Lesions on Duck Bill

[alinas2010]

If you can get plain neomycin ointment and your vet says it is OK round the eyes, I will not contradict that. But Neomycin is generally available as triple antibiotic and should not be used in the eyes -- human, chicken or duck. the warning is on the packet [i am currently reading a human preparation and the last tube I had was also from a supermarket pharmacy. I don't currently have any from Tractor Supply to check on veterinary preparation warnings

Thanks @ruthhope, you’re so helpful I didn’t know this about Neomycin, I will keep this locked in my brain.

 

[ruthhope]

I just checked on line:

"Neosporin is an ointment that can be applied to areas of the skin that are suffering from cuts, scrapes, or burns. The purpose of Neosporin is to prevent bacterial infection in damaged areas. The ointment is applied in the form of a cream to these injured areas. You don’t want to put regular Neosporin in your eye.

Neosporin ophthalmic ointment, on the other hand, is specifically formulated to be used on the eyes. This form of the ointment is liquid, and it is applied through a dropper." Neosporin ophthalmic ointment is not available over the counter. It needs a doctor's prescription for humans. I suspect it needs a vet prescription for ducks

 

[FunnyFarm02]

These things happen -- posting to BYC and to ducks!

I don't think you need take this gal to a vet. The wounds are superficial and all that is necessary is to clean them up with saline solution and ensure she has a tub of deep water to keep her head and nares clean.

You might use Terramycin or tetracycline eye ointment that is available without prescription from feedstores and some [human] pharmacies. I don't personally use eye ointment to prevent infection. I have only used it when there has been a discharging eye indication eye infection. I currently have a pekin drake with a face that looks like your girls. He's a pugnacious little boy and tries to bite my white muscovy. They have been scrapping through the bars of his night dog crate!! I think you girl has been picked on to re establish her place in the pecking order after her absence. Ducks have to have a pecking order and her scrapping with her flock mates will quickly settle down once the new pecking order is established

Thank you so much for the advice! She’s in good spirits and was more than happy to go back out to her other girlies after we got her cleaned up and treated. I did hold off on putting anything on her eye. I’ll give it a look in the morning and decide from there if she needs a little help. She’s just the sweetest little thing and she is the most docile one of the bunch, so after being gone for weeks blowing all of her feathers out in the basement, I can see why order needed to be reestablished. We’ve got cameras on all the birds, so I’ll keep a look out to make sure it doesn’t progress. Thank you again for your help!