Duckling with swollen neck

[chickens really]

I hope you don’t feel judged because I’m not judging you in any way at all.
This is a forum where views and options are exchanged, and just as you, I’m sharing my opinion and providing an explaination to clarify how I arrived at my opinion.

Although I definitely stand behind my opinion and all I care about is the animal ..
Anyways, yep everyone voices their opinions. Right or wrong.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I bet you could do it, think of it as a big pimple.

And no, unfortunately this type of infection can't be treated with just antibiotics.

I figured as much or someone would have already suggested it.
I don't see that it could be any worse off if the op has the nerve to give it a shot. the decision to put it down is still there if and when it becomes apparent that it is suffering.

 

[PirateGirl]

I just wanted to offer up a few words as my husband and I have drained similar on our dogs. First of all I would get a second person to help you. Animals move, and this duckling is tiny. It will help to have one person who is focused on holding the duckling still and in a good position while the other person works. Also I would use a headlamp so you can see well what you are doing, if you don't have one, maybe you can set up a lamp to be shining directly on the duckling. Consider a face mask or bandanna over your nose and mouth as well, trust me on this one. I like the idea of starting with a needle to see what you are in for before moving on to lancing. Also keep in mind the process may need to be repeated in a few days, this is often easier and sometimes you can just do a warm water compress to loosen/remove the scab that forms and allow it to drain some more. Good luck. You'll be surprised at what you can manage on your own. This clearly isn't healing on its own, so you really can't lose by trying to help at this point.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I just wanted to offer up a few words as my husband and I have drained similar on our dogs. First of all I would get a second person to help you. Animals move, and this duckling is tiny. It will help to have one person who is focused on holding the duckling still and in a good position while the other person works. Also I would use a headlamp so you can see well what you are doing, if you don't have one, maybe you can set up a lamp to be shining directly on the duckling. Consider a face mask or bandanna over your nose and mouth as well, trust me on this one. I like the idea of starting with a needle to see what you are in for before moving on to lancing. Also keep in mind the process may need to be repeated in a few days, this is often easier and sometimes you can just do a warm water compress to loosen/remove the scab that forms and allow it to drain some more. Good luck. You'll be surprised at what you can manage on your own. This clearly isn't healing on its own, so you really can't lose by trying to help at this point.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m not a professional.


If you have a syringe and sterile needles I’d try aspiration fist after following all of @casportpony ‘s prep steps just to see what kind of material is in there.

To aspirate, insert needle well into the lump, pull back on the syringe plunger to make sure you aren’t in a blood vessel ( if you were you’d immediately see blood coming into the hub (base) of the needle. If this happens STOP.

if it’s a muddled pink-tinged color I would consider that it’s safe to proceed.

Pull back slowly but firmly enough to get a sample and expel it onto a clean surface such as a white paper towel to example the color and texture of it.

*photo here would be good.
That might help you decide how to proceed.

If it’s thick, proceed but make the incision big enough the first time to avoid repeated pain and stress to the bird- to comfortably accommodate a syringe tip. I’d go for a 1/2 inch incision.

Flush copiously and massage. Whatever goes in, must come out.
Continue until you’re satisfied that this pocket is empty.

If flushing with diluted betadine or saline doesn't loosen it enough to dislodge it, you could attempt manual removal with tweezers boiled for five minutes then allowed to cool on a clean surface,
Or
with the end of a cotton swab with the cotton bud removed first. *so you don’t lose it inside the wound and compound your problems.

 

[Cyber]

So this is next morning for me, Quip isn’t noticeably suffering from it but it does seem slightly larger, so we’ll probably need to do something soon.

So, here’s my attempt to determine the best course of action.

Use a needle or knife to make a cut, making sure not to puncture a blood vessel. Use a syringe to remove a small bit of the substance inside their lump. If it’s a thick, pus-like substance, extract the rest of it with something such as tweezers.

And no, we don’t want to put Quip down. They aren’t noticeably suffering, and we’ve gotten quite attached to them.

 

[PirateGirl]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Find everything you might need ahead of time. Make sure you clean/sterilize your needle/tweezers/etc. You got this!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Standing with you and wishing we could be there for moral support. Keep us updated.

 

[casportpony]

One of the benefits of doing a procedure like this is that the skin is so translucent that you can easily see the blood vessels, so making a cut with minimal bleeding will be easy.

If you want, I have a bunch of pictures of birds that I have done similar procedures on. Each time bleeding was mimimal.

 

[staceyj]

I just wanted to offer up a few words as my husband and I have drained similar on our dogs. First of all I would get a second person to help you. Animals move, and this duckling is tiny. It will help to have one person who is focused on holding the duckling still and in a good position while the other person works. Also I would use a headlamp so you can see well what you are doing, if you don't have one, maybe you can set up a lamp to be shining directly on the duckling. Consider a face mask or bandanna over your nose and mouth as well, trust me on this one. I like the idea of starting with a needle to see what you are in for before moving on to lancing. Also keep in mind the process may need to be repeated in a few days, this is often easier and sometimes you can just do a warm water compress to loosen/remove the scab that forms and allow it to drain some more. Good luck. You'll be surprised at what you can manage on your own. This clearly isn't healing on its own, so you really can't lose by trying to help at this point.

Great points here @PirateGirl