2 Cayuga Girls & 1 Cayuga Drake

[Kiwibird]

This is ancient, but interesting. It refers to "pica" which means a habit or carving for eating non-food items. Like many British poultry references, it distinguishes between soluble and insoluble grit. Locally, oyster shell is the usual grit. I am not sure what you use. It mentions treatment, but I have no idea whether the medications would still be in use: https://www.canadianpoultrymag.com/...grit-and-digestive-disorders-in-poultry-12937

 

[TheHighlandChick01]

This is ancient, but interesting. It refers to "pica" which means a habit or carving for eating non-food items. Like many British poultry references, it distinguishes between soluble and insoluble grit. Locally, oyster shell is the usual grit. I am not sure what you use. It mentions treatment, but I have no idea whether the medications would still be in use: https://www.canadianpoultrymag.com/...grit-and-digestive-disorders-in-poultry-12937

Just starting to read it but what’s interesting right off the bat is the issue of solvable versus insolvable. The person on the other duck thread told me that since it’s granite grit olive oil will push it through whereas if it had been limestone then there was no way to get it out because limestone locks itself together whereas granite doesn’t.

 

[Kiwibird]

I'm googling olive oil in intestinal blockage in ducks. I'm getting a few results for that and coconut oil. Certainly enough to discuss with the vet as a less invasive treatment option.

I am also seeing people suggesting vinegar, which I would completely avoid if the grit is high in calcium, because it would fizz up, stretching the gut further. No vinegar, please!

I am also seeing soaked mucilaginous seeds suggested. These are another option worth discussing with the vet.

While this problem is new to the vet, you don't get into vet school without some ability to evaluate possible solutions, so it still seems worth having the conversation.

What level of improvement by tomorrow would lead the vet to a "wait and see" approach rather than attempting manual emptying of the gut?

 

[Kiwibird]

Just starting to read it but what’s interesting right off the bat is the issue of solvable versus insolvable. The person on the other duck thread told me that since it’s granite grit olive oil will push it through whereas if it had been limestone then there was no way to get it out because limestone locks itself together whereas granite doesn’t.

Oops, I wrote carving, when I meant craving. Sorry.

 

[TheHighlandChick01]

I'm googling olive oil in intestinal blockage in ducks. I'm getting a few results for that and coconut oil. Certainly enough to discuss with the vet as a less invasive treatment option.

I am also seeing people suggesting vinegar, which I would completely avoid if the grit is high in calcium, because it would fizz up, stretching the gut further. No vinegar, please!

I am also seeing soaked mucilaginous seeds suggested. These are another option worth discussing with the vet.

While this problem is new to the vet, you don't get into vet school without some ability to evaluate possible solutions, so it still seems worth having the conversation.

What level of improvement by tomorrow would lead the vet to a "wait and see" approach rather than attempting manual emptying of the gut?

Yikes, I’ve been adding Apple Cider Vinegar to her water.

She said if our duck is pooping out grit then we don’t have to go back & can call instead.

I’m not familiar with the seeds you mentioned.

 

[Kiwibird]

Some kinds of seed, including linseed, exude slippery mucilage when soaked or boiled. This is what mucilaginous seeds are.

 

[TheHighlandChick01]

What would you do if this was your duck?

 

[Kiwibird]

If it was my duck, I know that I have no avian vets around. That removes that option completely. On the basis of that, and various anecdotes I have heard over the years about olive oil and birds, I would start with the olive oil. If I had an avian vet around, I would ask them about the olive oil before trying.

 

[TheHighlandChick01]

I’ll ask the vet tomorrow morning. Can I ask one more question: how much & how often would you give the olive oil? I’d like to run it past her.

 

[TheHighlandChick01]

The duck admin on the other thread said to “dip four or five times & do it kind of regular.” Any idea what that means?