Antique metal spoon/ladle with carved wooden handle

I have no clue what this is.  This item has a beautiful hollow wooden handle that apopears to be hand carved with flowers, it leads up to a metal portion that goes into the mouth of an animal, the bowl or ladle is metal with a floral arrangement on the outside of the bowl, the bottom is flat and has paint chipping around the edge of the flat bottom. The metal prtions are non-magnetic appearring to be possibly bronze??  It's very unusual and I have no idea what it was used for.  I found it at an auction but no information was given.  Any ideas???