Spur Open Wound - Filled with dirt

[Abbkayx]

Hi everyone.

So I have a hen who was ripped open by my roosters spur. I saw it happen and immediately grabbed her (first pic). I had to go to the store to buy some first aid supplies, and then couldn’t catch her again.

That night when she went to roost I grabbed her and sprayed the wound super super well with a saline spray, followed by Vetricyn, and then heavily applied an antibacterial cream. I have done this morning and night. Despite all of this, the wound is just filled with dirt, so much so, that I can’t even really see it anymore. Some of her feathers had gotten stuck, and I tried to pull as many out of it as I could but didn’t want to hurt her.

Second photo is tonight, and what it looks like. Does this look okay? Is there anything more I can do? Should I soak her in a warm bath to try to remove some of the dirt and feathers? Any advice?


** She is eating, drinking, pooping, and acting 100% normal. It doesn’t seem to bother her at all.
Thank you in advance.

 

[azygous]

Was there a skin flap? Did you cut it off or is it still attached to the edge of the wound?

The wound appears to be two inches in diameter and located under the wing?

Do you have one of those little net bags that clementines or avocados come in? If you do, cut off the closed end, making an open tube. After you wash the wound each day with warm soap and water, spray with Vetericyn, let dry, then goop on a good amount of antibiotic ointment. If there is a loose skin flap, paste it over the ointment, then place a non-stick gauze pad on the wound. You can wrap Vetrap around her body under the wings so she can balance and jump up to her perch. You can slip the net tube over the bandage to keep her from picking it off herself. Be sure to keep the wings free.

The wound must be washed every day to remove bacteria. Ointment is a must to keep the wound moist. New tissue won't grow unless the wound is kept moist.

I trust you are planning on tackling those long spurs on the rooster.

 

[Abbkayx]

Was there a skin flap? Did you cut it off or is it still attached to the edge of the wound?

The wound appears to be two inches in diameter and located under the wing?

Do you have one of those little net bags that clementines or avocados come in? If you do, cut off the closed end, making an open tube. After you wash the wound each day with warm soap and water, spray with Vetericyn, let dry, then goop on a good amount of antibiotic ointment. If there is a loose skin flap, paste it over the ointment, then place a non-stick gauze pad on the wound. You can wrap Vetrap around her body under the wings so she can balance and jump up to her perch. You can slip the net tube over the bandage to keep her from picking it off herself. Be sure to keep the wings free.

The wound must be washed every day to remove bacteria. Ointment is a must to keep the wound moist. New tissue won't grow unless the wound is kept moist.

I trust you are planning on tackling those long spurs on the rooster.

Yes, it’s directly under her wing. & yes probably about 2 inches long. No there was no flap. I’ve sprayed it with both saline spray and Vetricyn morning and night, and heavily applied antibacterial cream. I can’t even really see what’s going on anymore as it’s scabbed and possibly dirty?
Right now I don’t have help to hold her, but will on the 27th. Should I soak her in a bath with soap and see if I can see the wound better from that?

& Also, yes I got rid of the roo. I know it wasn’t his fault, but also not my first issue with him.

 

[azygous]

Too bad there was no flap. It could have lessened healing time considerably by acting as a skin graft.

You will need to do a long soak to debride the wound of all that is black and crusty. The only thing you want to allow on or around the wound until new skin grows in from the edges (granulation) is clean, pink, live tissue.

If the wound is allowed to scab over, it will also trap bacteria and risk getting infected. The scab needs to come off if one has formed under the dirt layer. A moderate layer of antibiotic ointment will protect and keep the wound hydrated so no scab can form. This is proper wound care, and experience has taught me it helps heal the wound fast and without infection.

 

[Abbkayx]

Too bad there was no flap. It could have lessened healing time considerably by acting as a skin graft.

You will need to do a long soak to debride the wound of all that is black and crusty. The only thing you want to allow on or around the wound until new skin grows in from the edges (granulation) is clean, pink, live tissue.

If the wound is allowed to scab over, it will also trap bacteria and risk getting infected. The scab needs to come off if one has formed under the dirt layer. A moderate layer of antibiotic ointment will protect and keep the wound hydrated so no scab can form. This is proper wound care, and experience has taught me it helps heal the wound fast and without infection.

Ok I will give her a soak in the morning. Should I add anything to the water?

Someone else told me not to soak as it would push any debris further into the wound. My thought was also giving her a soak so not only can I see the wound, but also remove the debris.

In your original reply you said it needs to be washed daily... does that mean soaking it? Or using saline & Vetricyn? Or soap / something else?

Just want to make sure I do everything right so my girl heals well.

 

[Abbkayx]

Too bad there was no flap. It could have lessened healing time considerably by acting as a skin graft.

You will need to do a long soak to debride the wound of all that is black and crusty. The only thing you want to allow on or around the wound until new skin grows in from the edges (granulation) is clean, pink, live tissue.

If the wound is allowed to scab over, it will also trap bacteria and risk getting infected. The scab needs to come off if one has formed under the dirt layer. A moderate layer of antibiotic ointment will protect and keep the wound hydrated so no scab can form. This is proper wound care, and experience has taught me it helps heal the wound fast and without infection.

Also when I do her soak, is there anything I should do to the wound to further remove debris? Gently rub it? Use a soft soft bristle brush?

 

[azygous]

Yes, scrub the wound to remove the crust and dirt. It will hurt, but debriding is necessary for new tissue growth.

 

[Abbkayx]

Okay so I gave her a soak this morning. We spent about 40 mins total in there... 20 of which I worked on scrubbing the wound. This is as clean as I got it. I followed your recommend steps and followed with Vetricyn and loaded on antibacterial cream... covered with nonstick gauze.. and wrapped.

does it look a bit better now? I really scrubbed it and it just would not come entirely clean.

 

[azygous]

Not the best job of debriding, but leave it for now. Watch the edges of the wound carefully for signs of inflammation which would signal infection. If it does that, you will need to re-soak and pull the black scab all the way off.

I can tell you this with authority because I was badly burned right before I retired, and I needed to debride my burns each day, removing all surface tissue not of a new nature. It hurt like the dickens and after I finished each day, the shower looked like a chicken had been slaughtered.

But, the pay-off was the nearly overnight appearance of brand new smooth tissue where there had been raw meat on what amounted to one-fourth of my body. It was like magic.

 

[DobieLover]

Not the best job of debriding, but leave it for now. Watch the edges of the wound carefully for signs of inflammation which would signal infection. If it does that, you will need to re-soak and pull the black scab all the way off.

I can tell you this with authority because I was badly burned right before I retired, and I needed to debride my burns each day, removing all surface tissue not of a new nature. It hurt like the dickens and after I finished each day, the shower looked like a chicken had been slaughtered.

But, the pay-off was the nearly overnight appearance of brand new smooth tissue where there had been raw meat on what amounted to one-fourth of my body. It was like magic.

Geez @azygous! That's terrible!