OEGB attacked, skin missing, what else can I do?

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

So, the night before last something (I'm pretty sure fox) bit my OEGB through the fencing of her enclosure. Took a good chunk out of her lower breast, skin and feathers.

Two years ago my cat was missing a large chunk of skin from her chest so I have dealt with this kind of injury before. Vet stapled cat as best she could, put her on antibiotics, had us wash 2x daily with Novalsan and cover the wound with sugar to help the skin granulate back in.

I took my banty pullet inside yesterday, rinsed her with Novalsan, did not bandage, put her in a cat carrier in my kitchen with hay bedding (thought pine shavings might get stuck in the wound). She was eating & drinking fine yesterday.

I mixed yogurt in with her crumbles today and gave her electrolyte water. Haven't seen her eat yet, but she might be, I'll check again in a little while.

Questions:
Should I cover the wound with bacitracin? Just the edges or the exposed muscle as well?

Should I use sugar, like my vet recommended for my cat?

I have Sulfadimethoxine soluble powder, should I use it to water her, or stick to electrolytes?

Should I get a penicillin from the feedstore?

Anything else I should/could be doing?

This poor little girl is such a trooper, is hardly bothered by this. I had planned to use her as a breeder, so hopefully she recovers. I did notice she was preening the area a bit, is that ok?

Thanks in advance!

 

[robin416]

Yes, keep the wound covered in antibiotic ointment.

This is an amazing process but it works. I had a chick hatch, Momma scalped it all the way down to the skull. I brought it and its hatch mates in to safety.

I cleaned baby's head, slathered the ointment on. A few days later she had a fever so I added water soluble Tylan to the hand rearing formula I fed her every two hours.

Today the girl has a fully feathered head and two peeps of her own.

I learned this from another long time breeder. It takes time since so many things are going on. But she should recover as long as no flies get at it.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I just cleaned her again, looks like there are a couple of punctures in her breast. I rinsed her with the Nolvasan then covered her with bacitracin (no pain reliever). She hadn't touched the yogurt/crumble mix so I gave her dry crumbles and she is attacking them!

Should I treat with antibiotics for an animal bite/puncture wounds?

 

[robin416]

I wouldn't. I'm seeing much to much over use of antibiotics.

Watch her for puffing up or shivering. That will be an indication that antibiotics might be a good idea. And if she does that then hang a light for warmth for her for a few days.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Update!

She seems to be fine, no sign of infection, eating/drinking/pooping like a champ. I've been cleaning the wound and covering with bacitracin daily.

How long before I can put her back outside? should I let the wound dry out and scab over? Would flies bother a wound that is nearly a week old?

 

[robin416]

No, don't let it scab. The flies? Probably. If it wasn't the time of year where they are so thick I'd say give it a try.

But keeping the ointment on her if she goes out it will also mean she's going to get dirt stuck to it.

BTW, that's good news.

 

[Riven]

I don't know about chickens, but most anitbiotic creams ( neosporin, etc) are not recommended for animals because they might ingest it while trying to clean themselves, it attracts dirt, it's moist and warm when it's on the body which is ideal for bacteria to grow, etc.

I personally would blu-kote it and leave it alone.

Blu-Kote is something every person should have on hand! It seals off the wound, is it not red in color which attracts some birds to picking, in fact it disguises any red color from blood etc.

I've seen it do miraculous things by allowing the body to heal. I've even used it on myself. I've seen it aid healing in birthing wounds of new born chinchillas, and in the end you can't even tell where the wound was or that it happened.