Clear liquid bubble near stitches of wound

[The_spice_girls]

Hello everyone,

One of our ducks got injured two days ago (6/18), we think she was hit in the road. She had a few wounds that we had a veterinarian t stitch up. He has experience with poultry.
Around the sutures are a few clear/white bubbles. Does anyone know what they are? Just pockets of fluid? My main concern is maggots. The wound was only open for a few hours and I would assume the vet checked before he closed up the wound. I plan on giving him a call when they open, but wanted to check here also!
Thanks! Pics below

 

[alinas2010]

How is your duck acting? Lethargic? If this were to be fly strike, I would think she would probably be acting very ill right now.

My first thought is tissue fluid that has nowhere to drain to since the wound is closed up, but I really don’t know. Your vet will have the best answer and solution, likely, but let’s call on some of the educators for their thoughts. @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

I’m also going to call on @Jenbirdee bc I believe she has experience with duck wounds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't know what is causing that. Hopefully you've been able to contact your vet and send them photos.

If you have and they gave you a solution, please let us know.

 

[azygous]

Bacteria produce gases as they metabolize in a wound. You may need to soak the wound and remove the scab to clean out the wound well. Then keep the wound amply covered with an antibacterial ointment.

 

[The_spice_girls]

She’s not acting very lethargic. We have her in a crate right now to heal up, so it’s hard to tell. We just let her outside to get some fresh air and seems to be acting normal. Not eating as much as she usually does, but thinking that’s because she’s not too happy away from the rest of the flock, and with her mate dying in front of her… The vet office is closed on the weekends so I won’t be able to reach him until Monday. She’s on antibiotics and anti inflammatory/pain medicine. I will update when I’ve talked to the vet! Thanks.

 

[The_spice_girls]

Azygous, just saw your reply. Do you think that will be alright with the stitches? I do believe they are dissolvable.

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

If infection were present I'd expect to see redness spreading from the cut outwards; I don't see that here. I agree the bubbles are likely edema trapped by the sutures. Dissolvable stitches by nature are prone to generating a little immune response. Does not look like maggots.

Most bacterial infections don't produce gas that forms bubbles; those that do are usually bad. I wouldn't suspect that here but I agree with keeping an antibiotic ointment over the wound. While wound-related edema normally contains antibodies against common bacteria, it also contains protein products that bacteria can feed on if/when the blisters open up.

 

[azygous]

Yes, you can pull the scab away from the stitches without harming them. Be sure to soak for ten or fifteen minutes first in soapy water to soften the scab. Dabbing undiluted dish detergent on the wound and leaving it for ten minutes before you soak will turn the scab into "jelly" making it easier to wash away. This will not harm newly formed tissue.

This is a procedure called debriding. It's often done as part of regular wound care to reduce bacteria that can slow down healing. It will not harm healing.

 

[D Uccle Uncle]

I'd leave the scab in place; nothing is to be gained by exposing the underlying wound. If the wound looked infected, it's a different story, but this doesn't look infected and the bird is on antibiotics.

Edited to add: A scab contains/has natural anti-bacterial properties. The bond between the scab and wound, if broken, will provoke an additional immune response. Sometimes this is useful, but in a normal healing sutured wound, this seems to me counterproductive.

 

[The_spice_girls]

Thank you for the replies everyone! I will put some antibiotic ointment on it, and leave the scab in place since the skin doesn’t look infected.

Thank you again!