Calling all people whose birds have experienced corneal scratches

[austroberta]

I did once have a tomcat (not a duck, I know) with a scratched cornea. He did not lose weight, or act sick. His eye watered for a few days, and that was about it.

Yah, that's my sense too. I think there might be something else going on.

 

[austroberta]

I hope all goes well tomorrow.

Thanks! Me too!

 

[casportpony]

How did it go?

 

[Lucyspals]

Here is a reference article for foamy eye.
https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/08/treating-foamy-eye-and-sinus-issues-in.html

 

[austroberta]

How did it go?

The vet said that the eye was in really bad shape and that usually after 2-3 days of meds, a corneal abrasion should heal. Sage's eye is definitely not healed. It's still milky, like a cataract. She gave me some eye drops, instead of the ointment and some stronger pain meds. She also mentioned that with an eye like that, poor Sage is in a lot of pain and that's probably what the lessened appetite is all about. I'll see how Sage does on the new meds. She also did a saline eye flush to make sure that there wasn't any debris that is causing the problem. She didn't see anything flush out.

Sage's appetite seemed a bit better today. She ate tomatoes, worms and her duck food. She also ate ALL her duck food last night. Her appetite is not excellent, but seems improved.

Apparently the scale at the other vet was off. Sage's weight was 1.45 kilos, instead of the 1.1 kilos the other vet registered. Perhaps that's why the other pain med wasn't kicking in, because it was based on a lower weight. (And some of it was dribbling out).

She kept on mentioning 'I'll try and save her eye', which doesn't make me feel great, but at the same time I am relieved to know that Sage doesn't seem to have an underlying health issue.

She also mentioned that she might try antibiotics to see if there might be something infected at the back of her eye (which the vet could't see or get too).

Sage was such a trooper. I'm so happy to have her.

 

[Jacktoo]

I have a turkey that had a swollen eye, and took him to the vet.. they looked into her eye and told me it looks like she was scratch or pecked from another turkey. She is on some ointment but my vet had already told me, her eye will not heal, that she will lost her eye.
She had a very low appetite at first, so I started giving her electrolytes. She is eating and trying to fly now so the electrolytes did help. The good thing is turkey’s only us one eye at a time to see.
I’m so sorry about your duck

 

[austroberta]

I have a turkey that had a swollen eye, and took him to the vet.. they looked into her eye and told me it looks like she was scratch or pecked from another turkey. She is on some ointment but my vet had already told me, her eye will not heal, that she will lost her eye.
She had a very low appetite at first, so I started giving her electrolytes. She is eating and trying to fly now so the electrolytes did help. The good thing is turkey’s only us one eye at a time to see.
I’m so sorry about your duck

Thanks for the info! (and there was no sarcasm in that at all). I was really hoping to get someone else's experience. It's good to know.

Just out of curiosity, did the vet mention eventually having to remove the eye surgically? Mine did, if we ever cross that bridge.

I hope there is still hope for her. The doctor said we should know by this weekend.

I'm a bit concerned about Sage, as she a bit on the slow and clumsy side, and having one eye might slow her down more. If she does lose an eye, I'll just have to make sure that she's getting around ok. The good thing about ducks is they do know how to find stuff with their beaks even without seeing it.

 

[Jacktoo]

No my vet didn’t say the eye will need to come out surgically. He told me it will stay white, but it will end up going in. So the swollen will go down and her eye will just be flat. She wasn’t eating a whole lot when it first started, and was hiding under a tree. So I knew she was losing protein and vitamins, plus her head was very hot feverish... when I started giving her electrolytes in her water and after the vet visit with meds. it got better. I’m happy that I know she looks and acts normal again.

 

[austroberta]

No my vet didn’t say the eye will need to come out surgically. He told me it will stay white, but it will end up going in. So the swollen will go down and her eye will just be flat. She wasn’t eating a whole lot when it first started, and was hiding under a tree. So I knew she was losing protein and vitamins, plus her head was very hot feverish... when I started giving her electrolytes in her water and after the vet visit with meds. it got better. I’m happy that I know she looks and acts normal again.

First off (and I failed to mention it yesterday), I'm sorry your turkey might lose an eye. It's so sad to experience.

Sage was also not eating and was also hiding quite a bit under bushes. Yesterday, after all the painkillers/meds, she started being a bit more active, including foraging. She's walking around/foraging now (although I'm going to separate her in her pen, away from her flock mates, a little later.)

Did your vet prescribe antibiotics?

So yes, to anyone who experiences something similar out there, yes, it's very possible that when your bird doesn't eat, and goes off and hides after an eye injury, it's just due to the eye and nothing else.

 

[austroberta]

Here is a reference article for foamy eye.
https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/08/treating-foamy-eye-and-sinus-issues-in.html

Thanks, Lucyspals. I so wish this was an issue of foamy eye. Unfortunately, I think it's a more serious injury. I'll keep the link for later on, if one of my ducks ever has it in the future.