Please help

[Lol Smirf]

Please help, I have a chicken her name is midnight. 2 months ago my dog got ahold of her and punctured her leg. I have babied her and her wounds have healed but then it was looking like she had splayed leg the leg was sticking straight out and she wasn't wanting to put it down,s I researched and researched and found a way to splint it using rubber bands. The second day after I put the rubber band on I was looking at her foot and somehow it had slipped down two right at the top of her foot and tightened cutting off the circulation it is really swollen and red, but no heat. I cut off the rubber band last night, but I cannot get the swelling to go down I just want to cry all I wanted to do was help her and now I think I have hurt her.

 

[adickenscoop]

So if the dog actually punctured her skin, you really ought to bring her to see a vet ASAP. Dogs carry a bacteria in their mouth and under their nails, which is deadly to chickens. Here is a case story about a hen who was attacked by a dog and it discusses this a bit - http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/goldie

 

[Lol Smirf]

There is no vet around me that sees chickens...the dog bite isn't the problem. That has healed. But she developed splayed leg because of it. I tried to fix the splayed leg as shown on some other websites the band slipped from possition and tightened around the top of her foot. Her foot swelled and filled with fluid and blood. I'm not sure how long it was like that but couldn't be more than a day and I check on her in the morning and baby her at night when I'm home from work.

 

[Lol Smirf]

I should note she has had a round of antibiotics and she gets nightly soaks in my sink.... She loves them

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

I was going to suggest soaking the foot in Epsom salt and treating with some honey or Vetericyn spray (the latter is more helpful, but honey works in a bind), then wrapping with gauze and vet tape. Basically treat like Bumblefoot. But then I saw the last post—looks like you’re handling it well.
No heat is a good sign—there’s no infection. Worst comes to worst, poking the swollen bit with a sterilized needle/pin could drain any pus out. While you’re at work and not treating her, though, she should be resting in a cage or enclosure with food and water. You don’t want her walking around and ruining your hard work.
Perhaps a pipe cleaner, gently twisted into a figure 8 to hold her legs together, could help with the splayed bit. I’ve never dealt with this myself so I can’t speak with much authority on splayed leg, sorry.
On the plus side, external injuries are much, MUCH easier than internal problems are to deal with. Good luck—don’t give up hope!

 

[Kathy Golla]

I think you are doing all you can do. I think you are just going to have to wait for circulation to restore and the foot to rid itself of the swelling.
Soaking the foot in Epsom salts will help with circulation.
Do not wrap that foot and constrict it.

 

[Lol Smirf]

So I work as a medical assistant I did get some needles and a syringe with gauze and tape yesterday. My son called me and said her foot was splitting. When my husband got home I had him hold her and poked the foot in several small spots to drain. All fluid was a clear yellow. I feel so bad I did this to her. PS your chicken in the pic looks just like Midnight!!

 

[Lol Smirf]

Since I drained it last night I did wrap it loosely. I looked at it this morning and it's still draining I was going to change the dressing tonight when I get home. Do you think that will be ok

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

I think it’ll be fine. As long as you’ve got her somewhere comfortable, she won’t be able to damage her foot. Good job draining it! Sounds like it was needed.
Yeah, I’ve got two barred rock hens. I’m the only one who can tell them apart—my family calls them ‘the twins’! Very good little layers.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I hope she heals well from this. I just wanted to add a side note about using honey on wounds. Make sure it is raw honey. Honey that has been filtered or processed in any way will not do much. Best of luck.