. Is that mud or blood on her face? I think the moisture you are providing for her eyes is good. There is a vetericyn eye drop that might be good, too.
Supportive care like a heat source and vitamins & electrolytes in her water might help her.
I think it’s good you are treating the respiratory issue, but keep a close watch on that. I haven’t committed the proper meds with doses with symptoms to memory, so I’m no help there. I see a little wetness coming from her nare (nostril) as well. Hopefully the meds help with that if she’s getting a respiratory infection. Good luck, and please let us know how she does.

 

[Ryn]

It’s both I think! The water was muddy last night after her bath but also I got some dried blood off as well. I should have said before I posted that I took the picture right after my husband gave her some egg- and she did eat some feed (woo!) and it got all over her beak/face bc she was a mess with the egg! We like veterycin, I will look for the drops. We have had a heat lamp on her until this am- my husband said she was panting so he turned it off. I worried about her being cold all day but she seemed fine when I got home. This is my first time ever rehabilitating so I am open to all suggestions!

 

[micstrachan]

You’re doing great. Yes, she needs to be able to get away from the heat source. Have you looked her over for puncture wounds. Owl talons are long snd sharp. They are quite formidable raptors.

 

[Ryn]

I can’t find anything! I do see quite a bit more bruising on her neck today than had been noticeable before. So you think her eyes will open when the swelling subsides? Thank you so much for all your help!!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I would give her warm epsom salt baths up to her neck. You can dip her or use a washcloth to saturate her feathers over and over again. You may need your husband to help with this, but while she's in the bath try using cotton swabs and gently clean her face and head. It will be much easier assessing her progress if you can see her skin.

Just assume there are puncture wounds you can't see. The epsom salt baths are great for this so long as you repeatedly flush water up under her feathers.

Is her comb dirty and that's why it's so dark?

As for her swollen eyes, I'm not familiar with this, but your treatment approach seems to be good.

Try giving her some canned tuna or salmon. My rooster prefers salmon and wouldn't touch the tuna. If she responds to the salmon (unsalted), you can make a mash with her regular feed and add a generous amount of salmon for taste and additional protein.

@Hen Pen Jem