Pretty sure a raccoon tried to eat my duck through enclosure (graphic)

[malia]

Sorry for the long post. Just wondering if anyone has had a duck or chicken survive/heal from this bad of a wound.

This is how I found her Monday right before I had to leave for work. Thankful for my neighbor that took her in until I could get off work. So that night cleaned wound with vetericyn and applied neosporin and silvadene cream then wrapped. I noticed that the wound already had a bad odor. Started her on water mixed with antibiotic and aspirin. Had to completely guess on dosing. All I could find was chicken dosing and I know ducks drink a heck of a lot more water. It is the powdered oxytetracycline 10g bag. I am mixing 2 tsp and 5 baby aspirin in a half gallon of water. Her eyes are still bright and she still eats and drinks so I figured we might have a fighting chance. She is in a dog crate with towels/pads in my house. Yesterday morning I let her bathe in tub then proceeded with the same wound cleaning dressing routine but better wrapped the wing hoping to stabilize it more and promote proper alignment. I would not doubt if wing is broken or dislocated but cannot be sure bc I know it must hurt her to move it. Anyhow, after talking with a Doctor at work yesterday I had high hopes that her wound might actually heal. Last night after work I got her out for bath and wound care and took some more pictures so that I can track any progress or lack of so that I could better gauge if she should be euthanized. She has been such a good duck and let's me tend to her wounds without a fight and huddles in to be pet and comforted. Problem being is that I keep looking at these pictures and cannot fathom how this wound can heal. It's not just feathers missing or a cut or a puncture... it's... horrible. Wanted to know if there is any hope for her. Thank you in advance. Forgot to mention the wound does not have that rotting flesh stench anymore.

Wound after bath.

Dressed and back in crate.

I am wrapping wing best I can according to instructions on this website... http://wildliferehabber.com/rehab-data/wing-fractures

Any additional advice/suggestions are greatly welcome.

 

[buff goose guy]

Sorry for the long post. Just wondering if anyone has had a duck or chicken survive/heal from this bad of a wound.



This is how I found her Monday right before I had to leave for work. Thankful for my neighbor that took her in until I could get off work. So that night cleaned wound with vetericyn and applied neosporin and silvadene cream then wrapped. I noticed that the wound already had a bad odor. Started her on water mixed with antibiotic and aspirin. Had to completely guess on dosing. All I could find was chicken dosing and I know ducks drink a heck of a lot more water. It is the powdered oxytetracycline 10g bag. I am mixing 2 tsp and 5 baby aspirin in a half gallon of water. Her eyes are still bright and she still eats and drinks so I figured we might have a fighting chance. She is in a dog crate with towels/pads in my house. Yesterday morning I let her bathe in tub then proceeded with the same wound cleaning dressing routine but better wrapped the wing hoping to stabilize it more and promote proper alignment. I would not doubt if wing is broken or dislocated but cannot be sure bc I know it must hurt her to move it. Anyhow, after talking with a Doctor at work yesterday I had high hopes that her wound might actually heal. Last night after work I got her out for bath and wound care and took some more pictures so that I can track any progress or lack of so that I could better gauge if she should be euthanized. She has been such a good duck and let's me tend to her wounds without a fight and huddles in to be pet and comforted. Problem being is that I keep looking at these pictures and cannot fathom how this wound can heal. It's not just feathers missing or a cut or a puncture... it's... horrible. Wanted to know if there is any hope for her. Thank you in advance. Forgot to mention the wound does not have that rotting flesh stench anymore.

Wound after bath.



Dressed and back in crate.


I am wrapping wing best I can according to instructions on this website... http://wildliferehabber.com/rehab-data/wing-fractures

Any additional advice/suggestions are greatly welcome.

My advice, is to put chicken wire over the chain link secure the enclosure(if 3 fingers can fit through it a racoon can get get its whole arm in there and if a flat hand can get through it then a racoon / small fox / hawk can get in it too ), and to be sure that it was a predator and not a case of bullying.

 

[buff goose guy]

ohh and be sure the wing stays clean keep her isolated, get vetricin wound care and neosporin to help get that wound healed as quick as possible.

 

[malia]

Thank you. That night I had made a barrier about a foot high. The bars are about 2-2.5 finger width in space. Enclosure already had cinder blocks around perimeter. There was an area on enclosure that was matted with tiny feathers where I'm assuming it reached in and grabbed her. There was also a clump of feathers about 3-4ft away. This was only supposed to be a temp enclosure, but has turned into a very long "temp" as they have been in there since this summer. Told myself no matter what I have to get the large enclosure I have dreamed up, with pond and everything, built.

 

[malia]

If I can keep infection out, do you think that the wound may heal? Really hoping so as my ducks are pets to me.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

If I can keep infection out, do you think that the wound may heal? Really hoping so as my ducks are pets to me.

What a pretty girl! I've seen some pretty bad wounds heal, so it's definitely possible. Given how her wing looks, though, she may not recover normal use of it, but you likely know that already. Only time will tell...

Best wishes for your duck's recovery.

 

[malia]

Thank you, I think so as well. She is such a fighter that I could not, not try. It's just after looking at the pictures over and over again I was afraid that I might just be postponing the inevitable. Was really hoping to hear something encouraging.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you, I think so as well. She is such a fighter that I could not, not try. It's just after looking at the pictures over and over again I was afraid that I might just be postponing the inevitable. Was really hoping to hear something encouraging.

I think she has a good chance the wound looks very clean and doesn't appear to have infection in it. So just keep doing what your doing even giving it some air time before wrapping after treating.

I think your right the raccoon reached in and pulled your duck through the fencing enough to start eating her. Hardware cloth up 3' from bottom and cover of some kind over top they all climb

@Tevyes Dad had this happen and his ducks weren't as lucky as yours.

She looks to be in good care with you. I am not sure on the aspirin though I read some where it isn't good for their kidneys. I'll try to find info.
http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/18.pdf
about aspirin


@casportpony can help you with dosage on the OxyT. you'll need to know your ducks weight.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thank you, I think so as well. She is such a fighter that I could not, not try. It's just after looking at the pictures over and over again I was afraid that I might just be postponing the inevitable. Was really hoping to hear something encouraging.

It may not have come across that way, but I consider a possibility a positive thing - and my inclination is to try, too. Even if her wing isn't 100%, she should still be able to have a good quality of life, especially if she's a pet.

A personal experience: I had a pullet who suffered a large tear to the skin on her breast that extended under her wing, leaving a big flap dangling. I briefly considered euthanasia, thinking that maybe she wouldn't have full use of her leg due to the skin contracting as it healed or that the wound wouldn't heal properly...but figured I'd give it a try and see if she could heal herself. I isolated her, cleaned the wound, sprayed it several times a day with Vetericyn, and slowly but surely, it healed. Today, she is fully recovered and her wound is undetectable. Hope that's more encouraging!

 

[Tuscola Clucks]

All I can offer to what's already been said is some words of encouragement. You don't have to look hard in the wild to find animals surviving with evidence of awful wounds. Your girl has a significant leg up on animals surviving in the wild, however, as you can prevent infection with medication. If she survived the attack, she's going to survive the wound with your help! Yes, she'll probably be disabled, but that's not life threatening in captivity. Good luck!