Necrotic tissue antibiotic question

[CackleberryQueen]

My honey penny recently had fishing line caught around her foot for approximately 2 days cutting off the circulation. Despite soaking it in peroxide daily as well as antibiotic ointment coverings it's starting to smell (infection). Would injectable penicillin be an acceptable route of treatment.

 

[azygous]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that foot is probably toast. Once it starts to smell, the tissue is very likely dead.

Cutting off circulation for even an hour or two would likely have killed the foot, but two days sealed its fate.

Can you post a more focused picture of the necrotic foot? I'd like to see if the foot is beginning to auto-amputate. This would be the normal sequence after a severe injury to the extremity. The chicken's body walls off the infected tissue, rerouting the blood supply away from it to avoid carrying bacteria into the bloodstream. If this isn't occurring, your hen is in serious danger from systemic infection, and an oral antibiotic might be a wise choice.

By the way, although it likely didn't affect the foot one way or the other since irreperable damage had already been done, hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean a wound, but after that one application, continued use destroys new cell growth and should be avoided.

 

[CackleberryQueen]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that foot is probably toast. Once it starts to smell, the tissue is very likely dead.

Cutting off circulation for even an hour or two would likely have killed the foot, but two days sealed its fate.

Can you post a more focused picture of the necrotic foot? I'd like to see if the foot is beginning to auto-amputate. This would be the normal sequence after a severe injury to the extremity. The chicken's body walls off the infected tissue, rerouting the blood supply away from it to avoid carrying bacteria into the bloodstream. If this isn't occurring, your hen is in serious danger from systemic infection, and an oral antibiotic might be a wise choice.

By the way, although it likely didn't affect the foot one way or the other since irreperable damage had already been done, hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean a wound, but after that one application, continued use destroys new cell growth and should be avoided.

I will try to get a better picture of the foot, and thank you so much for the advice

 

[CackleberryQueen]

She's been the most wonderful patient, and still eating and drinking so I have hopes she will pull through she's my sweet, sweet girl

 

[azygous]

One thing your photos don't show is a comparison of her two legs. So please answer this question: Is the affected leg swollen compared to the unaffected leg? If it is, it means auto-amputation is underway. If both legs are the same, not counting the blackened foot, auto-amputation is failing, and there's risk of the bacteria getting into her bloodstream.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I love this story, and I hope it gives you hope and a brighter outlook!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/24221957

 

[CackleberryQueen]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that foot is probably toast. Once it starts to smell, the tissue is very likely dead.

Cutting off circulation for even an hour or two would likely have killed the foot, but two days sealed its fate.

Can you post a more focused picture of the necrotic foot? I'd like to see if the foot is beginning to auto-amputate. This would be the normal sequence after a severe injury to the extremity. The chicken's body walls off the infected tissue, rerouting the blood supply away from it to avoid carrying bacteria into the bloodstream. If this isn't occurring, your hen is in serious danger from systemic infection, and an oral antibiotic might be a wise choice.

By the way, although it likely didn't affect the foot one way or the other since irreperable damage had already been done, hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean a wound, but after that one application, continued use destroys new cell growth and should be avoided.

I tried to get better pics ...she's also eating and drinking well so we started her on some penicillin today

One thing your photos don't show is a comparison of her two legs. So please answer this question: Is the affected leg swollen compared to the unaffected leg? If it is, it means auto-amputation is underway. If both legs are the same, not counting the blackened foot, auto-amputation is failing, and there's risk of the bacteria getting into her bloodstream.

One thing your photos don't show is a comparison of her two legs. So please answer this question: Is the affected leg swollen compared to the unaffected leg? If it is, it means auto-amputation is underway. If both legs are the same, not counting the blackened foot, auto-amputation is failing, and there's risk of the bacteria getting into her bloodstream.

It is a bit swollen at the base just before the black starts...which is now basically the entire foot. She has started on some pen g injections as well, and will continue for 3 days as vet assistant advised. Is there literally anything else anyone can think of I can do to make her more comfortable. I keep trying to reply with pictures but it won't let me for some reason.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Please listen to @azygous and no more peroxide please?

 

[azygous]

Read through the thread that @Auntiejessi3 posted to in comment #6. It has everything you need to know on what to expect and how to care for the foot. Spoiler alert: the heroine of the story recovers and is doing fine with both feet having auto-amputated.

It's a good precaution to have her on the antibiotic. It does sound like the foot is following nature's course and is auto-amputating.

 

[CackleberryQueen]

Please listen to @azygous and no more peroxide please?

We stopped that many days ago.