Help! Duck is sick/injured!

[aduckstolemyheart]

I am not sure where to start...

Had noticed my drake Pekin had been sneezing, checked for nasal/eye discharge, saw none, called vet, and she recommended starting him on Aureomycin, to nip whatever it was in the bud. He had improved in the last couple days and only heard him sneeze once yesterday.

Last night at about 3 am my roomate heard a commotion outside in the back, near the duck pen, and ran outside to check it out. Said the duck was making a "screaming noise" and she was panicked. Went around back, and said he was agitated but quickly settled down after she got out there. She woke me up, told me she thought something had tried to get in his pen, but that everything seemed to be fine, the pen was still secure and Bella (the duck) seemed fine.

I checked on him when I let him out of his pen this morning, he came running out and pecked at my feet for a minute, and all seemed well. Checked on him about an hour or so ago and he was swimming in his pool.

I go outside for my afternoon check and he is standing, very mellow, between the house and the wheelchair ramp outside, seemed TOO calm, immediately sensed all was not well. His right eye, around the eye seems gunky. He has a dark gook around the eye. Also that side of his face is swollen. The other eye seemed fine, but it's obvious this one is not. He was not cocking his head to look at me when I was on that side of him, but did when I went around to the good eye. The eye itself seems alright, and there is still no nasal discharge or discharge or swelling from the good eye.

WHAT THE HECK?!? Is he getting sicker, is this an injury, could he have poked it? I am desperate. vet is out on Farm calls today and I don't know what to do.

Anyone have any ideas. or help???

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I just took him out some scrambled egg (his favorite) and he gobbled it down, so it's obvious his appetite is not affected. But the swelling below his eye is worrisome. I immediately freaked and thought of infectious Coryza but there's no nasal discharge, and it's only on one side, in one eye.

Anyone?

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Maybe he was stung by a bee or wasp? My cats, until they learn better, chased after bumble bees in the spring. Major swelling on footies for about 1 day.


Can you check to see if you can see a stinger or bite mark? The gook, may just be discharge fm the eye that is collecting dirt. I'd check him over and if he seems fine otherwise wait to see if the swelling goes down by tomorrow or seems to get worse.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I plan to get a better look as soon as my friend gets here to help me hold him. Did not see any obvious wounds or marks. Will definitely be keeping an eye on him.

Thanks for the advice, will post back when I get a closer look!

I might even be able to get some pics.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Waiting for someone to hold him for me, but I did go out and look again and I still do not see anything obvious like a bite or sting. His activity level is definitely decreased. He is not lathargic or anything but certainly draggy and it's obvious he does not feel well.

If I still can't see anything after I look later, should I assume it's some infection, or? Will the antibiotic I mixed in with his feed going to be enough if it is?

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Well, I do hope someone else pops in here with something for you.
I do know my cat, Tacy, after a bumble bee sting and swollen foot, pretty much slept a good 24hrs and stayed off of her foot. The swelling went down during that time but probably took another day to go completely down. IF it is a sting or bite, being near his eye could cause him a lot of discomort, I'd say. IF an infection, hopefully, that antibiotic will do the trick. Once your friend get there, maybe you could try rinsing his eye out w/distilled water or saline solution if you have any.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Don't have any right now, but I could run out and grab some in the morning. Thankfully there is not too much gunk in his eye. It's just a little bit around the outside rims. His eye is still open and is not glued or swollen shut. I know it's bothering him. My friend got here a little while ago and helped out. I still cannot tell if there has been any trauma, but if there has, it is not obvious and must be small. I know Ducks can get sinus infections, but I thought it was weird that it was only on one side of his face.

Also heard that I could try an antibiotic ointment they sell, but not sure if I should. Anyone use this, or know if it might work, even if we're not sure what's wrong? I figure it can't hurt either an infection or a small injury.

Thank you Keeper, for writing back. I feel better trying to do SOMETHING or learn something, rather than sitting here doing nothing and feeling helpless.

 

[kristen2678]

I have NO experience with this but I found an old post with a duck having similar issues. Here are the antibiotics that they recommended...

Terramycin which most feed store were no longer supplying, but Agramycin is also ok and Baytril (which is what the vet for our local wildlife refuge always uses)

They also said to bring him in to a hot steamy room and clean out his eyes and nose.

I hope your guy gets better....

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

TY for the tips and response Kristen, will look into it!

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Just an Update, the swelling is down a bit today and he's back to being ornery. Still a little more mellow than usual but he had no problem biting the heck out of me and chasing my feet. He even had to be disciplined. The gunk is gone from around the eye and I am pretty sure now that it had to have been an injury of some kind. The area above his eye looks bruised under his feathers. The skin is very dark. So I am guessing he poked it, or had some kind of trauma. Looks like he'll be ok, but I am keeping a close eye on him just in case!

Thanks for the help and suggestions by all who replied!