Author Topic: Duck fox attack - antibiotics?? (Read 8134 times)

BrambleCat · « **on:** September 13, 2010, 04:55:27 pm »

Hello all. My poor runner ducks were attacked last night by what I imagine was a fox. Stupidly I had become lax about shutting them up at night as I considered my garden to be fox proof and had never been bothered in many years of bird keeping in the back garden. I think it might have been attracted by the noise of the new male quail calling. Anyway... one is missing and one has been bitten / punctured around the neck but was still standing although shocked this morning. I have an appointment with a vet this evening as I think she may need antibiotics from a dirty fox bite... does anyone know if farm vets just sell antibiotics? My urban non specialist vet insists on seeing her even tho I'd rather not take her and stress her out even more. I haven't cleaned it up yet as she was in such shock I thought it better to keep her quiet.

Yours, sadly,

Cat

faith0504 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:57:27 pm »

oh bless cant help by answering your questions but hope she will be ok, will keep fingers crossed for you

jameslindsay · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:58:46 pm »

You could always ask for a home visit but then that's more expensive. Good luck, I hope they are ok and back to normal soon.

doganjo · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2010, 04:59:50 pm »

You may be lucky, but I've had a duck taken by the neck before and the shock killed it rather than any dirty bites. IF your duck is a bit calmer now I'd take a look at it and clean it up. It's always better to clean wounds straight away rather than wait till you can get better treatment. I hope the poor thing is OK, but don't beat yourself up about it too much - we all live to learn.

BrambleCat · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2010, 10:59:44 am »

Well, thanks all for your well wishes and kind words. The vet gave her neck a good clean plus a painkiller and antibiotics. I'm to bathe with salt water and give antibiotics twice a day. She was a very well behaved duck at the vets

(£30, thank you very much!)

faith0504 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2010, 11:11:05 am »

fingers crossed she pulls through

BrambleCat · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2010, 10:55:52 am »

Still going strong this morning. She's being so good with the daily salt bathing. Noticed a small green area on her neck this morning and am hoping it's bruising rather than infection.

faith0504 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2010, 10:59:13 am »

oh bless her she is made of tough stuff eh

Samantha · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2010, 01:51:13 pm »

oh poor thing ... Foxes got my chickens one night and I had to take the one survior to the vets... she was also given meds but went on to live for quite some time after

I honestly don't know if you can just buy them I live in the city and the vet is just up the road from me.

I hope your duck pulls through ok

Sam