A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was not
too much blood.
Since then she has lost a lot more feathers from that area, has perked
up in herself, but is apparently immobile, except if really prompted
(i.e. if she doesnt want me to pick her up).
It seems that one leg is damaged, as when she does stand, the foot is
trailed behind the leg.
She sits there, and doesnt really attempt to move, and when she does,
cannot stand up, but just flaps and shuffles along the ground on her
belly.
I have seen her drinking, and having a nibble at grass, but she hasnt
eaten much at all since.
I dont really want to have to put her to sleep, but from others
experiences, will she be likely to recover from this?
And any tips to help with a recovery?

"A.Lee" <alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1iiujrb.1kwht8d14g12z6N%alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com...
A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was not
too much blood.
Since then she has lost a lot more feathers from that area, has perked
up in herself, but is apparently immobile, except if really prompted
(i.e. if she doesnt want me to pick her up).
It seems that one leg is damaged, as when she does stand, the foot is
trailed behind the leg.
She sits there, and doesnt really attempt to move, and when she does,
cannot stand up, but just flaps and shuffles along the ground on her
belly.
I have seen her drinking, and having a nibble at grass, but she hasnt
eaten much at all since.
I dont really want to have to put her to sleep, but from others
experiences, will she be likely to recover from this?
And any tips to help with a recovery?


Puncture wounds from carnivore teeth will introduce bacteria into the wound,
so at the very least she will need some antibiotics. It's up to you to
decide whether she's worth a trip to the vet.
I've never had a cat attack my poultry, but once two Jack Russells got in
and had a spree here. They severely bit my pair of geese on the back and a
few elderly chickens that were wandering around in the orchard were in a bad
way too. Fortunately I was at home at the time and heard the commotion,
otherwise I'm sure they would have killed them all. All recovered with
antibiotics so it's worth a try.
Your duck will die otherwise (and might still, but I would give the "medsun*
a go) so your conscience will rest easy knowing you did your best.

Tina



My quick response to puncture wounds - mine or animals' - is hydrogen

Christina Websell wrote:
"A.Lee" <alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1iiujrb.1kwht8d14g12z6N%alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com...
A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.

My quick response to puncture wounds - mine or animals' - is hydrogen
peroxide. It was out of favour for a while because it was said to kill
the healthy tissue surrounding the wound and yes, there is some
"burning" but it's the kind of thing the body can deal with better than
pus brewing away in the depths and spreading everywhere.

A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was
not too much blood.
Since then she has lost a lot more feathers from that area, has perked
up in herself, but is apparently immobile, except if really prompted
(i.e. if she doesnt want me to pick her up).
It seems that one leg is damaged, as when she does stand, the foot is
trailed behind the leg.
She sits there, and doesnt really attempt to move, and when she does,
cannot stand up, but just flaps and shuffles along the ground on her
belly.
I have seen her drinking, and having a nibble at grass, but she hasnt
eaten much at all since.
I dont really want to have to put her to sleep, but from others
experiences, will she be likely to recover from this?
And any tips to help with a recovery?

Does anyone know - has anyone already googled - what kind of
antibiotic is safe and effective for geese?

Christina Websell wrote:
"A.Lee" <alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1iiujrb.1kwht8d14g12z6N%alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com...
A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was not
too much blood.
Since then she has lost a lot more feathers from that area, has perked
up in herself, but is apparently immobile, except if really prompted
(i.e. if she doesnt want me to pick her up).
It seems that one leg is damaged, as when she does stand, the foot is
trailed behind the leg.
She sits there, and doesnt really attempt to move, and when she does,
cannot stand up, but just flaps and shuffles along the ground on her
belly.
I have seen her drinking, and having a nibble at grass, but she hasnt
eaten much at all since.
I dont really want to have to put her to sleep, but from others
experiences, will she be likely to recover from this?
And any tips to help with a recovery?


Puncture wounds from carnivore teeth will introduce bacteria into the
wound, so at the very least she will need some antibiotics. It's up to
you to decide whether she's worth a trip to the vet.
I've never had a cat attack my poultry, but once two Jack Russells got in
and had a spree here. They severely bit my pair of geese on the back and
a few elderly chickens that were wandering around in the orchard were in
a bad way too. Fortunately I was at home at the time and heard the
commotion, otherwise I'm sure they would have killed them all. All
recovered with antibiotics so it's worth a try.
Your duck will die otherwise (and might still, but I would give the
"medsun* a go) so your conscience will rest easy knowing you did your
best.

Tina



My quick response to puncture wounds - mine or animals' - is hydrogen
peroxide. It was out of favour for a while because it was said to kill
the healthy tissue surrounding the wound and yes, there is some "burning"
but it's the kind of thing the body can deal with better than pus brewing
away in the depths and spreading everywhere.

Does anyone know - has anyone already googled - what kind of antibiotic is
safe and effective for geese? And is it the same for all birds? Just in
case one's vet is able & willing to prescribe but isn't familiar with
birds it would be some good knowledge for us to have in the archives of
this group and might save other people time in the future.

"A.Lee" <alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1iiujrb.1kwht8d14g12z6N%alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com...
A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was not
too much blood.
snip

Puncture wounds from carnivore teeth will introduce bacteria into the wound,
so at the very least she will need some antibiotics. It's up to you to
decide whether she's worth a trip to the vet.

She was took to the vets yesterday.

I think she will get better - she is fine in herself, preening and
eating again,

Christina Websell <spamfree at (no spam) tinawebsell.wanadoo.co.uk> wrote:

"A.Lee" <alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1iiujrb.1kwht8d14g12z6N%alan at (no spam) darkroom.+.com...
A cat attacked one of my ducks on Tuesday evening. She didint look as
though she would survive the night, as she was so limp. but remarkably
she is still alive.
The only apparent wound was a scratch type puncture mark on the lower
back, with around an inch square area of feather missing. There was not
too much blood.
snip

Puncture wounds from carnivore teeth will introduce bacteria into the wound,
so at the very least she will need some antibiotics. It's up to you to
decide whether she's worth a trip to the vet.

She was took to the vets yesterday. The vet seemed to think the bite was
on the spine, hence the partial disablement. The wound has healed fine,
he didnt think anti biotics/anti-inflammatories would be any use, as,
apart from the limp leg, she was fine.
He checked all the joints/bones, nothing out of place/broken, so the
only thing was to give her a little more time to see if she recovers.
He reckons if no improvement in 10 days, then it'll be the chop for her.

I think she will get better - she is fine in herself, preening and
eating again, and today after putting her in the pond for 10 minutes
(this is a duck who will not go in water, she dips her head in and that
is all), when I got her out she did stand up for 30 seconds or so, then
flapped her wings and promptly fell over!
So, yes, I think she'll be alright.
Alan.