need advice on treating ducks that were attacked

[Duckworth]

More of the same, mostly. I'm going to weigh them again this evening and if anybody isn't gaining or at least holding steady, they're getting fed (this means you, Blanche...) I've actually seen Tony and Rose eat, but not her.

The tube feeding tutorial is a little overwhelming... I'd like to try just using a syringe for now. @Duckworth did you puree wet crumble mash, or veggies? Or just use baby food? Did you do it at the corner of the bill, like the meds? I think she's interested enough that if I got it just inside her mouth she'd gladly finish it off.

I puréed wet crumble mash with some dried mealworms and a little kitten food. It was pretty thin because otherwise, it wouldn't draw into the syringe.

I did do it at the corner of the bill like the meds and was SUPER careful to give just a couple of drops at a time so she wouldn't aspirate it. Aspirated food is a bigger problem than medicine, since it is more likely to cause infection and is harder to get out of the airways. So I gave a (very) little at a time several times a day rather than risk the liquid food going where it didn't belong. Even when I could give several cc at try, it was a couple of drops at a time.

The big reason for not going with tube feeding for Nipper was that she had so much instability in her bill where it attached to her face that she could have been further injured by an attempt to tube her. On the day she finally started eating on her own, the vet was ready to initiate tube feeding, but we were trying to put it off so her bill could heal enough first.

 

[cymbaline]

They're home!

Blanche's bandage has already slid down her neck. They said to keep them on til tomorrow but if it's not covering anything there's not much point, lol.
And they're already eating! They haven't even had a dose of Meloxicam yet. I mean, not much, a few kernels of corn, but hey, I'll take it at this point.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I get error

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww bless them did the vet say how they are doing now that she has treated their wounds?

 

[cymbaline]

Aww bless them did the vet say how they are doing now that she has treated their wounds?

The one who actually did it was going out of town today so she wasn't there by the time they allowed me to pick them up. I don't think Blanche's wound looks infected or worrisome...I'm anxious to see how Tony's looks tomorrow.

So...are those tiny punctures teeth marks? There are some up near her "ear" too. Or are they from where they plucked the feathers? If they're not from teeth, what would have made just one hole (or maybe very short gash that pulled open)??

 

[casportpony]

Great pitcure! That shows how a wound should be cleaned! to your vet

So...are those tiny punctures teeth marks? There are some up near her "ear" too. Or are they from where they plucked the feathers? If they're not from teeth, what would have made just one hole (or maybe very short gash that pulled open)??

Could be teeth. Let me see if I can find one of mine so you can compare.

Question, other than cleaning, what else did they do?

Here is one that I had:

 

[casportpony]

Blanche's bandage has already slid down her neck. They said to keep them on til tomorrow but if it's not covering anything there's not much point, lol.
And they're already eating! They haven't even had a dose of Meloxicam yet. I mean, not much, a few kernels of corn, but hey, I'll take it at this point.

They look good!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That looks good to me cleaned and no infection.

 

[cymbaline]

Great pitcure! That shows how a wound should be cleaned! to your vet

Could be teeth. Let me see if I can find one of mine so you can compare.

Question, other than cleaning, what else did they do?

Here is one that I had:

Looking at the invoice, other than examinations, injections, and anesthesia...just the wound cleaning. I don't see any similar marks on yours, so I guess that means they're teeth?
And yes, this vet is definitely worth the drive.

 

[cymbaline]

Do you have any ponds or lakes or rivers close by there’s always the possibility she may have gone there.

I'm so sorry, I missed this post somehow.
Yes, in the half mile from my house to the 4-lane, I cross two different creeks, lol - a small one (that borders my land, the ducks play in it all the time) and one large one, plus a marshy/creek-ish area in the field next to me. And that's just what's within sight. There's also pond a mile or two away that has ducks, and the big creek widens out maybe a half a mile away into a pond-like area. Oh, and the biggest man-made lake in my state is like 3 miles away. And I can think of at least 3 ponds that I've seen ducks and geese within 2-5 miles. It's an aquatic bird paradise here