Muscovy drake possibly bitten by dog

[Ducksdogsandcays]

During feeding time tonight, my muscovy drake wandered up to the dog bowl and one of the dogs snapped at him guarding the food. I didn’t see the bite but turned around to see him laying on the ground with the dog over him. They have been living side by side for months and the dog has never done this before. Usually I closely monitor them during feeding, but I turned away for a minute to get my other dog his scoop of food and it happened that fast. I feel incredibly guilty.

I immediately thought the drake was dead and ran to grab him, but he was still alive. I don’t see any obvious puncture wounds but he is not acting right. I tried to give him his favorite snack and he slowly walked into his duck house and stood in the corner. He is squeezing his eyes shut. I thought the dog may have damaged an eye and tried to look, but it looks intact and I don’t see the obvious damage. Also, his red face mask looks like it has a yellow secretion immediately following the attack. I’m not sure if this is a wound or something he released from it? Does this mean the dog has punctured his face mask? I don’t see any blood.

I’m not sure what to do because I can’t find the wound, but the duck seems like he is going into shock and is just huddled in the corner of his house with his eyes shut and shaking a little. I’m not sure if it’s possible that this is just a fear reaction or if he is internally injured and I can’t see it. I will try to call the vet to come out tomorrow, but it’s getting late now. Just wondering if there is anything I can do for him when I can’t find the wound.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give some water with sugar (1 tsp per cup) for shock. When he has drunk some, look him over for wounds. Was she shake or did the dog grab him? Separate him from the dogs. I will tag @Miss Lydia for more help.

 

[Cockadoodle-dude]

Another update: it has been a few more hours, and the wounds are becoming more obvious now. He has about 6 distinct punctures all on his caruncle. None of them are very deep, but his left eye is weeping fluid and his right eye has a puncture to the eyelid which may have gone into the eye itself, although I’m not sure about that. I cleaned all of the wounds as best as I could and applied an antibiotic ointment because it is the only thing I had (I hope this is ok). He is not very tame but once I finally had a good hold on him and grabbed his head, he let me clean the wounds pretty well. Unfortunately, he has not eaten since the incident although I’ve tried to bring him various foods. He seems to be drinking water alright. He is mostly staying in his duck house this morning when usually he is out at he pond this time of day. I saw him come out briefly in the morning and he had a dip in the pond, but he quickly returned inside. His mate has been staying inside of the house with him.

Antibiotic ointment is perfect! As long as it doesn’t have pain relief in it!! It is harmful. As far as applying ointment make sure you’re checking the wounds daily and keeping them clean. Watch out for flystrike!

 

[Ducksdogsandcays]

Antibiotic ointment is perfect! As long as it doesn’t have pain relief in it!! It is harmful. As far as applying ointment make sure you’re checking the wounds daily and keeping them clean. Watch out for flystrike!

It has been about a week and most of the wounds healed up. Sadly, his eye never reopened. I saw it open for a couple of seconds at most over the past week but otherwise he keeps it closed although the obvious damage has healed

 

[Eggcessive]

I would still use the eye ointment, since it may soothe the eyes. Bausch and Lomb Eye Relief Eye Wash (about $5) is also very good for irritated eyes instead of the antibiotic ointment. Here is what it looks like:
https://www.target.com/p/bausch-lom...x4fdlCHbVcoQondj7mBoChzIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Ducksdogsandcays]

You have checked to make sure the eye ball is still there? No infection no drainage?

The eyeball is still there but unfortunately I think he may be blind in that eye now. He rarely opens it but it now looks like a darker color than his other eye. He opens the eye when he is excited but when I approach from that side even when it is open, he doesn’t seem able to see me. When I try to bring my hand towards that eye, he doesn’t react, but he pulls his head away when I do it from the other side. I’m not sure if he would naturally keep the eye closed just because it is blind? I will attach pictures of the injured eye open and his normal eye for comparison, the normal eye is more golden in color while the injured is a darker brown. I have been flushing with saline every day and I was rubbing antibiotic ointment on the wounds, but they all seem to have healed without infection. The eye doesn’t obviously appear injured but might be slightly more sunken into the head than his other eye, although it’s hard to tell because he is always closing it. After the first couple of days, there hasn’t been any more drainage or anything. He is now at least eating and active as he used to be, so I think he can continue to live a happy life even if he has become half blind, but I will continue to try to treat if there is any way the eye can be saved.

 

[Ducksdogsandcays]

It looks to be healed. My Muscovy was hit by a hawk she didn't sustain life-threatening injuries but she is now blind in one eye. The only wound she had was below the eye and it was only a small puncture so the only thing I can think might have happened was the nerve was injured. Your drake shouldn't have any problems they adapt so well. Just keep an eye on it to make sure infection is cleared up. You've done a good job caring for him.

Awww, that sounds like the same thing that must have happened to my drake because the only puncture I saw around his eye was at the bottom of the eyelid and it didn’t look like the eye itself had been touched. I’m glad he seems like he’s already adapted well, but I still feel so sad for him. Thank you for the advice about the situation

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd try giving the sugar water and see if it helps. Did you go all through his feathers to make sure there isn't a wound? For his face I'd put some antibiotic ointment on his mask where you saw the oozing I haven't ever had one of my Muscovy injured their caruncles so not sure what this yellow might be but I'd def clean it up and use the ointment or Veterycin spray for wounds and infections. Sure hope he will be okay.

 

[Ducksdogsandcays]

I would give some water with sugar (1 tsp per cup) for shock. When he has drunk some, look him over for wounds. Was she shake or did the dog grab him? Separate him from the dogs. I will tag @Miss Lydia for more help.

I just gave him water and he drank a bit, I will try again adding sugar now. He had one of his eyes open but the other is still closed. He opened it very briefly and shut it again. I am afraid it is his eye that is injured. He is holding his head very close to his body also. I think the dog snapped once and let go, but I didn’t see the bite and just heard it. He seems a bit scared of me right now and tries to get away when I approach, which isn’t like him.

 

[Ducksdogsandcays]

I'd try giving the sugar water and see if it helps. Did you go all through his feathers to make sure there isn't a wound? For his face I'd put some antibiotic ointment on his mask where you saw the oozing I haven't ever had one of my Muscovy injured their caruncles so not sure what this yellow might be but I'd def clean it up and use the ointment or Veterycin spray for wounds and infections. Sure hope he will be okay.

I’ve looked through the feathers and don’t see anything. The issue seems to be with his eye and possibly caruncle, although I don’t see an obvious puncture wound. I think his eye was possibly injured or the area around his eye, but I can’t tell for sure. He took a few more steps to get water but still held his head in close to his body with one eye closed, the other is now open.