treating fox bites

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chickenfan

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One of my birds was not in her pen and got caught by a fox tonight but fortunately rescued by my dog who chased the fox when we heard her making a noise. She has lost quite a lot of feathers from her back and one of her wings and has one or two fairly deep bite wounds on her back but otherwise looks OK. I don't have any wound spray but could use antibiotic cream, savlon or calendula ointment. I have bathed her in salty water but not cleaned the bites with a proper bath and shampoo etc because she is quite shocked. I'd welcome any suggestions for treating bite wounds.
 
Check carefully for any further breaks to the skin.
There is a product called Chlorhexedine for treating such wounds. Many vets use it. You can buy it in spray, or drop form at most chemists. Chlorhexedine needs to be in contact with the wound for about 20 seconds to be fully effective. I would treat the puncture wounds with this.
She is probably in some pain. Ideally a product called Metacam would be best for this. If you can't buy, or can't find it then HALF a JUNIOR aspirin can be given morning and night.
The antibiotic cream is fine, but only after you've thoroughly cleaned the wounds.
I give injured chickens here a vitamin supplement either with food or water. A human supplement is fine but at one quarter of the recommended dose for humans.
You should be prepared for the possibility your hen has internal organ damage from the pressure of the foxes or even the dogs jaws.
I have this problem here from hawk strikes. The wounds are treatable but the impact of the hawk strike is what kills the chicken finally.
After this it's a matter of keeping her hydrated, calm and fed.
I hope she recovers.
 
Thank you Shadrach for this detailed advice. She does have more bite wounds and tears to her skin than I realised and one wing looks a bit sore. I had thought she was OK as she was running around after she was dropped by the fox. At the moment I've put manuka honey on the bites and given her some metacam and I'll try and find some chlorhexedine and vitamins in the morning. I do have some Tylan in the cupboard left over from another animal and wonder whether to give her some of this if the bites may be likely to get infected? Thank you very much for replying late at night.
 
Her bites and wounds seem to be drying up just on the manuka honey. I've not yet founds any chlorhexedine, but perhaps she will manage. She spends a lot of time resting and I have her indoors in a catbox for most of the day. I hope she will be OK. She looks bright enough, but is just sitting down most of the time.
 
I would really appreciate some advice as I think the wounds may be going septic. Her skin looks a bit moist, although the bites are dry. Do I wash her extensively/ cut off her feathers around wounds? I will take her to the vet tomorrow
 
Having been very perky for a couple of days, she is depressed today, although she is eating.
 
Well, we've been to the poultry vet and Toffee is doing fine. Manuka honey was a good choice and she has no infection and no sign of internal injuries, just an adrenalin response which is making her quiet. I am to carry on with Manuka honey mixed 50% with Aloe vera gel twice a day and a multivitamin to help recover from the shock. The aloe vera is healing to tissues, and to keep her quiet indoors for another few days. The Tylan I had would not have been suitable for skin anyway. Signs of infection would have been swelling and weeping of the bite areas and a smell. The bites are actually healing extremely quickly. So well done my brilliant dog for chasing off the fox and startling it into dropping Toffee.
 
I'm pleased as well. Fox bites carry a lot of nasty bacteria. We had Bumble who was attacked by a fox and although the bites looked superficial she ended up with a crooked neck, but fortunately without infection. We now have a dog and a nasty little thing she is so no danger of a fox getting anywhere near here.
 
Glad she is ok, she is one lucky lady. Hope she goes onto a long and happy life.
Manuka honey I would never have thought of that, will remember that one.
 
Natural honey. that is honey that has not been heat treated to keep it runny, is great for all sorts of bites and injuries. It is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water without which bacteria can't live. It's also the best way to cover the pheromone from a bee sting so the other bees don't sting; the beekeepers favourite saying "The first sting is the worst one" is because the pheromone released alerts all the others!

So glad she is OK.
 
Just came across this thread... Glad Toffee is ok. Definitely very lucky, but I have to admit that I am amazed at how resilient these tough little cookies can be!
 
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