What can I give for pain?

[ea84]

I have a 1 year old Americana who was attacked by a dog. She is limping badly and won't stand on her foot. I have her isolated. She is eating and drinking well. She is still so sweet. Her leg shakes when she holds it up.

I'm giving her apple cider vinegar in her water but I am hoping for some kind of pain relief or something.

What can I give her?

 

[Judy]

This is from the sticky in Emergencies:

Pain Relief

Aspirin - for pain relief. Dosage is approximately 25 mg per pound of chicken's body weight each day (A standard baby Aspirin is 80 mg, and a standard adult Aspirin pill is 325 mg). This information is from the Poultry Podiatry website. Warning: aspirin thins the blood and should not be used if internal bleeding is suspected or in cases where a wound will not stop bleeding.

You might also consider stabilizing or splinting the leg, or at least keeping her on a soft surface in a darkened area for some time, to give her a chance to rest.

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Nambroth]

Metacam is also an excellent pain reliever (and anti-inflamatory) that is safe to administer to chickens. Unfortunately, it is not over the counter or at feed stores, but any veterinarian should have it (It is used in dogs) if you can find one that is sympathetic and will sell it to you.
Metacam can be administered to chickens at:
Metacam (oral solution, 1.5mg/ml suspension) at 0.2mg/kg.

 

[ten chicks]

What is wrong with her leg,sprain/fracture? You can give the aspirin at 25mg per lb of body as already mentioned or dissolve one 325mg aspirin per gallon of water.

 

[AnimalQuackers]

Can I jump in here with a question, too, please?

I have a two week old Muscovy duckling with what I believe is a broken (at least very painful) right leg. She is limping, and holding her foot curled under rather than putting any weight on it. I am going to fashion a splint today, but also wonder if I can treat her with either Metacam (which I have) or aspirin.

At 325mg/gallon, is the aspirin water administered free choice as her her only water, or given in drop form (then how much and how often?)?

Thank you for any advice you can give me!

Michelle in Massachusetts

 

[dawg53]

Can I jump in here with a question, too, please?

I have a two week old Muscovy duckling with what I believe is a broken (at least very painful) right leg. She is limping, and holding her foot curled under rather than putting any weight on it. I am going to fashion a splint today, but also wonder if I can treat her with either Metacam (which I have) or aspirin.

At 325mg/gallon, is the aspirin water administered free choice as her her only water, or given in drop form (then how much and how often?)?

Thank you for any advice you can give me!

Michelle in Massachusetts

I dont recommend pain meds for birds with injured legs. You want them to feel pain so that they dont try to stand and run around causing further injury that will be impossible to heal. She needs to be put in a small cage with feed and water, isolated as not to be able to walk around...rest and relaxation giving time for the injury to heal. Time is the only thing that can heal these types of injuries. Healing time can take days, weeks, months or never. Normally if there isnt improvement in 2 to 3 weeks, it's time decide what her quality of life will be and you may have to make the decision to cull or not cull.

 

[AnimalQuackers]

I dont recommend pain meds for birds with injured legs. You want them to feel pain so that they dont try to stand and run around causing further injury that will be impossible to heal. She needs to be put in a small cage with feed and water, isolated as not to be able to walk around...rest and relaxation giving time for the injury to heal. Time is the only thing that can heal these types of injuries. Healing time can take days, weeks, months or never. Normally if there isnt improvement in 2 to 3 weeks, it's time decide what her quality of life will be and you may have to make the decision to cull or not cull.

Thank you Dawg! I was thinking of giving her some pain meds just before I put the splint on. I am going to have to manipulate the leg a little, and I think that will be painful. Once it is splinted, I agree that it is best to let her feel the pain should she try to do more than she should!

Do you agree?

 

[romea]

I dont recommend pain meds for birds with injured legs. You want them to feel pain so that they dont try to stand and run around causing further injury that will be impossible to heal. She needs to be put in a small cage with feed and water, isolated as not to be able to walk around...rest and relaxation giving time for the injury to heal. Time is the only thing that can heal these types of injuries. Healing time can take days, weeks, months or never. Normally if there isnt improvement in 2 to 3 weeks, it's time decide what her quality of life will be and you may have to make the decision to cull or not cull.

although this is years old, i'd like to add my 2 cents...
an aspirin at the recommended dosage will most likely only reduce the pain. also - movement will help the healing process & get nutrients to the injured site.
but more importantly: aspirin is an anti-inflammatory and inflammation is part of any injury.

i agree that you want to take it easy with pain meds but i don't see a problem making life a bit more comfortable during the time of healing.