Injured drake

[kim1999]

Hi all, I had previously posted under emergencies, however my drakes were injured 3 weeks ago this Monday and I'm hoping someone may have some experience with this type of injury. Both my drakes were attacked by a mink and survived. One is nearly 100% better and may be released outside this weekend my other little guy has had a harder time. He didn't move his neck at all until last weekend. He had been eating and drinking fine, he would just eat without turning or moving his neck. Now that he's moving his neck again he does not have a lot of control over it. One of his legs seems to be unsteady as well which causes him to fall over and his neck twist's like a cork screw, for lack of better description. The local vet should not offer any advise as to whether or not I should try and secure the neck with a flex bandage or something. Wounds are all healed it seems like muscle damage. I am doing everything for him. Bathing, cleaning, drying, and when he's too tried to keep his head up I hold him up and feed him. He wants to eat and drink constantly. I've been giving him metacam once a day and sugar water along with his regular food. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm wondering if the neck will every get better at this point. He is unable to care for himself.

 

[sourland]

I think that this may be a case where only time will tell the degree of his recovery. In addition to muscle/skeletal damage, he may be suffering neurological impairment. You are doling all of the right things - hopefully he will recover.

 

[sourland]

Kim, has your drake improved any?

 

[kim1999]

He died last night, poor guy

 

[sourland]

Sorry!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry

 

[kim1999]

I think it was for the best. It was becoming apparent that he would never recover fully, and I think caring for him everyday I wasn't seeing how much he had declined the past week. His buddy was let out the same day he died, he spent the day on the deck then came back inside overnight before joining in with mom and the ducklings the next day. He seems to be fitting in just fine and getting along with them, they are a month old now. The cage wasn't empty long...my cat brought home a tiny bunny...on to my next project

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think it was for the best. It was becoming apparent that he would never recover fully, and I think caring for him everyday I wasn't seeing how much he had declined the past week. His buddy was let out the same day he died, he spent the day on the deck then came back inside overnight before joining in with mom and the ducklings the next day. He seems to be fitting in just fine and getting along with them, they are a month old now. The cage wasn't empty long...my cat brought home a tiny bunny...on to my next project

Animal hospital always open [that needs to be a sign at your home. ]