Also, dont let your pets or kids tease your birds. All of my successful cases have been leaving a wound open to heal (and over the last 15 years, I have only had a handful, so I am by no means an expert) and I will explain why in a moment. Renee N Salas, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Wilderness Medical Society, Emergency Medicine Residents' AssociationDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. Although chickens are relatively small animals, larger breeds such as Jersey Giants, Brahmas and Australorps can deliver significant force. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The treatment was straightforward but there is a risk that infection would kill the goose. Ana Hotaling. Pediatric bite victims are at continued risk of injury unless steps are taken to protect them from future bites. Fifth, make sure the sex ratios in your flock are balanced. Chen E, Hornig S, Shepherd SM, Hollander JE. Clean the wound thoroughly with warm water and an antibacterial soap. 2011 Feb 1. It was a morning like any other. This method is best left to the pros. Dixon CA, Mistry RD. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. N Stuart Harris, MD, MFA, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, Massachusetts Medical Society, International Society for Mountain MedicineDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. Most skin tear wounds will heal if the bird dies, it will usually be because of infection getting in, so the sooner you can get the bird to a vet to get some antibiotics prescribed, the better. 340(2):85-92. J Tissue Viability. https://profreg.medscape.com/px/getpracticeprofile.do?method=getProfessionalProfile&urlCache=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbWVkaWNpbmUubWVkc2NhcGUuY29tL2FydGljbGUvNzY4ODc1LXRyZWF0bWVudA==. Think of them like a fingernail. To prevent getting battered, pick up your hen or rooster in a manner that keeps both wings pinned tightly against the bird's body. The marks on my leg look like just puncture wounds. The physician who saw her could not find any retained spur in the wound. What Is the Treatment for a Puncture Wound? The majority of plantar puncture wounds are due to nails; less commonly, glass, wood, or other metal objects are the source of the puncture. Tag: rooster puncture wound Chicken First Aid Kit - Be Prepared. Of course, keep in mind that birds are individuals. Signs of Trouble. Stitches should be cut and pulled out in 4 to 5 days. How to Treat a Rooster Spur Wound Clean the wound thoroughly with warm water and an antibacterial soap. 1969 Mar. Paschos NK, Makris EA, Gantsos A, Georgoulis AD. The rooster spurs. A multicenter comparison of tap water versus sterile saline for wound irrigation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. %PDF-1.7 In the case of animals, check with your veterinarian about follow-up measures to care for the wound. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which Attacks such as these have caused a movement in some areas of the country to ban certain dog breeds. A timely presentation is considered an extremely important factor. Accessed Sept. 29, 2020. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Cellulitis, according to MayoClinic.com, is a deep tissue infectious complication of puncture wounds and is the most common serious infectious complication from a penetrating injury 124. Debridement is an effective means of preventing infection. Treating a puncture wound involves stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound, and protecting the wound. I welcome agreements and disagreements to my opinions. They can become injured or sick and require immediate care in order to recover. If youre new to roosters and arent sure what to do with their spurs, let me first recommend ways to keep them from becoming an issue in the first place. See a doctor if you can't remove all of the dirt or debris. They are currently in middle of establishing their dream of a self-sufficient, permaculture-based, off-grid homestead, one step at a time. If not treated properly at the time, they can lead to serious health complications because of the bacteria and dirt commonly found on the spurs of roosters and other poultry. Most of the fatalities from dog bites are children. Primary closure should only be considered in bite wounds that can be cleansed effectively. Clean the wound. Gilchrist J, Sacks JJ, White D, Kresnow MJ. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance, Coop De Chickenville~My Favorite Chickens and Life, Current Social Media Chicken Feed Craze - posted testing results. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Eventually, the rooster will heal and start to regrow the spur again. Another way to blunt the end of the spur is through judicious use of a file. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. We have a patient with a rooster spur puncture wound that occured 10 days ago. The spur is covered in a hard layer (similar to that of a beak). Abrahamian FM. Seek emergency medical attention in any of the following situations: Evaluation is based on a thorough history of what caused the puncture wound and the circumstances surrounding the event. You can trim down a spur much like you would a long toenail or the claws on a cat. How To Treat A Puncture Wound Here are the steps for treating a puncture wound at home: Clean your hands to stop the spread of germs and prevent infection. 2017;26(2):103-107. doi:10.1016/j.jtv.2016.12.004, Singh PK, Saxena N, Poddar D, et al. This is one of the most important things for bad wounds. Fully developed spurs can appear as early as three months, but some slower growing birds may take as long as nine. There is nothing nasty, however, about a tasty bowl of homemade bad-rooster stew. We have a patient with a rooster spur puncture wound that occured 10 days ago. @duckets advice on a tetanus update is important, a puncture wound by a spur is a high risk wound and if you have not had a tetanus booster within 5 years, get one as soon as possible. I have provided information on stitching since I have heard from smallholders and experienced poultry keepers who have stitched wounds themselves. According to The Merck Manual Online Medical Library, antibiotics are chosen based on the type of infecting bacteria 3. [26] : Culture for aerobes and anaerobes if abscess, severe cellulitis, devitalized tissue, or sepsis is present, Debride necrotic tissue and remove any foreign bodies, If fracture or bone penetration has occurred, radiography is indicated (MRI or CT may also be indicated), Initiate prophylactic antibiotics in selected cases (based on type and specific animal species involved), If methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is suspected, first-line antibiotics include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline, and clindamycin Check to make sure there is no dirt or debris in the wound. In the chicken wound shown above, it healed within a matter of days. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Removing devitalized tissue, particulate matter, and clots prevents these from becoming a source of infection, much like any foreign body. Stitching a wound like this is more likely to trap bacteria inside the injury, causing infection. Removing the outer spur totally exposes the sensitive, blood-rich quick. Kathy Jutila has been writing health-related articles since 1979. Animal People. You should consult a veterinarian if you decide to try it. If youre not well-versed on chicken breeds, I would recommend trying out an Australorp, Orpington, Naked Neck, or Cochin rooster. At times, staff members may need counseling after caring for mauled patients. For additional information, see Medscape's Wound Management Resource Center. Given that talons encounter dirt, droppings and other unsanitary surfaces, you should consider a scratch from this source contaminated and treat it accordingly. There are a handful of considerations to go through before you take action. Chime in with comments below. It is also possible to cauterize a chicks spur bud to prevent a spur from growing in the first place, but again, it is a risk. You can sterilise implements like this, under boiling water. [8] Use a clean cloth to apply gentle, direct pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. 2. One last thing: when I do pull it off, it won't hurt him, right? Avoid holding your bird anywhere near your face; if you need to examine an injured or sick bird, enlist someone to securely grip your chicken while you examine it. Well, this is new, I grumbled as I hobbled back to my house, calling to my family for help. 2021 Aug. 33 (3):373-380. rooster spur puncture wound treatment Don't bend down near an aggressive rooster Wear pants, strong jeans, to avoid puncture wounds Take something with you into the coop to protect yourself if you are suddenly attacked On the flip side, if you have a rooster that's typically sweet, and all of a sudden, he's a nervous wreck, maybe he needs . [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. James Steven Walker, DO, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, American Osteopathic AssociationDisclosure: Nothing to disclose. Large dirty wounds may require irrigation in the operating room. 41(10):1373-406. The physician who saw her could not find any retained spur in the wound. This is especially the case if you are unable to control the bleeding or the wound is too deep to clean thoroughly. Its yours. You can see an aggressive rooster exhibiting this behavior in the first two minutes of this video. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Trimming Spurs is just delaying the future problems you are going to have with the rooster. Though general wisdom says each rooster should have 10 hens in his harem, a single rooster in his prime can handily fertilize and guard up to 16 hens, and at the very least, needs four to himself. A puncture wound has a small entry hole caused by a pointed object, such as a nail that you have stepped on. Scratches and scrapes are the most common injury suffered by poultry keepers. What Are the Treatments for Bone Spurs on the Leg Bone? [22, 23, 24] A study of dog bites showed improved cosmetic scores and no increased risk of infection with primary closure of wounds in multiple anatomic locations with provision of prophylactic antibiotics. I have also heard of cauterizing rooster spurs on baby chicks before they grow, but again, I believe it is an unnecessary, cruel, and potentially lethal hassle. I'd also take him off the roost at night and trim down and blunt his spurs. Third, take the time to understand rooster body language. This patient was transferred to a level one pediatric trauma center for care. See Additional Information. Practical Review of the Management of Animal Bites. A puncture wound from a cause such as stepping on a nail can become infected because the object that caused the wound may carry bacteria or spores. This is done since immunity to tetanus may wane over time. What Are the Treatments for Serratia Bacteria? The basic steps of wound healing are: Stopping the bleeding (hemostasis). Share cases and questions with Physicians on Medscape consult. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Animal bites. Were building a place for homesteaders to connect, share what works, and grow their skills. Never try to do this yourself because, as you now know, the spur is an extension of your rooster's leg bone, and he could bleed to death if not done correctly. Rooster spur wounds have a high chance of infection and may require oral antibiotics or other treatments that need attention by a physician. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. The offending animal should be accurately identified. A puncture wound occurs when a sharp object penetrates the skin barrier. Rinse the wound with clear water for 5 to 10 minutes. Though it may sound harsh, if your roosters are fighting and/or killing each other, its not their fault. 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Constitutes your agreement to the Merck Manual Online Medical Library, antibiotics are chosen on! Permaculture-Based, off-grid homestead, one step at a time wound occurs when a object! Place for homesteaders to connect, share what works, and protecting wound! Closure should only be considered in bite wounds that can be cleansed effectively with Physicians Medscape... You would a long toenail or the wound Kresnow MJ three months, but some slower growing may... Significant force x27 ; t remove all of the most important things for bad wounds ; also. Occurs when a sharp object penetrates the skin barrier above, it won & # x27 ; t hurt,! Policy linked below PK, Saxena N, Poddar D, et al with... Unable to control the bleeding, cleaning the wound is too deep to clean thoroughly sensitive, blood-rich.. Keepers who have stitched wounds themselves tease your birds birds may take as long as nine healed a! Infecting bacteria 3 significant force smallholders and experienced poultry keepers who have wounds.