Duck with Eye Injury!!!

[lauren3177]

Hello! I have a precious 6 month old duck with an injury to his eye. I noticed this past Wednesday (4 days ago) that he would not open his eye. Upon further inspection, his eye looked glazed over/milky and like there was a small cut. Since then, a bubble like growth is coming off of his eye and keeps getting bigger. I am afraid his eye has been burst open accidentally. I will attack photos. The “bubble” or maybe ulcer is so big he cannot close his eye. Poor thing already has to endure the freezing weather outside. What should I do? I wouldn’t be able to afford the eye taken out, but that may be his only option?
Pictures attached.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

@Isaac 0

 

[Isaac 0]

The best outcome will likely be achieved via an avian vet, so if that is an option, that would be best.

The most you can do for now is either set him up a little pen in your coop, so he's separated from the flock, but can see/hear them, or bring him inside. Either way, the area should be warm, with a clean feed/water dish provided.

For the eye, pick up, or make your own saline solution 0.9%, and using a syringe give the eye a good flush to debris any matter out. Since it's very likely the eye is infected, after lavaging apply an ophthalmic ointment to the eye, and repeat that process as needed. Hopefully, by doing that process, that will help get some of the swelling down to the point where his eye can be closed again.

To test if he can see out of the eye, you can perform a menace reaction, wherewith one closed fist you swiftly move it towards the eye, and watch for any noticeable relex.


https://www.healthline.com/health/make-your-own-saline-solution
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pfizer-terramycin-opthalmic-ointment-1-8-oz

 

[lauren3177]

Thank you! I oicke

The best outcome will likely be achieved via an avian vet, so if that is an option, that would be best.

The most you can do for now is either set him up a little pen in your coop, so he's separated from the flock, but can see/hear them, or bring him inside. Either way, the area should be warm, with a clean feed/water dish provided.

For the eye, pick up, or make your own saline solution 0.9%, and using a syringe give the eye a good flush to debris any matter out. Since it's very likely the eye is infected, after lavaging apply an ophthalmic ointment to the eye, and repeat that process as needed. Hopefully, by doing that process, that will help get some of the swelling down to the point where his eye can be closed again.

To test if he can see out of the eye, you can perform a menace reaction, wherewith one closed fist you swiftly move it towards the eye, and watch for any noticeable relex.


https://www.healthline.com/health/make-your-own-saline-solution
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/pfizer-terramycin-opthalmic-ointment-1-8-oz

Thanks! I picked up some antibiotic eye ointment from my vet and am keeping an eye on it.

 

[Isaac 0]

Let us know how she gets along!

 

[lauren3177]

Let us know how she gets along!

Well, things turned for the worse today. I went to check on him, and his other eye is now nasty. I mean it really looks like is eye busted and is all shredded up in his head. I cannot possible understand how now both eyes are this way. He can’t see a thing, and seems pitiful. Cant find his water/food either and just sleeps all day. I have some Teramyosin that the vet gave me and have been putting it in both eyes but nothing seems to help.
I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be more humane to put him down. Even if he recovered, what is a duck with no vision? Thoughts?

 

[Isaac 0]

Poor guy. If both eyes are affected, I would either consider euthanasia or starting him on a systemic antibiotic such as Baytril. You can try Baytril, dosing at 0.05ml twice daily, orally, for no longer than five days. Continue to apply the Terramycin, and flushing the eye may help. There is no guarantee the latter treatment will work, and even if it does, he still might not be able to see. There are blind ducks out there, but it is often difficult to care for them. If you do decide to treat him, it would be best to offer him feed/water often and weigh him daily. If he loses more than 5% of weight, he will need to be tube-fed.

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/mmissue42.htm

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10