Injured drake

[farnk]

So about a week ago one of my drakes jumped the fence and two of my foster puppies pounced it while I wasn't in the backyard, they had it pinned for about 4-5 minutes and had pulled out all of his tail feathers. I took him inside, crated him to isolate and observe him for a few days. His rear end was very soar looking, not much blood at all had been spilled it seemed, no open wounds. Just a chewed rear end. I've been treating it twice a day with a topical spray I had left over from when one of my dogs got a cut on her foot.

I've since re-introduced him to the backyard, and have noticed he hasn't been very social and seems pretty sulky (which is to be expected I'm certain). I'm not 100% certain he's eating as much as he should be, but they open feed in their area anyways so it's hard to determine when he eats. Today however he was very immobile, opting to just stand in the same area for hours, he didn't make much effort to flee when I went to pick him up and treat his rear end, and when I put them away tonight he stumbled a few times.

Is there anything that I should be aware of in regards to superficial duck wounds? Infections? Mental or emotional state of mind? I can take him to the vet but it's a flat $125 just to get him in, and as it is I already have too many drakes so I've accepted that if he cannot get better that I may have to cull him, but I just need to know that road looks like in regards to his health before making the decision.

Any advice is greatly welcome.

Edit: I forgot to add, the topical is Gentocin.

 

[ruthhope]

I suggest you bring him back inside. Rather than gentomicyn spray, just use epson salt baths. You can make up a luke warm bath in a deep washing up bowl or a plastic tote, or an oval laundry pail. Keep him separate until he is eating and drinking normally. You might want to use nutridrench in his drinking water while he is inside. Tempt him with treats like defrosted frozen peas.

Once you know he is well enough to eat and drink normally, then start to reintroduce him to your flock.

I actually wonder if he has another wound elsewhere -- a puncture wound from a dog canine tooth, for example. But dog bite wounds are fairly clean--in comparison with a human bite wound that is.

I do hope you can get him back to good health and not have to cull him, poor boy

 

[farnk]

I suggest you bring him back inside. Rather than gentomicyn spray, just use epson salt baths. You can make up a luke warm bath in a deep washing up bowl or a plastic tote, or an oval laundry pail. Keep him separate until he is eating and drinking normally. You might want to use nutridrench in his drinking water while he is inside. Tempt him with treats like defrosted frozen peas.

Once you know he is well enough to eat and drink normally, then start to reintroduce him to your flock.

I actually wonder if he has another wound elsewhere -- a puncture wound from a dog canine tooth, for example. But dog bite wounds are fairly clean--in comparison with a human bite wound that is.

I do hope you can get him back to good health and not have to cull him, poor boy

Thank you, I will do this tonight. Is there a percentage of salt to water I should aim for? Or just a handful and let him soak? I'll give the tub a quick scrub (to get rid of any residual soap/shampoo etc) and run him a warm bath.

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you, I will do this tonight. Is there a percentage of salt to water I should aim for? Or just a handful and let him soak? I'll give the tub a quick scrub (to get rid of any residual soap/shampoo etc) and run him a warm bath.

Epsom salt bag/tub/packaging will likely give guidance but one half cup in 5 gallons luke warm water will be ok if there is nothing on your packaging

 

[farnk]

I brought him back in last night, gave him a bath. Unfortunately when I got up this morning he had passed away in his kennel. It must have been within the last few hours, as I had checked on him around 5AM when I took my fosters out to potty and he was still fine then.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry