Hurt Duck

[Stowe Homestead]

Hello,
I have a duck that was chomped on her head by what we think was a bear. She walked to my husband for help. She is eating and drinking.awe gave her a warm shower to clean her up; I put neosporin on her wounds. She is in our house in a wire kennel. I put towels over the cage. So she can rest. I read about apple cider vinegar in water I will do that. We got some antibacterial spray from the feed store. Is anything going else we can do?

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Oh my gosh. She must be in so much pain. You can take 5 aspirin and dissolve them in 1 gal of water. But, she really needs a vet to assess the damage and to get some antibiotics.

 

[Weeg]

Its really great that she's eating and drinking, thats awesome progress! Looks like your on the right track, just out of curiosity, what is in that antibacterial spray?
Looks like you cleaned it well, is she responsive, moving at all? To start, its important to make sure she's recovered from shock. Don't add Applecider vinegar, its not helpful unless you want to try to keep algae down in your waterers, and I'm not even entirely sure if it really helps with that.
Put sugar in her water instead. This will help her recover from shock, and @azygous and further explain its benefits. If you offer sugar water, always make sure you offer plain water as well. Make a wet mash with her feed as this will be easier to eat.

As for cleaning the wounds, rinsing them with Saline, Veterycin, Chlorhexadine, or diluted iodine is always good. If you don't have any of those, warm soapy water works good as well, which it sounds like you already washed with. Nice work!
You'll also want to apply a THICK layer of pain free Neosporin. Pain relief isn't good for chickens or ducks. If you don't have it, any pain free antibacterial cream will do. You want to have a thick layer at all times to keep it moist.
Clip any feathers away from the wound that may hang into it or irritate it. Don't wrap. Make sure to clean at least once a day, and keep a close eye on the wound to prevent infection. Poultry are very resilient, you'd be surprised what they can survive. Sounds like your on the right track, keep up the good work for your sweet girl.

Keep a close eye on her, and make sure she's in a calm, temperature controlled environment were she can relax. I've always dissolved 1/2 a baby aspirin in water, or popped it right down my poultry's throat for pain relief. Thats for chickens though, not for ducks. @Crazy Maizie, were is your research for the 5 aspirin? I'd be hesitant to give that much.
@Wyorp Rock and @Eggcessive will be able to provide you with additional information. Azygous who I tagged above will be helpful as well.

 

[Weeg]

Is her eye damaged at all? Can we see side pictures of those wounds?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like some damage to the ear and puncture wounds too.

If vet care is an option, that would be best.

General care is to flush wounds well with saline or Chlorhexidine. Saline may be better for an initial flush since it's on her head near the eyes, then wipe/dab with punctures Chlorhexidine if you have it, it has a residual affect. Apply your ointment.

Since I think there's punctures and maybe from bear, I would recommend antibiotics.
I'm not that familiar with Ducks, but "think" you can use Amoxicillin. If the Duck Folks like @casportpony @Miss Lydia or @Isaac 0 could confirm (Thanks!) Dosing I believe would be the same as well - 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 7-10 days. I assume if you can't find Amoxicillin (usually have to order it), you can use Procaine Penicillin G, but am unsure of dosing for a Duck. Hopefully the others can chime in on that too.

edited to clarify/correct dosing

 

[casportpony]

I'm not that familiar with Ducks, but "think" you can use Amoxicillin. If @casportpony @Miss Lydia or @Isaac 0 could confirm (Thanks!) Dosing I believe would be the same as well - 57mg per pound of weight given orally twice a day for 5 days.

This is correct.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is correct.

I put 5 days, but I usually say longer...should it be 10-14 instead Kathy?

 

[casportpony]

I put 5 days, but I usually say longer...should it be 10-14 instead Kathy?

Yeah, I'd probably do 7-10.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Brain freeze moment there...I'll edit just so the OP has the correct info.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Holy cow! That looks awful! Poor thing!

I have nothing to add but my long distance support and encouragement! Please keep us posted!