My dog attacked my chicken!!

[MsChickenMomma]

Last night at about 6:30pm, my dog attacked my beloved house chicken. She went into severe shock. The only marks I find were a few scrapes along her beak, and a puncture on the top of her head (the dog got his mouth around her head). The puncture on her head only broke the skin, and it didn't look at all deep. But I think it caused swelling on her brain.

She almost died this morning. She lost all control of her neck and wings, so I had to hold her up to keep her from falling. Her digestive system shut down from the shock, so we couldn't get pedialyte to go through her system and revive her from the shock. It all just sat in her crop. I was up most of the night comforting her and keeping her comfortable.

Early this morning her digestive system finally kicked back into gear, and we were able to get her to react to some pedialyte. She is still on her death bed though. I am going to do everything I can to keep her comfortable and hopefully save her. Taking her to the vet to be euthanized is not an option. That would only stress her out more, and if she is going to pass, I want it to be as peaceful a death as possible.

Her current symptoms:

Weakness in neck.
Labored breathing,
Fixed eyes (won't dilate),
Extreme exhaustion,
Weakness in her legs,
Dizziness,
and mucus like poop.

She is currently in her coop in my room, sleeping. What I want to know, is there anything I can give for swelling to hopefully remove the pressure from her brain and alleviate some of her symptoms.

She is definitely a fighter, and she hasn't given up. She spent all night trying to stand even when she couldn't, and when she was close to death this morning, she wouldn't keep her eyes closed. It's almost like she knew that she would pass if she gave in.

This is the second time in her 7 month live that she has had a severe near death experience. I have faith in her to pull through this, but I have to be able to help her through it. Are there any medications I can give her, or something to help with these symptoms? She is very important to me, and as long as she's fighting it, I am going to do what I can to help her. This is kind of an emergency, so I need some responses ASAP.

Thank you in advance.

 

[ChickenPeep]

Ebony has something to say.......

 

[ten chicks]

First of all you need to secure your coop! Please do not bring any more birds home until this is done as it is not fair to the birds,this dog will be back guaranteed. Have you spoken to the owners of this dog? I would almost be inclined to shoot this animal if he comes back.

Your silkie rooster,when you say "gone" do you mean dead or missing(i am assuming dead,but just to clarify). For your girl,can you feel any break in her leg? Can she walk on leg? Is her wing dragging on the ground? You can make a splint for leg if you believe it is broken. For her wing,you could try wrapping wing to immobilize it,secure wing to body,wrap once under wing (so there is no rubbing against skin)then wrap around body in a figure eight,wrapping under good wing. Secure wrapping,but not so tight as to cut off circulation. Some recommend splinting wing,but unless you know where break is i am skeptical on how this would work. Keep her quiet/calm,give electrolytes for shock,make sure she is eating/drinking,especially drinking.

For wound on back,clean initially with a diluted peroxide solution then use a saline solution daily,apply an antibiotic ointment(nothing ending in "caine/cane")toxic to chickens. I would leave uncovered,wound will heal from inside out. For pain,you can give her a baby aspirin(81mg) or a reg aspirin(325mg)dose is 25mg per lb of body weight,crush and place in water(my preference) or feed. Keep her warm,when ill/injured birds cannot regulate their body temp,you can place a hot water bottle(wrap in a pillowcase or towel)beside her,if she needs the heat she will sit beside or on it,if she is warm she will move away from it.

Most important watch for infection,with any animal bite the risk of infection increases.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I took some pictures of Madame Sunni just now. She is back to cruising around the house (with extreme supervision now). We still tube fed her this morning, but she is starting to get her aim back and managed to eat just a few pellets last night and this morning. She jumped up onto her roost at bedtime by herself, and jumped down this morning without any stumbling or dizziness. Every day I am seeing more improvements from her. She was even scratching and pecking through her shavings in her coop this morning. Today is day 4 since the incident with our dog.

She has a few scuffs along the right side of her beak, and a small scratch just above her left waddle. I don't know if you can see it in the photos, but she has a bruise just behind her eye on the left side that spreads down to her ear. The bruise is from the small puncture wound that she has on the top of her head. You can't really see it unless you lift up her feathers, but the bruise is dark greenish blue and spreads over most of the top of her head.

Earlier our dog jumped down from the couch and she growled and hissed at him, so she's definitely scared of him. I want be letting him anywhere near her, or her anywhere near him anymore. I can tell by the way our dog looks at her that he's sorry, but I don't trust him.

(right side)


(left side)


(you can kind of see the bruise in this photo)

 

[ten chicks]

Her symptoms indicate she has a serious injury,i will be honest it does not sound good,prepare yourself for her passing. Head trauma can be very serious,even though you cannot see wounds does not mean there isn't serious trauma to brain. Keep her warm,chickens cannot regulate body temp when ill/injured,you can try and give her a baby aspirin(81mg)or a regular 325mg aspirin,dose is 25mg per lb of body weight. Aspirin helps with swelling. Give electrolyles for shock. Try placing a hot water bottle beside her,this helps for additional heat.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I know the chances of her survival are extremely slim. But I have to do everything in my power to keep her comfortable.

I just gave her 5cc of pedialyte (that's all I could get in her), and now she's sitting on my lap wrapped in a blanket. She seems comfortable, but still not at all like herself.

 

[ten chicks]

I know the chances of her survival are extremely slim. But I have to do everything in my power to keep her comfortable.

I just gave her 5cc of pedialyte (that's all I could get in her), and now she's sitting on my lap wrapped in a blanket. She seems comfortable, but still not at all like herself.

Head trauma can take several days before you notice any improvement. I would try some aspirin,if there is swelling this may help.

I have a silkie rooster that suffered some sort of head trauma(no wounds)he was basically comatose,i tube feed him for 9 days( and added aspirin to water)he finally started eating on his own and is now perfectly healthy. So yes never give up,i just wanted you to understand how critical she is. My concern is a crushed skull,brain trauma,fixed pupils,dizziness all indicate head trauma.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Thank you. My dad is on his way to the store now to get some baby aspirin. Even if it doesn't help her symptoms, it will help her if there is any pain.

I won't give up hope for her.

 

[ilovemysilkie]

I'm so sorry Ashley! I'm not to good with these chicken problems, I have only had chickens for 6 months. I'm sure this isn't helping, just wanted to let you know I hope she gets better and pulls through. She's a strong girl.

 

[roostersandhens]

Ok, so I talked to my mom (who is a vet). She said just keep her warm and comfortable. Make sure she has food and water near. She also said never to give any animal aspirin so.. She said it is dangerous for animals. I hope Sunni is okay!