duck with eye problems

[pimento72]

I have a duck who lives with my chickens. She is very talkative and my rooster loves her a little too much. She has survived so much. She is the only duck left the orginal clan. She has seen her sisters die to due to racoons. However now I have a new batte. her eyes. This has been going on off and on for weeks. at first i thought it was the water. so i was cleaning her eyes every chance i got with warm water. Then is looked infected. So i used what i had left (from myself) of an eye antibiotic. that seemed to work good but now im out. i got home from work yesterday and the one eye was a bubble of puss. im so sad. i immediatelly cleaned boith of her eyes with warm water. i called a local vet and they dont see chikens or ducks.i called a local pharmaacu and i need a scrpt for medicated eye drops.. has anyone else gone through this??

 

[Amiga]

Does the duck have water she can wash her head in?

I would get or make mild saline solution and drip that into her eyes four or five times a day and get some oral antibiotics.

There us a thread on available medicines here (I need to look for it). If she is getting too much attention from the rooster they need to be separated.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1022278/drugs-that-can-be-used-in-ducks-no-prescription-needed

 

[pimento72]

Thank you. She does have access to clean water. I change it daily and i am pulling from the pen to clean her eys additionally. I was able to buy some antibiotic ointment for her eyes today after trying a few places. i will try the diluted saline solution too. thank you.

 

[Amiga]

Please keep us updated.

 

[pimento72]

Well we are on day 2 of applying eye ointment. Lola hates it. I clean her eyes before putting it. She still cant open her one eye. I am applying first thing in morning and then right before bed so she is less distressed. Hopefully I will see some improvement in the next few days. Meanwhile she is still chatty, eating and drinking up a storm. She is the smallest of my ducks so she is a little spoiled. I hope she can overcome this. I feel so bad i know it must be killing her.

 

[Amiga]

Remember if the infection has gotten any deeper than skin deep she is going to need oral or injectable antibiotics.

 

[pimento72]

How do I know if the infection is deeper than the skin? Her one is pretty bad but I am seeing small improvements in both eyes after only 3 days using the ointment 2 times a day.

 

[Amiga]

I don't think there is a way to be sure, especially without a vet. I understand if a vet is not an option, really I do. We need to go with our instincts sometimes. Systemic infection is tough to be sure of with ducks.

 

[pimento72]

Initially I wanted to take her to a vet but I cannot find someone local to see my chickens or ducks. im going to have to do further research is this eye does not clear up. my biggest fear is that she lost her eye. every day i look for progress. like i said she is still eating and drinking and she knows she gets a treat after every eye application.. so time will tell. thank you so much for helping me

 

[casportpony]

You can get eye drops here:
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/#/category/199

-Kathy