My duck Spencer somehow got trapped in wire fencing with about 1.5 inch half spacing between wires. My husband thought he was dead. Spencer was probably stuck like that all night. I saw his bill moving like a fish gasping. I uncoiled his head and neck carefully. He was in bad bad shape. He couldn't hold his head up. There's a concaved side on his head the shape of the heavy gauge of fencing wire, indented vertically, over his eye too. Blood around his bill and nostrils. This was Christmas Eve, so I had been busy and didn't notice him until about 11am. He was so bad off, and I felt suffering. I asked my nephew to come over and put him out of his misery.
But once he and his wife arrived, Spencer was a little more responsiveness. My neice-inlaw suggested giving him some time because he was fighting and maybe once the swelling went down, he'd improve. He did improve slightly over the hours. He could lift his head, but not hold it up. I drippled some water with electrolytes and probiotics down his throat, very carefully, And tried to rinse his bill. Some puss and crud came out. He still couldn't keep his head up, and it fell back down, laying to the side. And he was still shaking a little. I brought him into the house. His bill is hole, but noticed today on Christmas, that it is cracked between nostril holes.
So Christmas morning, he was keeping his head up. Not shaking anymore. And he drank on his own. His eyes were crusted shut, so I tried to clean around his eyes, and put some of that antibiotic eye gel in them. Then I mushed up some leftover sweet potatoes and mixed in water. He drank/ate that too quit eagerly. I am worried about swelling in his throat that when eating it might cause him to choke. So taking it slow.
Okay, all that to say, his neck has swelling and feels very warm. Perhaps it's warmer inside than he's used to. We're having snow right now.
I am worried about infection. I have penicillan I just bought, but have never used it on a duck. Should I? How much if so? Maybe a cool bath inside, watching him.
I feel like he's fighting and I'd hate for an infection to do him in.
Thanks.
Merry Christmas to all.
Picture is from this morning. He is a home-grown mixed bred runner duck, had his grandpa, and still have grandma, and his parents.
But once he and his wife arrived, Spencer was a little more responsiveness. My neice-inlaw suggested giving him some time because he was fighting and maybe once the swelling went down, he'd improve. He did improve slightly over the hours. He could lift his head, but not hold it up. I drippled some water with electrolytes and probiotics down his throat, very carefully, And tried to rinse his bill. Some puss and crud came out. He still couldn't keep his head up, and it fell back down, laying to the side. And he was still shaking a little. I brought him into the house. His bill is hole, but noticed today on Christmas, that it is cracked between nostril holes.
So Christmas morning, he was keeping his head up. Not shaking anymore. And he drank on his own. His eyes were crusted shut, so I tried to clean around his eyes, and put some of that antibiotic eye gel in them. Then I mushed up some leftover sweet potatoes and mixed in water. He drank/ate that too quit eagerly. I am worried about swelling in his throat that when eating it might cause him to choke. So taking it slow.
Okay, all that to say, his neck has swelling and feels very warm. Perhaps it's warmer inside than he's used to. We're having snow right now.
I am worried about infection. I have penicillan I just bought, but have never used it on a duck. Should I? How much if so? Maybe a cool bath inside, watching him.
I feel like he's fighting and I'd hate for an infection to do him in.
Thanks.
Merry Christmas to all.
Picture is from this morning. He is a home-grown mixed bred runner duck, had his grandpa, and still have grandma, and his parents.
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