What to do for this case of frostbite?

[Ebz5003]

I had two 12 week old Buff Laced Polish chicks who both got frostbite on toes recently. I guess I assumed they are from Poland and are therefore cold-hardy-I was wrong! They aren't from Poland and are not cold hardy. One appeared to go into septic shock from a frostbit toe and died almost immediately after. The other one got what looks to be frostbite on two toes, with one toe puffy and split at one point. She has been doing great since I found her. She's in the garage now and I've been giving her a warm foot bath and then coating the toe to betadine, neosporin, and a bandaid. She is responsive and eating, drinking, and chatting away with her brooder buddies. I brought her to the vet today just in case, and the vet said she wanted to do bloodwork and give her an x-ray to assess the condition of the bone before chosing an antibiotic for her. However, they didn't end up having time to do any of that today. I am thinking this will be expensive and wondering if she seems to be doing fine, is it worth going in and treating her with antibiotics anyway? Does a little frostbite on a toe just go away on its own sometimes? I've included a picture of my girl and her frostbit toes. Thanks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
These Educators will know a lot more about it than I do, but I think the frostbitten part will fall off. There may be a chance of infection, however, so you should see what these ladies have to say.

 

[Ebz5003]

@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
These Educators will know a lot more about it than I do, but I think the frostbitten part will fall off. There may be a chance of infection, however, so you should see what these ladies have to say.

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I had two 12 week old Buff Laced Polish chicks who both got frostbite on toes recently. I guess I assumed they are from Poland and are therefore cold-hardy-I was wrong! They aren't from Poland and are not cold hardy. One appeared to go into septic shock from a frostbit toe and died almost immediately after. The other one got what looks to be frostbite on two toes, with one toe puffy and split at one point. She has been doing great since I found her. She's in the garage now and I've been giving her a warm foot bath and then coating the toe to betadine, neosporin, and a bandaid. She is responsive and eating, drinking, and chatting away with her brooder buddies. I brought her to the vet today just in case, and the vet said she wanted to do bloodwork and give her an x-ray to assess the condition of the bone before chosing an antibiotic for her. However, they didn't end up having time to do any of that today. I am thinking this will be expensive and wondering if she seems to be doing fine, is it worth going in and treating her with antibiotics anyway? Does a little frostbite on a toe just go away on its own sometimes? I've included a picture of my girl and her frostbit toes. Thanks.

Can you get photos of her feet while standing?

With Frostbite, usually the toes/foot will eventually turn black, dries up and falls off on its own.
Most do not administer antibiotics, but depending on severity, a soaking may be needed. Most do not apply any ointments since the tissue is dying and handling the Frostbitten tissue can be painful.

Here's one of the best articles dealing with Frostbite, treatment and photos of what it looks like.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/

 

[azygous]

Your vet is hosing you. Frostbite doesn't require expensive xrays. Nor antibiotics. Care of frost bitten tissue is mainly hands-off to avoid additional damage to the tissue. And skip the bandaid.

Your other chicken probably died of hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) not frostbitten toes. When you have a sudden cold spell, watch your chickens for any who are stumbling about, poor balance, acting weak and lethargic. You need to warm them immediately with warm compresses placed under the wing pits and breast area and give an electrolyte solution of one teaspoon sugar, a pinch of salt and baking soda in one cup warm water.

 

[Ebz5003]

Your vet is hosing you. Frostbite doesn't require expensive xrays. Nor antibiotics. Care of frost bitten tissue is mainly hands-off to avoid additional damage to the tissue. And skip the bandaid.

Your other chicken probably died of hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) not frostbitten toes. When you have a sudden cold spell, watch your chickens for any who are stumbling about, poor balance, acting weak and lethargic. You need to warm them immediately with warm compresses placed under the wing pits and breast area and give an electrolyte solution of one teaspoon sugar, a pinch of salt and baking soda in one cup warm water.

Oh wow. I had a feeling the vet's recommendations were a bit rediculous. She looks about 25 years old as well, so go figure! I didn't realize hypothermia was a possibility. What if the toe has actually split, though? No fluid coming out anymore. Maybe that was the reason for the possible rx? Thank you for the helpful info! What do you use for a warm compress- warm washcloth?

 

[Ebz5003]

Can you get photos of her feet while standing?

With Frostbite, usually the toes/foot will eventually turn black, dries up and falls off on its own.
Most do not administer antibiotics, but depending on severity, a soaking may be needed. Most do not apply any ointments since the tissue is dying and handling the Frostbitten tissue can be painful.

Here's one of the best articles dealing with Frostbite, treatment and photos of what it looks like.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/

Thank you!

 

[Ebz5003]

Thank you!

I will try to get a standing pic later

 

[azygous]

Frostbite is the destruction of tissue. You know frostbite has occurred when you see white tissue. It then swells up, the first sign the body is starting to protect itself from it by beginning to wall off the damaged tissue from the rest of the body. Then the blood supply to the damaged tissue is cut off, and after that, the tissue turns black. Then it falls off. This process is governed by the chicken's immune system, and you or a vet don't need to do anything other than keep the chicken from further freezing.

The split skin shouldn't be a problem. Just put some Neosporin or other antiseptic ointment on it until it either heals or falls off.

 

[azygous]

Here's a thread following a hen who had frostbite on both feet and ended up losing them both. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/