Need advice. My ducks got attacked by dogs. They are in pretty rough shape.

[spony]

I have 2 7 week old ducks that just got attacked by medium sized dogs. one has a patch of skin gone back near its butt. She can still walk and talk but is weak and im assuming in a lot of pain Obviously. She also have puncture wounds (3 that i have seen). The other one is a bit more thorn up. She has a little wound on the back of her head. She was bleeding around her left eye for a little while. She to has puncture wounds on her body(4 that i have seen). She cannot walk and doesn't really talk. She looks more lethargic than the other one. It actually looks like the other one is yell at her to pull through.

I have called every vet in the area and none of them are avian vets. i called tractor supply to see what they had and the only thing was a substance the treated superficial wounds and lesions. Im not sure what else i can do or use on them. any help at all wound be greatly appreciated. These are my first 2 ducks and im quit attached to them.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Keep them someplace warm, dark and quiet with food and water. I would recommend setting up a heat lamp for them. Go to Walgreens and pick up chlorhexidine gluconate. It's right next to the hydrogen peroxide.

Flush their wounds with saline water and pour the chlorhex liberally inside the wounds. It may sting, so wrap them in a towel and hold them as best you can.

No need for any ointment or anything. Just let them rest.

I would also consider upping their protein intake in the form of boiled eggs and meal worms, even cooked ground meat with the fat drained off. The extra protein helps facilitate tissue healing.

Treat twice a day and watch them heal themselves.

If they go off their water, please let us know. You will have to tube liquid to her to keep her hydrated enough for the treatment to work.

Keep us posted!

Edit to add: Hydrogen peroxide damages chicken tissue... I would advise against using it to treat injured birds.

MrsB

 

[spony]

Thank you for the info on hydrogen peroxide I will not use it. I have given them a poultry supplement. they are not eating or drinking at the moment. i haven't seen them eat or drink anything in hours. Im getting a little nervous about that. Do you just use an eye dropper or something to get her fluids? I will get some saline water and chlorhexidine gluconate. How long will it take for shock to wear off? They are still pretty lethargic.

 

[spony]

Also how much more protein? I have them on 20% starter right now.

 

[hedylaymore]

Good advice. Hydrogen peroxide didn't hurt my chicken, though, and an avian vet advised it. I didn't use much, though. Just washed it over the wound a couple of times and applied Neosporin several times. Keeping the ducks calm and quiet is a great idea. I put a tablecloth over the crate at night to simulate darkness so she'd go to sleep.

 

[spony]

Update: They are eating like crazy right now. Food has to be put in their water. I dont care how they eat just that they are. Thank you for all the advice.

 

[hedylaymore]

Great!! I hope they get well soon.

 

[spony]

Update: washing them off with saline water, And cleaning them up with chlorhexidane gluconate. Also picked up some antibiotics(sulfamethine sodium). Has anyone used this antibiotic before? If so please let me know how it worked. Says for poultry but i don't believe all the labels i read. Got it from our local feed store. I asked if it was ok, and he said yes.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Update: washing them off with saline water, And cleaning them up with chlorhexidane gluconate. Also picked up some antibiotics(sulfamethine sodium). Has anyone used this antibiotic before? If so please let me know how it worked. Says for poultry but i don't believe all the labels i read. Got it from our local feed store. I asked if it was ok, and he said yes.

If it's Sulmet, I would *strongly* suggest NOT using that.

It is EXTREMELY hard on birds and treats for respiratory infections/diseases... Not bacterial infections like you could get from a wound.

Truly, if they are eating, drinking, and seem perky despite their wounds, adding antibiotics really is unnecessary.

Keep it up with the food in their water and the chlorihexidine twice per day. You might also see them turning green and purple around the wounds. Take a breath... It's okay. It's just bruising.

As long as there is no puss, drainage, or funny smell and they continue to eat and be bright-eyed, stay the course.

MrsB

 

[hedylaymore]

The vet I consulted said NOT to give antibiotics if you are planning to eat the eggs. I agree with Mrs. B.