Recovery from Coyote attack

[Eggcessive]

Glad you could see the vet. They are always quite expensive but can be helpful. It sounds good that she is eating a little more. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory pain med may be making her feel a bit better, and treat anything respiratory. Let us know how she is doing. You sound very dedicated to her and doing a great job.

 

[Oliver_Douglas]

Day 11: Vet visit on Day 10. Fever is gone. Appetite stable but still low compared to healthy. New problem: as she regains strength she is now fighting to be free. Hates the kennel, really really hates the bandage. It's been on for 5 days. Now wondering about the stressing and fighting of having it on, vs. the benefit to the wing...

I'm learning this lesson: it's not just the injury; their flightiness and skittishness makes any treatment and recovery way more difficult.

Should i remove the bandage????

 

[Eggcessive]

I would remove it and see how it goes. You can always wrap her wing in a normal position loosely against her body if necessary with some Kerlix or vet wrap later.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Day 11: Vet visit on Day 10. Fever is gone. Appetite stable but still low compared to healthy. New problem: as she regains strength she is now fighting to be free. Hates the kennel, really really hates the bandage. It's been on for 5 days. Now wondering about the stressing and fighting of having it on, vs. the benefit to the wing...

I'm learning this lesson: it's not just the injury; their flightiness and skittishness makes any treatment and recovery way more difficult.

Should i remove the bandage????

Hi,
Did your vet say how long it would take for her left wing/shoulder to heal or if it would even heal?

 

[Oliver_Douglas]

Hi,
Did your vet say how long it would take for her left wing/shoulder to heal or if it would even heal?

Howdy: Vet wasn't sure about timing--first idea was to immobilize for about a week, and that it might droop a little. As long as it was not fully dragging, that (the droop) would probably be permanent.

Since yesterday, she is really starting to fight us--gaining strength and back to her normal flightiness and feistiness; fights when putting her in/out of the kennel; fights when administering meds.

She managed to mostly remove the original bandage. We re-taped and she set to work removing the new one.

Mostly importantly, the breathing looks much less labored--she is 'mouth open' breathing now only after the fights/panics. Otherwise mostly normal breathing.

So...based on gut feel, a few prayers and and replies from the knowledge people here, especially Eggcessive (thank you!) we decided to remove the bandage/wrap today.

The difference was immediate. We let her go inside the barn where their coop is. She started walking normally, preening, foraging/scratching, drinking. Even heard her voicing--first time since injury.

Then, and this was surprising, she let the others know she was still the boss. Our current boss, a big healthy australorp (Bluebell) walked up, stretched out to show she was taller, and Shaggy gave be a forceful peck/bite. Bluebell tried one more time, same result; Bluebell squatted low, and Shaggy delivered another back-of-the-neck peck, for good measure.

This was all immediately after we removed the wrap! No messing around!

The injured wing droops a bit, and movement appears limited so far.

However, with her activity level, appetite, asserting dominance and improved breathing--we may be approaching a successful conclusion! 11 days in--seemed much longer!

I'll provide another update as things (hopefully) reach a new normal.