Duck Eye Infection - Please Help

[djz522]

I noticed this eye infection on one of my golden 300 ducks a few days ago. There is some mucus-like or sebaceous matter covering the eye with some bubbles in the corner, as well as some weepiness on her face around the eye. Some of the skin on her face around the eye is a little bit scabby. I did some searching and found some info on bubble eye, Mycoplasma and coryza, but I am not sure if it is one of them. Other than this infection the duck has no respiratory problems and my other ducks are fine [actually one of my white 300 ducks mysteriously died a few days before without showing any sign of illness.] I did notice one of my golden ducks (probably this same one, but maybe not) with this problem before, but I didn't inspect it at the time and it went away. This time around I have been washing it with some diluted antibacterial (triclosan) soap. I missed a day and it seemed that the infection progressed - the swelling and "mucus/sebum" almost shut the eye completely - but the washing does remove some of the matter. Other than washing I could use some advice on how to treat the eye. I've seen some recommendations for vetericyn for similar problems. I am wondering if this a very dilute bleach solution would be recommendable, as I am not sure the triclosan will kill the pathogen. The UF extension has some antibiotics listed for Mycoplasma, but again, I am not sure if this is the illness. Here is what the eye looks like (the wetness is from washing):



Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

-Jake

Note: I read that the drakes with their overenthusiastic ways of mating may cause injuries that lead to infection, which may have been the cause in this case, and I have taken care of that problem. The ducks also have access to buckets of water that they can dunk their heads in.

 

[Scumma]

I know this is almost a year later, but if you for some reason have not found a cure, my ducks had the same problem and I was told to use Terramycin ointment. You just put it directly on the eye(try to get it in the back because that is usually where the infection is) But this stuff worked. I noticed improvement within a few days.

 

[djz522]

Thanks Scumma. I suppose I should update for those who come across this problem. Within a day of my original post, I washed the eyes out with dilute soapy water and a minute concentration of bleach, and did this a few times over the course of a few days. This seemed ineffectual, and I decided to leave it alone. Ultimately, the eye spontaneously healed within a few weeks (or maybe quicker.) I never got a definite diagnosis, but a fellow duck keeper told me he had the same issue with one of his birds, and that it is a symptom of a respiratory infection, or "duck cold," if you will.