Betsyfet

Chirping
May 10, 2020
21
14
56
Western PA
I’m posting mainly to share because it’s been traumatic.
I was given a Muscovy duck that had been neglected. I was getting her health up and she was doing much better, still a shy girl (1-1/2 year old). My chickens and ducks free range.
We have a lab puppy who’s five months old and getting teeth and chewing on everything. She’s never bothered the birds. Last Monday she pinned down my Muscovy and chewed on her neck. It was probably an hour before we caught her.
The damage was so bad I was pretty sure we were going to put her down. You could see into her cavity at her shoulder and I could tell her food pipe was wide open. I wrapped her up and used alcohol, ointments, essential oils. She survived the night and her cavity hole had sealed over. I realized the next day she couldn’t drink without her throat being closed up. I was terrified it would hurt her so I decided to stick her with the needle in that area. She just looked and cooed at me so I went to sewing (I was shaking, lol). It held up pretty well but then the next day she had been pulling at it and when she drank she had a spout out the side of her neck so I sewed it again. It still leaked so I used some liquid bandage. That stuff smells like nail polish remover so I feel like I poisoned her. It was only after applying that that she started sitting and curling her feet in and falling over. It could have been a coincidence but I knew lack of nutrients and infection could have been at fault as well. She sat and her eyes were rolling up and shaking. I tube administered multivitamin, vit b, selenium and Vit e and she perked up. Still isn’t standing well but is trying. I can’t believe she’s still alive!! She doesn’t eat well. I did get her to eat food if I put it at the bottom of her water dish. She likes to put her bill in and get the bottom stuff.
It’s been a week and a half. The flesh around her neck has turned thick and black and is peeling off with pink skin underneath. I just hope it doesn’t pull the stitches out because she’s still not sealed without the stitches.
 
How is your duck doing? Do you have any pictures of her wounds?

If she's not eating, or drinking much, it would be in your best interest to start supplemental tube feeding. You can find info on that here :

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tube-feeding-ducks-updated-5-7-2020.1211994/

If an infection is a concern, which it should always be with a bite wound, you can get fish mox online, or get Pen G at your feed store and give her that :

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/durvet-penicillin-injectable-500cc
https://www.walmartpetrx.com/p-2377-fish-mox-amoxicillin.aspx
 
Sorry to hear of your traumatic ordeal, how sad for the both of you. :( Wishing the Best for both of you and a speedy recovery. :)

Your Lab puppy is a waterfowl type breed of canine and just doing what comes natural to her. Hopefully you will not have to rehome her if she can leave your flock alone.
 

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