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

[malia]

That is where I'm "iffy" on. Normally I would want to keep something and open if superficial. But Because she is missing so much tissue and tendon(s) exposed, something tells me to keep wound debrided and covered. That's why I'm applying silvadene/neosporin cream mix then covering with gauze. The cream helps keep infection out but slows healing. A wound like hers needs time for tissue to be able to granulate around it. Kind ou like the healing from inside out. But when using the ointment you don't want to trap bacteria in there bc the antibiotic properly only lasts for a certain amount of time and then it's just a good breeding ground for crud. That's why I'm doing the dressing changes twice a day. I'm going to have to guess though at when to stop putting a covering over. Animals, especially birds are so different and, from reading, appear to heal quicker. I am also giving her cephalaxin twice daily orally. i sop the powder up with grape halves and feed it to her.


Since your a nurse is it better to leave a wound open and clean than wrapping is air getting to it better?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your doing a great job with her. Is there a vet you know who could advise you or since things are going along so well maybe just use your own instincts on this must be working the wound looks very clean.

 

[malia]

Your doing a great job with her. Is there a vet you know who could advise you or since things are going along so well maybe just use your own instincts on this must be working the wound looks very clean.

No avian vets close by. Briefly Mentioned duck injury to my vet yesterday while there for my dog's appt and she said "Man I wish I knew more about ducks," so I figured it was a no go. Showed the pictures to a Doctor at work Wednesday and he said it looks like the wing needed to be amputated and that he couldn't see a wound like that healing and if not I should probably euthanize. Of course that's the night I come home and she is feverish and shivering. But after everyone's encouragement and from pictures and stories of other horrible injuries healing, I have hope. Plus she is so vibrant, how could I not try. Through non stop internet searching, between taking care of all the other critters, normal household chores, and working, I was wondering if anyone has used raw honey, with success, for extensive wounds? Mainly out of curiosity bc I know what we are doing as of right now appears to be working (if it's not broke don't fix it attitude) I just like to have backup plans.

 

[Amiga]

I believe raw honey has been used to help with injury involved with prolapse.

 

[Tuscola Clucks]

As far as the doctor is concerned, this is why I've always put emphasis on the PRACTICE in medicine. I've worked around a lot of nurses in my previous career, and I would tell you to go with your gut. The wound is clean, she's not showing signs of being septic, she's eating and drinking... those are all good indications you're doing the right thing. I wouldn't start veering off and trying poultices or homeopathic remedies. Don't get me wrong: I think there is some credence to those, but what you're doing is working.

If you've ever watched Shark Week on Discovery Channel, they invariably show seals with huge chunk-of-flesh-missing scars from shark attacks. Deer hunters post pictures of bucks with a piece of a competing suitor's antlers lodged in their neck or eye. And I've seen a bird in a parking lot hopping around on one leg, the other dangling haphazardly to the side, as it's browsing bugs off the grills of cars. Animals survive, often with far less intervention humans receive.

TRUST YOUR GUT! You're a nurse. You have to make these decisions every day, simple or complex as they may be. Like I said before: if she survived the attack and you've made it this far, you're doing something right.

And if you come across a doctor wanting to amputate something in the future, tell them to hold their **** horses!

All the best...

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

No avian vets close by. Briefly Mentioned duck injury to my vet yesterday while there for my dog's appt and she said "Man I wish I knew more about ducks," so I figured it was a no go. Showed the pictures to a Doctor at work Wednesday and he said it looks like the wing needed to be amputated and that he couldn't see a wound like that healing and if not I should probably euthanize. Of course that's the night I come home and she is feverish and shivering. But after everyone's encouragement and from pictures and stories of other horrible injuries healing, I have hope. Plus she is so vibrant, how could I not try. Through non stop internet searching, between taking care of all the other critters, normal household chores, and working, I was wondering if anyone has used raw honey, with success, for extensive wounds? Mainly out of curiosity bc I know what we are doing as of right now appears to be working (if it's not broke don't fix it attitude) I just like to have backup plans.

I also generally lean toward non-conventional treatment as a first line of defense, followed by conventional treatment as a second line (if needed). For a wound as serious as your duck's, I would personally have erred on the side of caution and gone with the "second" line of defense for the wing - as you have - and considered non-conventional treatment for less grievous injuries. My rationale is that with less serious wounds, you have time to assess the efficacy of treatment and adjust as needed...with serious injuries, time is often "of the essence" and you may only get the one real shot at treatment.

While I haven't used it myself, Manuka honey is reputed to have significant therapeutic benefits. Per the Advanced Tissue website, "Manuka honey was approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in 2007 as a recommended option for wound treatment" (https://www.advancedtissue.com/honey-can-help-wound-healing/) - evidence from clinical studies is also cited. I have used extra virgin coconut oil to treat superficial wounds; this study demonstrated the effectiveness of VCO in wound healing: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20523108.

Best wishes - please keep us posted!

 

[malia]

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Just thought I would share some update pics of this mornings wound care.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@malia Looks like both wounds are clean and healing. What do you think? You may have to make her a sling once healing is over to support her wing, can she move it at all?

How is she doing today still eating and drinking good?

 

[malia]

The wounds look good to me but wanted to post pics to make sure I'm not missing something. She was kind enough through the night to pull her little down feathers out of the area with gash so I was better able to see it and wash it out. She is eating and drinking well except I am now battling having to trick her into eating some of her feed by hiding meal worms in it. She can move the wing a little, up and out, but it mostly hangs down and away from her body. I don't have the heart to try and open/extend it out just yet. (Remember me saying I was squeamish). After dressing change tonight I may wrap her wing to body again. What do you think? She has not extended the wing out on her own so I'm thinking she can't.
@Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

The wounds look good to me but wanted to post pics to make sure I'm not missing something. She was kind enough through the night to pull her little down feathers out of the area with gash so I was better able to see it and wash it out. She is eating and drinking well except I am now battling having to trick her into eating some of her feed by hiding meal worms in it. She can move the wing a little, up and out, but it mostly hangs down and away from her body. I don't have the heart to try and open/extend it out just yet. (Remember me saying I was squeamish). After dressing change tonight I may wrap her wing to body again. What do you think? She has not extended the wing out on her own so I'm thinking she can't.

I really don't know what would be best because if you wrap it close to her body and she can't try and move it or exercise it at all it may get to where she won't ever be able to. Know what I mean? Then again having it in proper alignment might help too. Or maybe do both give her time with out the bandage so she can move the wing if she has a mind too and wrap too to hold it in place. Hopefully we'll get more insight from others that have gone through something like this.. Like she gets PT once a day and the rest of the time the wing is wrapped in normal position to her body.