Wound from dog attack

[ChickenHopefulddd]

Our brown laying hen was attacked by a dog. (Working with neighbors on the problem of their small dog being able to dig under and get into just about anything.) This is our first experience with an attack. We cleaned with saline water and used Neosporin. There's deep gashes, a large surface area is featherless and about 2"x3" area top skin taken off. She's in a box inside our house with bedding, food and water, so safe from being pecked, but how do you keep gauze on it to keep clean? Or is leaving it open better? Any other suggestions for her recovery? We have live mealworms we're giving her but she's not eating much yet. It's been about 18 hours. The experience of BYC community is greatly appreciated and what we've read so far is encouraging. Thank you so much for your help.
(Warning: One of the attached photos is really graphic - not wanting to be upsetting, just hoping for help.)

 

[nuthatched]

Don't worry about the guaze, just make sure flies can't get her. She should heal fine, just monitor the wound for infection.
Good luck.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

She's not eating yet ... have you treated for shock? Give her some sugar water or electrolytes. Pedialyte or Gatorade will do. Just hold some up to her beak in a little cup and let her drink. Or, if she's not interested, try dipping your finger in and putting a drop on her beak where upper and lower beaks join and let her swallow. Avoid nostrils. Continue till she refuses by shaking her head. A dehydrated hen cannot eat. Try offering her regular feed, moistened till it is like oatmeal or gruel, that will help hydrate her as well if she will take it. Change daily.

 

[ChickenHopefulddd]

Don't worry about the guaze, just make sure flies can't get her. She should heal fine, just monitor the wound for infection.
Good luck.

Thank you, Nuthatched.

She's not eating yet ... have you treated for shock? Give her some sugar water or electrolytes. Pedialyte or Gatorade will do. Just hold some up to her beak in a little cup and let her drink. Or, if she's not interested, try dipping your finger in and putting a drop on her beak where upper and lower beaks join and let her swallow. Avoid nostrils. Continue till she refuses by shaking her head. A dehydrated hen cannot eat. Try offering her regular feed, moistened till it is like oatmeal or gruel, that will help hydrate her as well if she will take it. Change daily.

Thank you very much BigBlueHen53! I meant to ask what kind of electrolytes were for chickens. Great info.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Our brown laying hen was attacked by a dog. (Working with neighbors on the problem of their small dog being able to dig under and get into just about anything.) This is our first experience with an attack. We cleaned with saline water and used Neosporin. There's deep gashes, a large surface area is featherless and about 2"x3" area top skin taken off. She's in a box inside our house with bedding, food and water, so safe from being pecked, but how do you keep gauze on it to keep clean? Or is leaving it open better? Any other suggestions for her recovery? We have live mealworms we're giving her but she's not eating much yet. It's been about 18 hours. The experience of BYC community is greatly appreciated and what we've read so far is encouraging. Thank you so much for your help.
(Warning: One of the attached photos is really graphic - not wanting to be upsetting, just hoping for help.)

So sorry this happened. I hope that your neighbor realizes how terrible this is and does something about their dog.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Working with neighbors on the problem of their small dog being able to dig under and get into just about anything.)

If they are serious about this ... you might suggest that they build an "apron" around the areas where their dog gets out, if at all practicable. By this I mean, they should place a layer of something like 1/2" hardware cloth on the ground on the INSIDE of their yard around the perimeter of their fence, extending inward at least 18" and then extending UP the fence a good 6 to 12". They should then cover it with a layer of gravel, soil or sod. It does not need to be deep, just under the surface. So when their dog digs, he will be foiled by this wire barrier. Many of us install such aprons around the outside of our coops or runs to prevent predators from digging in and gaining access to our chickens.

 

[ChickenHopefulddd]

If they are serious about this ... you might suggest that they build an "apron" around the areas where their dog gets out, if at all practicable. By this I mean, they should place a layer of something like 1/2" hardware cloth on the ground on the INSIDE of their yard around the perimeter of their fence, extending inward at least 18" and then extending UP the fence a good 6 to 12". They should then cover it with a layer of gravel, soil or sod. It does not need to be deep, just under the surface. So when their dog digs, he will be foiled by this wire barrier. Many of us install such aprons around the outside of our coops or runs to prevent predators from digging in and gaining access to our chickens.

I agree, that would be a really good answer, but this is a rural area and the areas both on their property and ours that would need the apron installed is very large the way things are at this time. In the four years we've had chickens here, we haven't had any problems with predators at all until this instance, but will have to keep the hardware cloth solution in mind. The dogs owners will have to figure something out and we think they will. They are good neighbors, just young and learning some hard facts of life. Thank for the clear picture of the apron installation. The fact that it doesn't have to be deep is very helpful.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I guess the alternative is for you to istall such an apron around where the dog can't get in to your chickens.

 

[ChickenHopefulddd]

So sorry this happened. I hope that your neighbor realizes how terrible this is and does something about their dog.

They feel very bad and I think they realize it will only get worse unless they do something. Thank you for your kind sentiment.

 

[ChickenHopefulddd]

I guess the alternative is for you to istall such an apron around where the dog can't get in to your chickens.

Yes. True.