pictures after chihuahua attack *graphic* - UPDATE! 12/16/07 - page 4

[Freebie]

I can not see the wound very well, but after reading the posts, it seems the wound is open with no skin over it?

I just wanted to add that I have an Austrolorp that was attacked by my brothers coon dog and she had a huge chunk of meat taken out of her back. I thought it would heal, but she would alway have that big indent in her back and no feathers would grow back. But after over a month and (which also included getting maggots out of her wound in the beginning) her wound healed very nice and feathers grew back. I only put ointment on it for the first few days. and put antibiotics in her water. Then I just checked her daily for infection, cleaned her cage, and fed and watered her. she seemed to dring way more when I took the antibiotics out of the water.

I sure hope your girl heals as well as mine. Sound like you are doing a great job.

 

[Hotwings]

Quote:
Never underestimate the power of the chihuahua! These little buggers can be mighty feirce!

 

[crystal94040]

yup...a pregnant chihuahua at that. She's usually very sweet and calm but she has been snippy lately. In the Chihuahua's defense I noticed my chicken kept trying to peck at her through the fence. I guess my dog got sick of it.

 

[crystal94040]

Think she's turned a corner...she's eating and drinking (and pooping) MUCH more in the last 24 hours. Her neck is still healing up nicely the skin seems to be growing in a little bit. I doubt it will actually grow over the wound but it's good to see the edges are healing nicely.

 

[arlee453]

give it time - the wound will eventually granulate and fill in with tissue and heal over. She may not have feathers in that area, but it will heal given enough time and good supportive care like you have been giving her.

Good to hear she's doing well thus far!

 

[Ga Chicken Mom]

One of my buff orps, Cookie, was attacked by a mini doxie. The wound near her tail was at least 3 inches across. There was no skin left to stitch together. I think she lost her oil gland too. I kept her in a cage by herself in the basement, lined the cage with paper towels which I changed often and gave her food, water and lots of extras. I hung a mirror in the cage so she had another "chicken" to keep her company. I washed her wound every day with diluted betadine and kept it covered with neosporin. I gave her amoxicillin diluted in apple juice by mouth with a syringe. After 2 weeks she got time outside with the rest of the flock under careful supervision. The other girls kept her on the sidelines but never attacked her. I thought her wound was so bad her feathers would never grow back. Cookie was able to return to the flock in 5 weeks, the only thing wrong is a crooked tail otherwise she is fine. Cookie, at 25 weeks, is ready to start laying eggs soon, she is a happy healthy chicken. A vet friend said chickens have remarkable recuperative powers. Granted, getting her better took a lot of care but I owed since it was my fault the dog was able to get to her.

 

[crystal94040]

She's roosting on the wash cloth bar in the shower now. She seems to be feeling alot better. The only issue I'm wondering about now is that she seems to keep losing feathers. She's 3 1/2 months old ( if it matters ) Is it just from the stress of being alone? wounded? etc?

 

[SpottedCrow]

She could just be doing her moult.
Baby chickens go through 3 moults their first year.
Down=>teenage feathers=>adult feathers. Then they'll moult every year after that.
some of us have had our birds moult twice this year.

 

[crystal94040]

oh ok...is there anything special she needs during a moult? Any certain supplements or anything?

 

[dlhunicorn]

A good general nutritional/vit supplement is always a good idea... AviaCharge 2000 (purchase online from McMurray or Strombergs) or the RoosterBooster general supplement .