Turkey fell off slaughter truck- Rescued but needs help!

[andreanar]

Great job! Little by little, keep flushing out those maggots. Stick the syringe right down into the wound and flush, flush, flush. Don't know about turkeys, but my chickens LOVE when I soak their food in water!

 

[MageofMist]

The maggots could help in eating dead tissues so new ones can regrow in their place, but at the same time, they carry the increased risk of infection and will also likely eat the good tissues also and slow the healing process instead of helping it. Hopefully you got all of them out, and the insecticides and fly strips will deal with whatever ones you missed.

Reminded me of a time in college when a young cow ended up getting pregnant (she shouldn't have as she was too young, but her mother had the same issue when she was her age also) and had to have the calf C-sectioned out of her when it was ready as it was too large to pass through, and the wound was sterilized and stitched up... Though somehow she managed to break some of the stitching in her isolation pen, only her and the calf in there, no idea how, and she ended up getting maggots inside the open wound. My college was NOT happy about that and quickly got to treating and it was luckily dealt with within a few days. Wound treated and sterilized before then having it stitched back up again once they were sure all the maggots were all eliminated. Luckily this time she kept her stitches and fully recovered.

 

[apryl29]

I'll try giving him some of this tonight then! I know he has to eat, of course, but hey even if he just picks at his food for a while, hopefully he'll lose some weight!

Poor guy tries to move by mashing his head into the ground and wiggling because he doesn't have the strength to use his legs :-(

I was thinking the same thing, but he'll need to eat to keep up his energy to be able to heal. I think part of being a turkey is eating constantly, so him not wanting to eat is a sign that he's not doing well. Not a turkey expert, so it's possible that once they get so big they stop eating which could also explain it. Once he is feeling better and eating again you can limit his feed to help him lose weight.

 

[GrandpaUtz]

Great job! Little by little, keep flushing out those maggots. Stick the syringe right down into the wound and flush, flush, flush. Don't know about turkeys, but my chickens LOVE when I soak their food in water!

I will be doing that then! Tonight when I get home I'll get to working at The Wound again.

I'll also try making a mash by soaking his food!

The maggots could help in eating dead tissues so new ones can regrow in their place, but at the same time, they carry the increased risk of infection and will also likely eat the good tissues also and slow the healing process instead of helping it. Hopefully you got all of them out, and the insecticides and fly strips will deal with whatever ones you missed.

Thank you, that's actually really optimistic! Honestly cleaning out the maggots wasn't as vile of a job as I thought it was going to be. I think I psyched myself out all day then when I got down to it it was nowhere near as bad as I had it in my head it was going to be. I'll get to working on it again tonight when I get home.

Reminded me of a time in college when a young cow ended up getting pregnant (she shouldn't have as she was too young, but her mother had the same issue when she was her age also) and had to have the calf C-sectioned out of her when it was ready as it was too large to pass through, and the wound was sterilized and stitched up... Though somehow she managed to break some of the stitching in her isolation pen, only her and the calf in there, no idea how, and she ended up getting maggots inside the open wound. My college was NOT happy about that and quickly got to treating and it was luckily dealt with within a few days. Wound treated and sterilized before then having it stitched back up again once they were sure all the maggots were all eliminated. Luckily this time she kept her stitches and fully recovered.

Yikes! Glad that the old (young?) girl turned out okay!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

A well shared FB page could well bring some needed assistance. Your vet friend seems so willing to help but you could have a poultry expert vet chime in.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

He still is only lightly picking at his food, but he is sucking down water like you wouldn't believe!

are his legs/feet swollen?

Now The Wound didn't smell horrible like I would think an infected wound would, but feeling Sebastian's head it FEELS like he is running a fever. That being said, none of us know exactly what a healthy turkey temperature is.... I contacted my vet about possible antibiotics to combat this and she said she will look and see what she has available.

i remember @dan26552 had a duck with flystrike and soaked her in the permethrin and flushed her wound with it and had really good results

Oh, I also recently watched some chicken surgery videos where they use super glue to close wounds. Maybe someone else can chime in on that also.

great idea but i agree, too early

I'll try giving him some of this tonight then! I know he has to eat, of course, but hey even if he just picks at his food for a while, hopefully he'll lose some weight!

Poor guy tries to move by mashing his head into the ground and wiggling because he doesn't have the strength to use his legs :-(

have you made him a sling yet?? it will help his legs and help with bed sores (lol). it will also help his circulation to extremities

 

[GrandpaUtz]

I was thinking the same thing, but he'll need to eat to keep up his energy to be able to heal. I think part of being a turkey is eating constantly, so him not wanting to eat is a sign that he's not doing well. Not a turkey expert, so it's possible that once they get so big they stop eating which could also explain it. Once he is feeling better and eating again you can limit his feed to help him lose weight.

That's a really good point. I have been mixing the vitamin mix into his water and he keeps drinking it up. It's Rooster Booster, which was recommended to me on Tuesday. Hopefully that's giving him some strength.

A well shared FB page could well bring some needed assistance. Your vet friend seems so willing to help but you could have a poultry expert vet chime in.

That's what we're hoping! We also might make a gofundme or something for him. I hate the thought of shilling out for donations, personally, but this is looking more and more like a long-term rehab, and if he has to go to a specialized vet in the future/have a more permanent pen built (not to mention his permanent home at the girlfriend's place!), we may need it here soon.

 

[GrandpaUtz]

are his legs/feet swollen?

i remember @dan26552 had a duck with flystrike and soaked her in the permethrin and flushed her wound with it and had really good results

great idea but i agree, too early

have you made him a sling yet?? it will help his legs and help with bed sores (lol). it will also help his circulation to extremities

His legs don't seem swollen, and last night he was grabbing my hands with his feet when I put them down there. I haven't made him a sling yet (haven't had time, with work and the constant medical care) but it is on the list! Unfortunately we have our cousin's wedding on Saturday, which my girlfriend is in the wedding party for, and are going to be busy all Friday night for the rehearsal and Saturday for the actual wedding. Hopefully I can get it built on Sunday at the latest!

 

[theuglychick]

We get bot flie larvae (maggots) in some strays around here and our vet told us to slather gobs of antibiotic ointment over the wound or holes and the larvae will come out on their own for air. It works every time! Maybe this will be easier than trying to pick them out. It takes within an hour and they all come out.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Couldn't you add appropriate holes to one of these thingys to shortcut too a sling? I think he could be really cheered by being upright a bit?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Canvas-L...93696&wl11=online&wl12=38471340&wl13=&veh=sem