Badly injured duck

[Jcarnahan]

I need some advice. I’m able to handle most injuries with ducks but this one is bad. Our goose really tore apart one of my duck hens faces. She is secluded with water and I gave her a bath with some epson salts. I put blue cote on her injuries however it so bad I can see her skull and some muscle which is why I did not post a picture. It seems to have mostly stopped bleeding but it is oozing a little clear liquid. This is a first for me so I want to be sure I’m on top of this since it happened sometime this morning. A vet is not an option considering I don’t have an avian vet within four hours of me. Maybe more. She is alert and drinking. I have some amoxicillin from getting our dog neutered. I added some to her water(did research it first). I’m not sure what else to do. Not sure there is much else I can do. I plan to give her tumeric(natural pain killer) once I know she isn’t bleeding anymore since tumeric is a blood thinner. Anything you guys can offer in addition to what I’ve already done would be really helpful.

 

[Susan Skylark]

You’ve hit it out of the park! Keep her clean, dry, no stress as she heals, good feed and ventilation and clean water. Don’t let her dabble/swim much as this can introduce bacteria into a healing wound for a week. Don’t forget fly control (catron spray in wound, wipe regular fly spray around wound, physical barriers etc.). Leave it open to the air (don’t wrap). The clear liquid is serum: liquid part of blood, normal at this point. Keep her on the amoxicillin for a week to ten days. Make sure you know what a safe dosage is on the turmeric before using.

 

[ruthhope]

I need some advice. I’m able to handle most injuries with ducks but this one is bad. Our goose really tore apart one of my duck hens faces. She is secluded with water and I gave her a bath with some epson salts. I put blue cote on her injuries however it so bad I can see her skull and some muscle which is why I did not post a picture. It seems to have mostly stopped bleeding but it is oozing a little clear liquid. This is a first for me so I want to be sure I’m on top of this since it happened sometime this morning. A vet is not an option considering I don’t have an avian vet within four hours of me. Maybe more. She is alert and drinking. I have some amoxicillin from getting our dog neutered. I added some to her water(did research it first). I’m not sure what else to do. Not sure there is much else I can do. I plan to give her tumeric(natural pain killer) once I know she isn’t bleeding anymore since tumeric is a blood thinner. Anything you guys can offer in addition to what I’ve already done would be really helpful.

Where are you? Is this a mallard derived duck or a muscovy with carruncles

The most important management is cleaning the wound and keeing it infection free. The first stage in wound cleaning should be irrigation with running water to clean out any debris and bacteria. I hold injured ducks under the cold faucet in my bathroom sink to irrigate the wound. You can then use Blue Kote which I lije the spray form but keep out of the ducks eyes, or betadine

Keep the duck calm and quiet, reduced light helps. Most importantly keep away from flies. I use my bathroom for sick or injured ducks.

Treat shock or prevent shock with oral rehydration solution as their drinking water. (Pedialyte or Liquid IV from your pharmacy sold for kids with vomiting or diarrhea or adults for sports hydration). You can add Rooster Booster Poultry Cell vitamins to the oral rehydration solution
The wounds will heal from below so don't worry about seeing bone and muscle. But check daily. If the wound is oozing irrigate again with tapwater and reuse Blue Kote or betadine. If it is dry, leave well alone.

It may be better healing the wounds open particularly as dressing a face wound is difficult.

As you have amoxycillin use it. I keep Baytril-10 in my ducky first aid kit but it would take 5-7days for you to get it delivered if you buy it now from www.allbirdproducts.com, so having amoxyl is good

Keep us updated of her progress and good luck

 

[kaumlauf]

I had a badly injured mallard duck once, who healed and survived beautifully. The male duck was attacked by a male (buck) rabbit that shared his meadow. This buck pulled much of his skin from his neck. I thought he would surely die. I put blu-cote on the wound, and did my best to keep if free from flies. He was a champ. Thank you for caring about your duck.

 

[Jcarnahan]

Thank you so much to you all! I really appreciate the advice. I dont have a lot of amoxicillin so I will look into baytril 10. I will also look into the bug repellant. I had her outside where we normally keep injured animals but within a couple hours a fly laid some eggs on her. A totally lapse in judgement on my part. Brought her in a cleaned her up. I don't see anymore eggs but if you guys have any ideas incase I missed some. She is in my laundry room right now and wont be going back out. I didn’t try to wrap it so it is open and I added antibacterial ointment to the wound to hopefully serve as that barrier.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good idea on the ointment you want to keep the wound moist and not let it dry out. I’ve seen some pretty horrific wounds on here and the victims recovered so you’re doing good by her. My goose got hold of one of my Runners back in spring and chewed her face up pretty good she healed fine and learned her lesson to not lay down for a goose asking to be mated. The wound wasn’t as bad as your ducks but it was bad enough.