Duck lost an eye, what do I do?

[Macbeth2003]

Yesterday we had a storm of Epic proportions. Baseball size hail for almost 15 minutes straight. When it was starting and just under golf ball size, I went outside and drove our six ducks into their duck hut. As the hail got bigger, it smashed through the "hail proof" PVC roof like tissue paper. We moved the ducks inside the house as quickly as we could, and checking them out they seem to have no broken bones, wings, or cut feet form the PVC. Unfortunately Ruth, our sweet little Chocolate India Runner Duck, lost her left eye? What do I need to do for her now?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yesterday we had a storm of Epic proportions. Baseball size hail for almost 15 minutes straight. When it was starting and just under golf ball size, I went outside and drove our six ducks into their duck hut. As the hail got bigger, it smashed through the "hail proof" PVC roof like tissue paper. We moved the ducks inside the house as quickly as we could, and checking them out they seem to have no broken bones, wings, or cut feet form the PVC. Unfortunately Ruth, our sweet little Chocolate India Runner Duck, lost her left eye? What do I need to do for her now?

You need to get her medical attention I would think. infection is her enemy now and flies keep her inside away from them. So sorry!

 

[Sadiew]

Oh how awful I am so sorry for Ruth I hope she will be okay but I agree with Miss Lydia she will need to be looked at to stop any infection, poor thing.

 

[Macbeth2003]

Thanks, We are taking her in to see a vet in about 45 minutes. Unfortunately we do not have any Avian vets anywhere really near us, but our local vet used to have a rural practice where she treated Ducks, and Chickens, so even though she is now a small animal specialist, I know some neighbors take their chickens to her.
We brought all the ducks in last night, and had to keep them in a space far too small (The Dog crate that was their brooder when they were little). This meant kicking our 4 week old rescue duckling out into a cardboard box overnight. How we will isolate Ruth as well, I don't know, but we will find a way. My son is just devastated, as Ruth is his favourite, and she follows him all around the yard. .

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, We are taking her in to see a vet in about 45 minutes. Unfortunately we do not have any Avian vets anywhere really near us, but our local vet used to have a rural practice where she treated Ducks, and Chickens, so even though she is now a small animal specialist, I know some neighbors take their chickens to her.
We brought all the ducks in last night, and had to keep them in a space far too small (The Dog crate that was their brooder when they were little). This meant kicking our 4 week old rescue duckling out into a cardboard box overnight. How we will isolate Ruth as well, I don't know, but we will find a way. My son is just devastated, as Ruth is his favourite, and she follows him all around the yard. .

I am glad your taking her to a vet, and unless other complications she will probably be fine, ducks are amazing how well they adapt and come back from injuries. Please let us know what the vet says and does for her. Just go to a Walmart or Freds etc and by the biggest plastic container you can find, or a very large dog crate will work too. Most likely she will sew the eye closed. Hope for the best for you all especially Ruth. I have a Ruth too.

 

[Macbeth2003]

Turns out Ruth's eyelid is badly ripped, and swollen, and her eye is bruised, injured, and sightless at present, but the globe is still intact. She has moved inside into our big Dog Crate (it was big enough to house 6 ducklings at 6 weeks old) and we have Tobramycin Ophtalmic Solution to give her three times a day. Our vet thinks that she will probably make a good recovery, and even regain sight in the eye. If that doesn't appear to be the case in a week when we go back for a progress check, then we will talk about anesthetizing her, and surgically removing the (in that case sightless) eye to prevent infection and further damage. Ruth was very good. She stopped fussing after a few minutes, and let herself be weighted, and examined. Then she sat in my lap for an hour or so while the Dog crate was cleaned out from last night, rebedded and made ready for her.

We are going to be Dog Crate central for a while. Ruth is in this crate; we a re borrowing a smaller crate for our month old rescued Moscovy Duckling. Last month, the city removed a feral colony near our son's school, and missed a duckling, then he was found walking a bloc away at the school by a teacher, and since they knew we had ducks, they called us; and until I can repair the Duck Hut we are borrowing more crates for the other 5 to go into at night.

But at least all the girls are taken care of. Interesting third month of Duck ownership. I'm hoping each month isn't more exciting than the last, because I don't know how much more excitement I can take.

 

[zooweemama]

Oh good news about the eye. I hope it makes a full recovery so she can keep it! Man that sounds like one wicked storm. Eesh. How are the ducks holding up with their world being rocked and changed?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Turns out Ruth's eyelid is badly ripped, and swollen, and her eye is bruised, injured, and sightless at present, but the globe is still intact. She has moved inside into our big Dog Crate (it was big enough to house 6 ducklings at 6 weeks old) and we have Tobramycin Ophtalmic Solution to give her three times a day. Our vet thinks that she will probably make a good recovery, and even regain sight in the eye. If that doesn't appear to be the case in a week when we go back for a progress check, then we will talk about anesthetizing her, and surgically removing the (in that case sightless) eye to prevent infection and further damage. Ruth was very good. She stopped fussing after a few minutes, and let herself be weighted, and examined. Then she sat in my lap for an hour or so while the Dog crate was cleaned out from last night, rebedded and made ready for her.

We are going to be Dog Crate central for a while. Ruth is in this crate; we a re borrowing a smaller crate for our month old rescued Moscovy Duckling. Last month, the city removed a feral colony near our son's school, and missed a duckling, then he was found walking a bloc away at the school by a teacher, and since they knew we had ducks, they called us; and until I can repair the Duck Hut we are borrowing more crates for the other 5 to go into at night.

But at least all the girls are taken care of. Interesting third month of Duck ownership. I'm hoping each month isn't more exciting than the last, because I don't know how much more excitement I can take.

So glad Ruth got a good prognosis, wonderful I bet your son was so happy. Ducks are amazing animals. And for taking in the Muscovy duckling hugs again. you'll not be sorry about that decision either. Keep us updated on Ruth and all the rest, hope your able to get everything repaired with out too much time laspe since duckies do like to be outside. And your house will smell alot better if they are outside too, giving thanks that you and your family and ducklings came through the storm safely. Well except for Ruth but it could have been so much worse.

 

[Valntyn]

Turns out Ruth's eyelid is badly ripped, and swollen, and her eye is bruised, injured, and sightless at present, but the globe is still intact. She has moved inside into our big Dog Crate (it was big enough to house 6 ducklings at 6 weeks old) and we have Tobramycin Ophtalmic Solution to give her three times a day. Our vet thinks that she will probably make a good recovery, and even regain sight in the eye. If that doesn't appear to be the case in a week when we go back for a progress check, then we will talk about anesthetizing her, and surgically removing the (in that case sightless) eye to prevent infection and further damage. Ruth was very good. She stopped fussing after a few minutes, and let herself be weighted, and examined. Then she sat in my lap for an hour or so while the Dog crate was cleaned out from last night, rebedded and made ready for her.

We are going to be Dog Crate central for a while. Ruth is in this crate; we a re borrowing a smaller crate for our month old rescued Moscovy Duckling. Last month, the city removed a feral colony near our son's school, and missed a duckling, then he was found walking a bloc away at the school by a teacher, and since they knew we had ducks, they called us; and until I can repair the Duck Hut we are borrowing more crates for the other 5 to go into at night.

But at least all the girls are taken care of. Interesting third month of Duck ownership. I'm hoping each month isn't more exciting than the last, because I don't know how much more excitement I can take.

Good gravy, you HAVE had a rough three months, haven't you?! I hope all the best for upcoming times as well as for Ruth's health!

 

[Macbeth2003]

Most of these past three months have been wonderful. Just this last bit with smashed duck hut, injured duck, injured self and wife while trying to rescue docks, etc. That stuff i could have lived without. I'm loving having ducks. It just makes me happy to see them forage, and splash in their plastic pool. Though the muscovy - D'artagnan - is terrified of the other ducks, and runs form them and climbs in our laps.