penicillin or just keep wound clean?

[goslingluv]

There is a canadian goose that lives in our pasture going forever and last night he showed up with a deep cut on his cheek and a flap of skin hanging I was able to clean it but does it also require penicillin or just continued rinsing? Unable to get a picture at the moment hes only mildly friendly and isnt having the best day. Im confident it will heal but worried about infection also concerned the flap of skin needs to be removed....

 

[sourland]

Generally skin lacerations in fowl heal quite well without antibiotics. The skin flap will very likely dry up and eventually fall off. The thing that would concern me is the possibility of fly strike. Is it at all possible to pen him up where you can keep an eye on him. I'd also be concerned about whatever injured him.

 

[goslingluv]

I think he got caught on a fence, I could pen him but might make him stressed and harder to treat i can put fly spray on him. I also was wondering if I should use saline solution or something stronger like betadine? Hes uncomfortable I know hes in alot pain. I called around and the wildlife people wont treat a non life threatening injury.

 

[sourland]

If you can handle him without overly stressing, it wouldn't hurt to apply some antibacterial ointment to the wound.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Clean it out with either. And if you have something that will keep the flies off of him that is safe to use by all means because maggots isn't something he needs to deal with along with the injury. He must know you pretty well if he let you get close enough to clean him up. Only the one gander?

 

[townchicks]

If the wildlife people won't take him, they probably don't think he needs antibiotics. Based on that, your best bet is to clean it as much as he'll tolerate every day, and put Neosporin or something similar on it. Fly repellant is a good idea. Maybe offer some mealworms or flock raiser to boost his nourishment.

 

[goslingluv]

He lets my son handle him hes been around forever his flock graises here on our land half of the year they rarely leave our pasture. I dont want to interfere with the natural course of things too much but no sense in him dying of a preventable infection. The wildlife group did not examine him the simply told me they can not take in non emergencies at this time.

 

[goslingluv]

I found a rural vet will to look at him his cheek muscle was detached from his face and hanging it was stitched back and disinfected the vet said the tissue may still die and fall but the goose should be ok. It wasnt easy wrestling a wild goose and having him stitched in a hog barn but it was worth it. The vet only charged 20$ suture fee. I was super thankful considering it was a wild bird and she didnt have to help

 

[Miss Lydia]

Bless you for caring enough to have a vet come out that is awesome she charged so little. Hope he makes a full recovery