necrotic wound on head and neck, need wound care advice

[pleasanthill]

Thank you very much for all the advice and support! Her eye is looking better today - I have been flushing it with sterile saline solution (for people with contacts) starting last night, 3 times a day and putting neosporin on it. I know it ought to be proper opthalmic ointment but it was all I had last night and today (Sunday) and I googled quite a lot of anecdotal cases where it helped chickens so I just went for it - worried if I didn't, things would go downhill. I will look for proper ointment tomorrow. I am now giving her 40mg aspirin a day in yoghurt/food and I will try clipping her nails tomorrow - very sensible. I will take a photo and see if I can upload it... It's just so gross. I also sprinkled some diatomaceous earth under her wings and on her tummy and if she makes it to the 25th she'll get another dose of ivermectin.

She definately is not smelling rotten anymore, wound looks healthier and like there might even be some healing happening (?) and she has started to try to preen herself.

I hope she feels better soon. She stumbled out of the bushes right in front of us looking like something out of Dawn of the Dead, plus ants. Couldn't just leave her to suffer.

Thanks again!!

 

[Imp]

Good job!

Imp

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Good job is right! Its all you can do. As long as it looks better than worse, you know you are doing the right thing. I bought this ointment at Tractor Supply... "Trophy ointment" EMT Gel.. it was about $14 a tube, but holy cow, it helps quickly. It has the consistency of honey, so its gooey, but stays on the wound and works great. I don't think its a good idea around the eyes, it doesn't say not to, but it can get stiff. The other birds didn't bother her and she never scratched herself. I have had the tube for a year, and it has come in handy a couple times, so worth the $14.

 

[pleasanthill]

Thanks! I've tried to upload a picture of our little chicken - not sure if I am doing it right. It is not pretty and I'm sure you will think I am nuts.

Thanks again.

 

[allieloveschickens]

Poor little thing! That is the worst scalping case I have seen yet. It sounds like you are taking really good care of her

 

[pleasanthill]

Just wanted to pass on that I took our little chicken to the vet after 10 days for another dose of ivermectin or whatever it's called and a different vet saw us and said immediately that she needed to be euthanased as he could see skull and the skin was retracted. I am relieved for the little chicken as it is no longer in pain but I wish I had gotten that feedback on our first visit because I feel like I unintentionally prolonged her suffering, which is the last thing I wanted to do. I feel a bit stupid because obviously the injury was bad but I figured if the vet didn't recommend immediate euthanasia there was a chance of recovery. I guess it's just one of those things. I should have dug for more information at my first visit and maybe that would have helped. Little chicken did initially perk up nicely and the infection seemed to go, but the last day or two before our appiontment she started to flag - she had lost the use of that one eye and started to have trouble eating - was just pecking at the air. And obviously I had no idea what I was looking at regarding the wound... Hopefully there will never be a next time for me but if there is, at least I'll know what I'm looking at. Scalping is really bad. Thank you for all your help and support for a "new egg"! Time to look after our other lovely hens...

 

[Imp]

I'm so sorry.
Might be for the best, that picture is pretty horrific.

Imp

 

[kcfuerst]

So sorry. Poor thing. Don't beat yourself up over trying to save her.

 

[klmclain1]

Wow... as I read through the posts I had no idea how awful she really was (looked). The poor baby... I'm so glad you did everything you did - it was humane, loving and pretty gutsy! Indeed it is too bad the first vet didn't recommend euthanasia - but you gave her the best chance she could have had. Hugs to you!

 

[pleasanthill]

Thank you for the kind words and support.