Emergency Help! Duck Strangled in poultry net fence

[foxinachickenhouse]

I just found a duck strangled in the poultry net. The fence was not hot. I found her laying still and not struggling. I cut her free. Her eyes are bloodshot. She is red in the nostrils - not bleeding just red. Her head is swollen. I last looked at the poultry about an hour before, so she may have been there up to that long.

She is currently in the bathtub. We had her in a crate but she wanted to stretch her neck out tall, so we moved her to the tub. She is standing, shaking tail and has quacked. She is craning her neck very tall and gasping. Sometimes she makes a squealing sound.

She has a pan of water nearby.

Any ideas on how to else to support this poor duck? Anyone have experience with a strangled duck?

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

She is still stable. Motionless, standing and craning neck. Been in the tub over an hour. She is breathing normally it seems with some faint wheezing.

Should I offer her some water from a dropper?

Just leave her alone and hope for the best?

 

[ConPollos]

She is still stable. Motionless, standing and craning neck. Been in the tub over an hour. She is breathing normally it seems with some faint wheezing. 

Should I offer her some water from a dropper? 

Just leave her alone and hope for the best?

Take her to the vet and see if any part of her anatomy is crushed, swollen, internally hemorrhaging, dislocated, broken, etc

 

[Ravynscroft]

I have not dealt with anything like this, but if she's breathing and stable I'd just let her rest for now... her throat will be bruised and may swell so it might take a while for her to breath normally... if she sounds worse, then I'd worry... and I wouldn't try giving her water if it's available near her, she'll drink when she's ready... I wouldn't want to try swallowing if my throat was sore... good l7ck and hope she pulls through...

 

[holm25]

Poor baby I hope she gets better!! I would get her some electrolytes and just see how she is doing in the morning. Her throat going to be a little swollen so just make sure she is eating and drinking. Good luck I hope she gets better!

 

[ConPollos]

What if her neck is broken? An X-ray would be good.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Thanks. She turned her head to look at me last time I went in, so I have to assume she can bend for a drink if needed. It appears that her head swelling has gone down. She must feel just awful. Poor thing. I hope she makes it too.

I am wondering about putting aspirin in the water to help with the inflammation / reducing risk of clot. But that could be bad if she is bleeding internally...

I won't be able to get to talk to an avian vet until monday.

Edited to add: She drank some and splashed it around a bit. I think she may make it... fingers crossed. Into the crate for the night. I'll update in the morning. Thanks all.

 

[ccrow]

Poor baby... I hope she's feeling better today!

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

UPDATE: She has made it through the night in an improved condition. Head is back to normal. Eyes still red but not bulging or bleeding. They actually were bleeding, I can see now by the crust around them.

I got an answer from a vet on justanswer.com and we are now supporting her against shock by heating the room she is in to 85 degrees. I hope its not too late on that. As advised, I also gave her a slurry of ground fresh peas, warm water, 40 mg of aspirin and some electrolytes. I had to hold the bowl up but she willingly ate it. She is more responsive now that she is warmer. I don't know why I didn't think of shock before.

We are instructed to elevate her food / water bowls, give her aspirin every 12 hours and keep her warm.

I think if we had found her even a few minutes later she would have died. She was very close.

I hope she regains her faculties and can live as a normal duck. It would be sad if she was impaired as a result. We free range on several acres with the support of two good roosters and dogs, but everyone needs to be sharp and attentive to thrive around here.

 

[ConPollos]

UPDATE: She has made it through the night in an improved condition. Head is back to normal. Eyes still red but not bulging or bleeding. They actually were bleeding, I can see now by the crust around them. 

I got an answer from a vet on justanswer.com and we are now supporting her against shock by heating the room she is in to 85 degrees. I hope its not too late on that. As advised, I also gave her a slurry of ground fresh peas, warm water, 40 mg of aspirin and some electrolytes. I had to hold the bowl up but she willingly ate it. She is more responsive now that she is warmer. I don't know why I didn't think of shock before. 

We are instructed to elevate her food / water bowls, give her aspirin every 12 hours and keep her warm. 

I think if we had found her even a few minutes later she would have died. She was very close. 

I hope she regains her faculties and can live as a normal duck. It would be sad if she was impaired as a result. We free range on several acres with the support of two good roosters and dogs, but everyone needs to be sharp and attentive to thrive around here. 

Excellent news!!!