FOX ATTACK -- Duck Neck Issue?

[ravenducks]

This past Sunday night we had a fox attack our ducks, we lost one, one was unharmed, and this one, Bertha, was injured. She has four wounds (two on her chest, two on her back) that seem to be healing really well. We have been cleaning them up twice a day (saline, iodine, and antibiotic ointment). She is currently in our bathroom with the other surviving duck. We take her out multiple times a day and when we hold her and support her chest/head she is able to eat and drink. She appears to be okay except for this issue she has with her neck -- photo below. She is SUPER unstable when she tries to walk and has trouble lifting her head up. We think she might be in shock still? Has anyone seen their duck do this with their neck? She doesn't have any visible trauma to her neck -- just the bite wounds. We are hoping she just pulled some neck muscles and will recover with time or is in shock still.

https://imgur.com/a/UxOudjY

 

[Miss Lydia]

She shouldn't be in shock from the attack from Sunday. Poor little one looks pretty miserable. It could be that she has sprained her neck . She hasn't any bite wounds on her neck ? Is a vet an option?

 

[Texag87]

I hope a vet is an option. The first year we had ducks, a coyote broke the hardware cloth of the coop and pulled one out by her head. I did not think she would make it to the vet. The vet thought she would not live to the next day. We picked her up a couple days later and continued antibiotic treatment. 4 weeks in the house and then she re joined her flock. She had nerve damage ( in some ways looking like your duck does now) but eventually returned to top duck in the pecking order. There is always hope . If she can get on antibiotics, deal with the nerve damage later. It may be she just has some swelling that is affecting her nerves so she can’t pick her head up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[ravenducks]

Thanks for your replies! No bite wounds on her neck at all!

We haven't tried the vet yet because she seems to be getting slightly better every day -- holding her head up a little bit higher. Her wounds seem to be scabbed over and healing well. She does have quite a bit of swelling on her back, so that may be painful and keeping her from lifting her head.

We read about using children's ibuprofen on this forum, but we are hesitant. We could only find berry flavored, anyone know if that is okay to use?

 

[ruthhope]

She might have been shaken and sustained an injury to her neck. I hope you can see a vet for her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://learnpoultry.com/chickens-ibuprofen/this is using Ibuprofen with chickens but I typed in poultry so I’d say this covers all poultry.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Almost every time I've had a duck survive a predator, they have a neck issue. Sometimes I've had to hand feed because they couldn't lower their head to the food. All of them got well. Give her at least three weeks and make sure she is eating and drinking. Also make sure there are no drakes to grab her neck.

 

[ravenducks]

Thank you!! She is still getting better every day and she seemed to be lifting her head up more today. I will update this thread {when} she returns back to her old self.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Do update us. Just be patient with her and make sure she gets proper nutrition and no drakes. I predict shell be back to normal in three weeks. Is she a runner?