Originally thought this was gapeworm

[aurajean515]

Hey everyone,
This is about one of my turkeys. I know theres a separate page for turkeys but no one ever replies there. Hopefully someone can help me.
October 10th, my female turkey got attacked by my dog. Miraculously, she wasn't dead and no bones were broken but the wounds were very bad. She's almost completely healed now, just a couple scabs and some feathers left to grow back.
She's been severely under the weather the past week or so, no redness in her waddles and her wings held low. She was making yawning/gagging motions and not moving or talking much. This led me to believe she might have gapeworm.
I decided to swab her throat and check, and found no worms. What I did find, however, was a huge lump in the side of her throat where she had gotten bit. I'm new to turkeys so perhaps this is her crop? Maybe it has nothing to do with her health or the bite but I can tell if I don't figure something out she's not going to be alive much longer!
Unfortunately, avian vets are hard to come by not to mention expensive at times. So getting her professional help may not be on the table. Any help you guys can give me will be very very appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you share some pictures?

 

[aurajean515]

Can you share some pictures?

Its hard to see because the bump is underneath her feathers, and it looks a bit smaller now because I massaged it a bit which she seems to like. I'm worried that this is a deposit of food, but maybe I'm wrong. Something is making it hard for her to breathe, and I did manage to find her crop and it's pretty much empty.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's possible there's a walled off infection, or a big lump of scar tissue in the wound. I'm not sure what you can do about it. @Eggcessive or @Wyorp Rock May be able to give a few suggestions.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the lump soft or firm? I agree that it could be scar tissue, infection, but if it is soft and puffy like air under the skin, I would look into a leaking air sac.

 

[aurajean515]

Is the lump soft or firm? I agree that it could be scar tissue, infection, but if it is soft and puffy like air under the skin, I would look into a leaking air sac.

Its not puffy like air. Its hard but it sort of breaks a part and softens up if its massaged.

 

[CindyinSD]

Ask on “A Century of Turkey Talk.”

 

[Pennys Mama]

@R2elk

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you thought of disinfecting the area with chlorhexidene or betadine, and trying to lance it to see if you could squeeze out any pus? Pus can become solid the longer it is there. @casportpony is pretty knowledgeable about probing abscesses.

 

[aurajean515]

Have you thought of disinfecting the area with chlorhexidene or betadine, and trying to lance it to see if you could squeeze out any pus? Pus can become solid the longer it is there. @casportpony is pretty knowledgeable about probing abscesses.

I have thought of trying to squeeze the stuff out but I'm worried about causing more harm than good