Injured ducky...

[jlanigan1230]

One of our female ducks was recently attacked by a dumb poodle. She was hurt very badly. Her neck and chest were torn apart. She was immediately brought to the vet, who did a great job stitching her up. We brought her in to nurse her back to health and she has done SO great! Now, she is back out with everyone (they had daily visits while she was in so they wouln't forget each other) and she mixes back in great with everyone. BUT, she will not swim in the water... We try to get her to and she gets right back out. She used to LOVE it. We brought her back to the vet to get stitches out and he said she looked good and he took out the stitches that NEEDED to come out. She still has some in there and the vet said she didn't need to go back. I wonder if the stitches are bothering her? If it is bad to just leave them there? Could this be why she doesn;t like the water anymore?

Any advice would be great!!!

 

[katharinad]

Was she attacked while in the water? I think that could traumatize a bird so it would not swim. Not sure if the stitches are an issue. My female dog needed knee surgery 2 years. They left some stitches under the skin and it was bothering her. She was limping a lot. The vet went back in and took them out this spring. It has made a big difference. So I would not rule the stitches out at all. I wish animals could speak and let us know. Hope your duck will get over the water issue. Perhaps it just needs time.

 

[jlanigan1230]

Thanks for the reply. No, it didn't happen in the water... That is why I don't understand what is wrong.

 

[katharinad]

You know I had stomach surgery 3 years ago. It was done with a laporoscope and I had 9 small incisions. I remember that it was a strange feeling on the skin just taking a shower for several months. I was responding differently to different water temperatures. This was caused by the incisions that cut through nerves. The nerves needed a couple of months to grow back in place, and it eventually went away. I wonder if your ducks has something like that. Have you tried warm water?