A man took his old duck to the vet, concerned because
the duck wouldn't eat.
The Doctor explained to the man that as ducks age
their upper bills grow
down over their lower bills and make it difficult for the
animal to pick up it's food.
"What you need to do is gently file the upper bill
down even with the lower bill. But you
must be extra careful because the duck's
nostrils are located in the upper bill and if
you file down too
far, when the duck takes a drink of water it'll drown."
The man goes about his business and about a week later
the Doctor runs into
his patient.
"Well, how is that duck of yours?" the Doctor
inquires.
"He's dead." declared the heartbroken man.
"I told you not to file his upper bill down too far!
He took a drink of water
and drowned didn't he?" insisted the Doctor.
"No." lamented the man. "I think he was
dead before I took him out of the
vise."
