INFECTION! How do I help my duck?

[Chikenshiken]

My duck was attacked by a raccoon 3-4 weeks ago. His healing process has been slow… But he has gotten better. However, a day ago this wound looked quite normal (for a wound) it has been healing very slowly and the skin had peeled away from it. It was pink and raw but today, it looked much different and definitely infected. I’m so worried since I lost his brother to a broken foot infection a week ago. Here what I’ve been doing:

Epsom salt soak 10 minutes
Rinse with saline
Vetercyn
Neosporin

He was on baytril for 4 days only a few days ago, now the moment he’s off, he gets an infection it is clearly filled with puss and is squishy to the touch. I am going to lance it and am in the process of sterilizing a needle by boiling for 30 minutes in a thoroughly cleaned pot. I’m so afraid to lose him he is my last baby and I want him to survive. Other than this infection, he has been on a path of healing and is trying to walk again. But today, he is a different bird and didn’t even enjoy his warm bath today. He was crying, I imagine it was painful, and I had to take him out of the bath early. Any advice will help… I know that an infectious wound need to heal from the inside out but I’m unsure how to do this. How often should I be cleaning after I lance it? Once, twice, three times a day? Here are some pictures

 

[Pastel the Rooster]

I'm stumped on this one. I would keep doing what you are doing... I'm sorry for bothering you for the third time in the past hour, but @azygous? Your the expert here!! If your wondering why I keep bothering you with all these post and questions, that's why! Although, while there are a bunch more chicken experts, you are the one I always have in my head!!

 

[azygous]

Where is this wound on the duck? I can't tell without context (seeing the whole duck).

Infections occur because bacteria is trapped under tissue, thereby keeping an ideal mix of warmth and moisture to grow the bacteria. You need to debride, meaning, remove all pus and necrotic tissue that is harboring bacteria. It may need to be done each day for a few days.

You may need to use a sharp blade so you will then be able to squeeze out the pus. You can sterilize and instrument by dipping it into a bleach solution or alcohol. A few seconds in a flame will also rid it of any bacteria. Just don't use it until it cools.

Put him back on the oral antibiotic.

 

[Chikenshiken]

Where is this wound on the duck? I can't tell without context (seeing the whole duck).

Infections occur because bacteria is trapped under tissue, thereby keeping an ideal mix of warmth and moisture to grow the bacteria. You need to debride, meaning, remove all pus and necrotic tissue that is harboring bacteria. It may need to be done each day for a few days.

You may need to use a sharp blade so you will then be able to squeeze out the pus. You can sterilize and instrument by dipping it into a bleach solution or alcohol. A few seconds in a flame will also rid it of any bacteria. Just don't use it until it cools.

Put him back on the oral antibiotic.

It’s on his upper ankle, I’ll show a photo of his wound before this happened. This was maybe the two weeks mark then the skin peeled away and it was raw for 2 days, then it turned to what it is now. I have went ahead and tried to lance the wound however, there is no pus!! Sticking the needle in it didn’t feel the usual hollow feeling like I’ve felt with other pus filled bubbles I’ve tried to lance, it felt a bit like fat, squishy and a little firm. I am so stumped @Miss Lydia says it may be a bad case of bumble. It really does look like pus but after trying to lance it two times, there’s nothing. There isn’t any smell or what I’ve seen from usual infections and it seemed to have popped up over night. I’ll go ahead and put him back on baytril but I am a bit worried because someone else said maybe it isn’t a good idea because it can cause a yeast infection if on it too long so maybe I’ll only do 2-3 days

 

[azygous]

I think duck pus is the same a chicken pus. It's solid like wax and has to be pushed out. It doesn't drain like human pus does. Have you ever squeeze a zit when you were teen? It's like that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If @Chikenshiken soaks this foot in warm Epsom salt water enough to soften up the scab what do you think about gently pulling the scab off to get to the infection since the infection is thick and not runny. @azygous

 

[azygous]

Yes, that's the definition of debriding.

 

[Chikenshiken]

I think duck pus is the same a chicken pus. It's solid like wax and has to be pushed out. It doesn't drain like human pus does. Have you ever squeeze a zit when you were teen? It's like that.

Okay, thank you, I’ll try to lance it soon. I have a question, using a blade since a needle is not big enough to squeeze the pus out, how much do you suggest I cut? Like 1-2 centimeters? Or do I poke it with the edge of the blade? Sorry to ask so many questions, I’ve always used a needle and now I’m not sure what to do.

I did have a duck who had an infection with pus and i used a needle! But the pus for him was thick like blood but not wax thick, so I’m not sure. It was also way bigger and squishy like I expected a pus filled bubble to be. I’ll wait a day just to see if this is pus and not something else and I’ll put him back at baytril for three days, thank you for your input so far it’s very much appreciated

 

[azygous]

One centimete should do it. Push the contents of the wound toward the incision. Try to get it all. Then use a syringe filled with saline and poke it into the incision to irrigate it thoroughly. Saline is pretty similar to body fluids so it's okay if some remains inside. Then smear antibiotic ointment over the entire wound.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So cutting would be better than getting the scab off and getting the infection out that way.
Just wanting to have less stress for OP and duck.