We’ve had a whole lot of healing going on around here. Diesel had some surgery, and we had a turkey hen attacked by a predator. I’m going to warn you that the last couple of pictures of the turkey hen may be a little graphic. I’ll give you another warning before they appear so you can click off this post if you want.
As you may remember, Diesel has had hip and knee issues for a good long while. Actually, probably since he was born. Certainly since he came here at six weeks of age.
We’ve known for a good long while that Diesel has hip dysplasia. And we also knew he had knee issues. What we didn’t know is that he has Medial Pateller Luxation (MPL). Which is a great long word that means his knee cap doesn’t fit inside the grove it’s supposed to sit inside. It would slide out to the inside, and Bernie and I would have to manipulate the knee cap and put it back in place so he could walk on that leg. He has MPL in both knees, but the right knee was especially bothersome.
He’s been having this issue for a while, but a couple of months ago it became very painful for him, especially in his right knee. And he got to the point where he was limping badly, and couldn’t even walk down to the mailbox.
We took him to his vet to see Dr. Vick, at Seven Bends Vet Clinic. Diesel and Dolly love Dr. Vick. She took some x-rays, and quickly informed us that he needed to see a specialist. She recommended the Veterinary Surgical Center. And we met with Dr. Anke Langenbach and were very impressed.
Diesel basically needs to have both knees reconstructed, and the first one was done on November the 7th.
We picked him up on November the 8th.
He had an e-collar on his neck, to keep him from licking the incision. He really hated the e-collar, but he sure seemed happy to be going home.
And he seemed very happy to get on his own bed when he got home.
This is a picture of his incision. Please forgive the spots on his bed. The icepack I put on his leg sprung a leak.
Diesel really dislike that e-collar, so to keep him from licking we had a slumber party in the living room each night for a week.
Some nights Dolly slept in the bed with Bernie, but most nights Diesel, Dolly, and I slept in the living room.
And who doesn’t like a nice slumber party?
Diesel has his stitches out now and he’s really doing quite well.
Dr. Langenbach is quite impressed with is progress. In a couple of months he will get his left knee operated on.
Bernie says he’ll be the Six Million Dollar Dog.
***************Graphic pictures follow********************
When I went to put up the turkeys this evening I noticed that Sarah, the turkey hen, had a horrible injury.
We have about 1.5 acres of our property enclosed in fencing, and the turkeys don’t go outside of it.
Apparently something got inside the fencing today and attacked sweet little Sarah. We have been sick about it. Because we were home. And we heard nothing.
But when I went to tuck the turkeys in, I found Sarah with a lot of skin ripped away from her side.
And feathers missing around a puncture wound on the top of her wing.
There wasn’t enough skin to sew back together, so we cleaned it up and applied some Blue Kote. The wound is too raw and too wet to hold much else.
We are so shocked that this occurred with us both at home. We heard and saw nothing unusual today.
We’ve seen so many predators this fall. It may have been a fox. Or perhaps a dog. Or who knows what?
But the thought that something like that happened while we were here and didn’t notice it is very upsetting.
We hope she’ll make it. She’s in a cage and we’ll doctor her each day.
For all my friends with poultry in this area, be on the look out. The predators are thick this year.
Tags: Diesel, Medial Pateller Luxation, predators
Poor Sarah, that looked really bad, I hope you get it to heal up fast. She is a good mama. My chickens got locked back up again for a few days, I think my hawk is back.
Give Diesel boy & miss Dolly a big hug & kiss for me. And a pat for the kittys.
love ya all XXXOOO
Poor Sarah, I hope she’s okay. I had a hen that got ripped up really bad by a raccoon one year and I guess b/c I caught it in time she healed up but was still a sight and limped when she walked. Trouble is after she healed up and went broody another raccoon killed her. I had to raise the baby chicks. Poor things…it’s always something!
I’m so glad Diesel is doing better!
XXXXOOOO
Thank you, Charlotte. Sarah really is a good mama – and poor Turklet carried on something fierce when I took his mama away to put her in a cage. I hope she’ll heal. And I sure hope that hawk goes away and leaves your chickens alone!
Julie – I remember when that happened to your hen. Did she have an open wound that you couldn’t close? The open area on Sarah is larger than my hand. It looks as though whatever got her got a mouth full of skin
The coons have been out in force at night the past several weeks and I first thought is that is what got ahold of Sarah, but it happened during the day, so I just don’t know. And I agree with you – it’s always something! XXXOOO
Hi Penny, There is a spray you can get at Southern States that I like to use for this kind of thing. It’s in the horse section and is an anti bacterial and anti fungal.
It’s called Banixx Wound and Hoof care. It’s nice because it doesn’t sting the way peroxide and other meds do.
Also in the horse section is NFZ Wound dressing, a topical antibacterial salve.
I hope she makes it, her chances are better since she has a ‘mom” like you and a ‘dad’ like Bernie that are willing to go the extra mile.
You might want to put her under a brooder heat lamp to keep her extra warm too.
Thank you, Lisa! I’m not sure I could get salve to stick right now, but I will check it out. I think I’ll head over to SS as soon as I log out of work for the day. Thanks again!
Penny, so glad Diesel is doing so well…poor puppy to have such a problem with his knees.
So sorry about Sarah! We have notices more predators here, too. Especially coyotes! Our 10 hens are behind an electified mesh fence, so hawks are our most worrisome predator. Part of their pen is covered over the top too. The goatie girls are in an electified yard also. We just can’t take a chance with all the coyotes. Hope Sarah does well in your wonderful care.
That really warmed my heart to hear about Diesel. I have a chunky little chocolate lab that has some hip problems. Diesel reminds me a lot of my Beemer. I’m glad he’s getting better! And, I’m so sorry about your turkey hen. I (hopefully) assume the 2 poults the other hen hatched are doing well? That is scary that something like that would happen with no detection. I’ve had chicks to go missing without a trace, but never a horrible wound like that. With no commotion from the other birds? Very strange. I hope things start going better on the homestead…no more poultry attacks for one. God Bless!
bless their little hearts. i hope sarah makes it ok. and Diesel looks like he’ll be fine. he looks so happy in the car
So glad that Diesel is doing well after his surgery. You will remember we went through a similar ordeal with Captain. Due to the stairs in our previous home, we had to have a slumber party downstairs for 6 weeks, which wasn’t all that fun!
I am sorry to hear about Sarah, poor baby. Very scary that something attacked her in the daytime while you were home! That wound looks pretty nasty, but if anyone can nurse her back to health, I know you and Bernie can.
Penny, Could you put the salve on a big gauze pad and then wrap her body with vet wrap?
Hi Lisa – Our SS did not carry the Banixx Wound and Hoof care, or the NFZ Wound dressing. I’m going to check a couple of other SS in our area and buy them if I find them – just to have on hand. The wound was located under her wing in an area that it would have been hard to wrap. But the good news is that the wound is starting to scab over already! I put her back out with the flock over the weekend and she is doing great. It never ceases to me amaze me how quickly they heal. I’m keeping an eye on her – and Bernie’s keeping an eye on the yard for any sneaky predators!
Cotton Lady – I think worrying about predators is the biggest stress of having poultry/livestock. It sounds like you’ve got yours well protected. I don’t think I knew you got goats – I bet you’re loving them!
J.P. – thanks for your sweet note. Diesel is healing well and this week we will work on encouraging him to use that leg a little more. It really is disturbing that there was either no commotion from the other turkeys/chickens – or we missed it happening right under our noses. I just can’t imagine what happened.
Cathy – Thank you! Diesel was so happy to get home – and Dolly was sure happy to have him back.
Lilla – I do remember Captain’s surgery. A one week slumber party wasn’t too bad – six weeks is a loooong slumber party! I bet the Captain enjoyed it though
I hope Diesel heals as well as Captain’s did. He’s got one more knee to go, and then they’ll re-evaluate him for hip replacement.
Pen, Is there any barbed wire fencing or other sharp things around that she may have ripped her skin on? That would explain the lack of commotion from the other birds or the dogs.
They say guineas are great alarm birds if there are predators in the area.
Well I am glad I am not the only one who fashioned a bed in the living room after my dog had surgery. And I also gave her ice cream until she felt better. What a sucker I am for a sad mug.
So sorry about Sarah. That is just awful. I am sending out good thoughts for her to make a full recovery.
Our beautiful tom turkey was attacked at the top of our pasture, 50 feet from the front door, while we were both home, on a quiet morning. If I had not looked out the window by chance, I would never have heard it…. 3 dogs, all belonging to neighbors, had gotten in. It was horrible, and we were unable to save him, so good luck with your girl. We sure miss having turkeys and hope to get more next year.
So glad to see Diesel is on the mend. Poor turkey girl. How scary that it she was attacked right under your nose. I hope that she is feeling better too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Lisa – we searched the entire area for anything she could have gotten injured on or any sign of her missing chunk of skin, and never found anything. Yes, guineas make a lot of noise – and often
Many of our neighbors have them.
Jane – Your note made me smile. Since Diesel needs to lose weight, I refrained from giving him ice cream. But he did get a couple of extra treats – shhhhhhh. Don’t tell his vet
Mary Ann – I’m so sad you lost your beautiful tom turkey
People who let dogs run free are a real pet peeve of mine. (no pun intended) I can’t imagine how awful it was for you to discover them doing that to your turkey. I feel so bad for you.
Melissa – Diesel and Dolly are both still mending, but doing really well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I’m glad Diesel is doing well after his surgery. I hope Sarah pulls through.
You are the best doggy mom ever, sleeping with them in the living room. I’m glad to see in another post that Sarah is doing better!
Hi! My dog has that problem as well and requires surgery sometime this year. How long was the recovery process? Thanks.
Hi, Gabby. It took two months for Diesel to begin using his leg regularly, and he is still limping on it. I would say the first 6 weeks were the most intense as we have 4 stairs he needs to use to get outside and back inside, and he needed assistance going up and down stairs. The surgeon provided a sling that we were able to use with no problems. After about 6 weeks he was able to negotiate the steps without our assistance, and things were much easier for all of us. I hope your pup’s surgery goes well!