My poor Daisy duck got attacked by a fox, need advice

[npatman]

Hello, I have been reading BYC for the last 6.5 weeks or so since we got 4 baby Pekin ducks from the 4-H building at our county fair. They were all doing well after reading here about Niacin deficiency, buying the treatment and administering it as I read here on BYC.

Night before last a red fox grabbed one of the girls. I scared it off quickly, but she has a chunk out by her tail, and puncture wounds in per back, shoulders, chest and neck. I thought she was dead at first, but then noticed her move her head just a little and went back over and found that she was breathing. I brought her in the house, flushed all of the wounds with saline, applied neosporin (following advice from another thread here on BYC). I mixed up some warm water, sugar and a pinch of salt, and she did drink just a little of it the first night.

She hasn't moved since I brought her in though. She did stand up twice yesterday when I went in to give her drinks, but she doesn't seem to be able to hold her head up, even when she was standing her head drooped straight down. I have been holding her head to give her drinks, she can pull her beak back out of the water just a little, but can't seem to drink on her own.

I found a vet about 25 miles away that can see her, and am happy to do that, but I am afraid that she has severe and permanent neck damage that they won't be able to help. She drinks with enthusiasm when I hold her head into the water, but won't take food and can't seem to do anything on her own.

I don't want to put her down if she has a chance, but I also don't want her to lay there and suffer if she isn't going to recover.

I would appreciate any advice from any of you duck experts. @Miss Lydia

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hello, I have been reading BYC for the last 6.5 weeks or so since we got 4 baby Pekin ducks from the 4-H building at our county fair. They were all doing well after reading here about Niacin deficiency, buying the treatment and administering it as I read here on BYC.

Night before last a red fox grabbed one of the girls. I scared it off quickly, but she has a chunk out by her tail, and puncture wounds in per back, shoulders, chest and neck. I thought she was dead at first, but then noticed her move her head just a little and went back over and found that she was breathing. I brought her in the house, flushed all of the wounds with saline, applied neosporin (following advice from another thread here on BYC). I mixed up some warm water, sugar and a pinch of salt, and she did drink just a little of it the first night.

She hasn't moved since I brought her in though. She did stand up twice yesterday when I went in to give her drinks, but she doesn't seem to be able to hold her head up, even when she was standing her head drooped straight down. I have been holding her head to give her drinks, she can pull her beak back out of the water just a little, but can't seem to drink on her own.

I found a vet about 25 miles away that can see her, and am happy to do that, but I am afraid that she has severe and permanent neck damage that they won't be able to help. She drinks with enthusiasm when I hold her head into the water, but won't take food and can't seem to do anything on her own.

I don't want to put her down if she has a chance, but I also don't want her to lay there and suffer if she isn't going to recover.

I would appreciate any advice from any of you duck experts. @Miss Lydia

It sounds like you've been doing everything right, I too would be hesitant to put her down- ducks can often bounce back from quite severe attacks/injuries with enough care and attention. It never ceases to amaze me.
Of course it is possible that the damage done is too much for to recover from, but I would probably give her a chance.

It does sound like trauma to the neck, and potentially head as well, and only time or a good vet will tell whether or not is permanent.

If you have a feel of her neck, do you see any wounds, or feel any lumps, swelling or other abnormalities? It would be good to attempt to rule out a fracture/break.
Could you take some photos of the wounds and of how she is holding her head? When the more knowledgeable people arrive, this will be of great help.

I would continue with offering her drinks as often as you possibly can, you could make some wet and soupy feed and try getting her to sip at that, if she is unable to eat. I would also offer her some nutri drench or a similar product, to put in her water so that she is getting vitamins.
If you can get her to the vet I would try to, as they will be able to closer inspect her neck/spine/head and they will also be able to prescribe pain relief for her.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello, I have been reading BYC for the last 6.5 weeks or so since we got 4 baby Pekin ducks from the 4-H building at our county fair. They were all doing well after reading here about Niacin deficiency, buying the treatment and administering it as I read here on BYC.

Night before last a red fox grabbed one of the girls. I scared it off quickly, but she has a chunk out by her tail, and puncture wounds in per back, shoulders, chest and neck. I thought she was dead at first, but then noticed her move her head just a little and went back over and found that she was breathing. I brought her in the house, flushed all of the wounds with saline, applied neosporin (following advice from another thread here on BYC). I mixed up some warm water, sugar and a pinch of salt, and she did drink just a little of it the first night.

She hasn't moved since I brought her in though. She did stand up twice yesterday when I went in to give her drinks, but she doesn't seem to be able to hold her head up, even when she was standing her head drooped straight down. I have been holding her head to give her drinks, she can pull her beak back out of the water just a little, but can't seem to drink on her own.

I found a vet about 25 miles away that can see her, and am happy to do that, but I am afraid that she has severe and permanent neck damage that they won't be able to help. She drinks with enthusiasm when I hold her head into the water, but won't take food and can't seem to do anything on her own.

I don't want to put her down if she has a chance, but I also don't want her to lay there and suffer if she isn't going to recover.

I would appreciate any advice from any of you duck experts. @Miss Lydia

have you got pictures? if she has an injury near her tail, I would worry about kidney damage. from what you said, that is my greatest concern, but you should also take care of the puncture wounds and try to avoid flystrike.

 

[npatman]

It sounds like you've been doing everything right, I too would be hesitant to put her down- ducks can often bounce back from quite severe attacks/injuries with enough care and attention. It never ceases to amaze me.
Of course it is possible that the damage done is too much for to recover from, but I would probably give her a chance.

It does sound like trauma to the neck, and potentially head as well, and only time or a good vet will tell whether or not is permanent.

If you have a feel of her neck, do you see any wounds, or feel any lumps, swelling or other abnormalities? It would be good to attempt to rule out a fracture/break.
Could you take some photos of the wounds and of how she is holding her head? When the more knowledgeable people arrive, this will be of great help.

I would continue with offering her drinks as often as you possibly can, you could make some wet and soupy feed and try getting her to sip at that, if she is unable to eat. I would also offer her some nutri drench or a similar product, to put in her water so that she is getting vitamins.
If you can get her to the vet I would try to, as they will be able to closer inspect her neck/spine/head and they will also be able to prescribe pain relief for her.

Thank you for replying! She definitely has wounds on the neck. I just felt around them and don't feel any bumps or lumps or anything.

I think the soup is a good idea, I saw that in another thread and thought I should give it a try.

She doesn't move her head much at all, it has been laying down on the bedding since I put her in there other than when I pick it up to give her drinks. She has moved her head back and forth a little, but not picked it up.

 

[npatman]

have you got pictures? if she has an injury near her tail, I would worry about kidney damage. from what you said, that is my greatest concern, but you should also take care of the puncture wounds and try to avoid flystrike.

Thank you for replying! I posted some pics right above, including the tail area. I have her in the house, so hopefully flies shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Poor baby girl. I am sure she is in pain and very sore from being grabbed by the fox. I agree having a vet check her over might be best at least to get Meloxicam for pain which may get her wanting to move around more and eating. They can't go for long without nourishment so soupy feed with warm water might entice her to at least try.
Trimming the feathers back away from the wounds can help you treat them better too.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Thank you for replying! She definitely has wounds on the neck. I just felt around them and don't feel any bumps or lumps or anything.

I think the soup is a good idea, I saw that in another thread and thought I should give it a try.

She doesn't move her head much at all, it has been laying down on the bedding since I put her in there other than when I pick it up to give her drinks. She has moved her head back and forth a little, but not picked it up.

Awh that poor baby.
Looking at the wounds I think recovery is possible if she is able to get enough nutrients, as long as there's no internal bleeding or broken bones etc... which we can't really tell. So a vet would be best. As miss Lydia said, they may give her meloxicam which will relieve pain and help with inflammation as well. In the meantime I would just focus on keeping those wounds clean and offering her food/drink very frequently.
Are those puncture wounds on her neck quite deep? I imagine that could be at least be partly why she isn't moving her neck. It might not be a case of not being able to move but more not wanting to due to pain. But of course only a vet would be able to tell you, this is just my thoughts based on what we know.

I really hope she is able to make a recovery and feels better soon

 

[npatman]

Poor baby girl. I am sure she is in pain and very sore from being grabbed by the fox. I agree having a vet check her over might be best at least to get Meloxicam for pain which may get her wanting to move around more and eating. They can't go for long without nourishment so soupy feed with warm water might entice her to at least try.
Trimming the feathers back away from the wounds can help you treat them better too.

Thank you! We're getting ready to make the soup now and got her into the vet tomorrow.

 

[npatman]

Awh that poor baby.
Looking at the wounds I think recovery is possible if she is able to get enough nutrients, as long as there's no internal bleeding or broken bones etc... which we can't really tell. So a vet would be best. As miss Lydia said, they may give her meloxicam which will relieve pain and help with inflammation as well. In the meantime I would just focus on keeping those wounds clean and offering her food/drink very frequently.
Are those puncture wounds on her neck quite deep? I imagine that could be at least be partly why she isn't moving her neck. It might not be a case of not being able to move but more not wanting to due to pain. But of course only a vet would be able to tell you, this is just my thoughts based on what we know.

I really hope she is able to make a recovery and feels better soon

Thank you! That was what I was really debating too, whether she couldn't move, or whether it just hurt too bad. The wounds on the neck don't seem to be as bad/deep as some of the others, especially the one near her tail, it's got a big chunk of skin completely missing, but I'm sure that long, slender neck is easily injured too.

She's going to the vet tomorrow, getting ready to make her some soup now.

 

[WaterfowlsPoultry]

Poor girl.. Foxes are the worst.
You are doing WONDERFUL so far, That soup should help her.