Administering Calcium Gluconate

[Niche Flock]

Thank you for the info! I'm am going to attempt this procedure today, with 18 g needle and a slightly smaller syringe. The fluid might possibly seep out like in the videos through a port. I'd rather give this a try now to try and help her than wait for other supplies.

My biggest concern is location of inserting the needle. The first video mentioned lover right side, avoiding veins. Another video I watched showed the left side. After inserting the needle, I should plunge a little and if the fluid is very red I hit a vein and should reinsert right? I'm not using terribly shallow or short needles, these are the 18 g Producer's Pride ones from Tractor Supply. The syringe is smaller, only a 12ml but it's what I have on hand and I want to help her asap.

Any suggestions on exact location for inserting the needle? Is the right side ideal, in the swollen area towards her back end?

After rewatching the first video, I feel confident in finding a good place to put the needle and will try in the lower right side.

 

[Isaac 0]

Thank you for the info! I'm am going to attempt this procedure today, with 18 g needle and a slightly smaller syringe. The fluid might possibly seep out like in the videos through a port. I'd rather give this a try now to try and help her than wait for other supplies.

My biggest concern is location of inserting the needle. The first video mentioned lover right side, avoiding veins. Another video I watched showed the left side. After inserting the needle, I should plunge a little and if the fluid is very red I hit a vein and should reinsert right? I'm not using terribly shallow or short needles, these are the 18 g Producer's Pride ones from Tractor Supply. The syringe is smaller, only a 12ml but it's what I have on hand and I want to help her asap.

Any suggestions on exact location for inserting the needle? Is the right side ideal, in the swollen area towards her back end?

After rewatching the first video, I feel confident in finding a good place to put the needle and will try in the lower right side.

Before inserting the needle, the area should be plucked of feathers, and heavily disinfected with an antiseptic. By doing that, you will be able to see any superficial veins on the surface. Draining too many fluids all at once can result in shock, and if not performed properly could also result in infection. That being said, I wanted to reemphasize the risks, but the process is beneficial in knowing exactly what you're dealing with.

 

[Niche Flock]

Before inserting the needle, the area should be plucked of feathers, and heavily disinfected with an antiseptic. By doing that, you will be able to see any superficial veins on the surface. Draining too many fluids all at once can result in shock, and if not performed properly could also result in infection. That being said, I wanted to reemphasize the risks, but the process is beneficial in knowing exactly what you're dealing with.

I just finished the procedure and it went very well!! I had someone assist me in holding her, we took before and after photos which I will post below.

I used 91% alcohol to disinfect the area where I was going to insert the needle, and did an initial plunge test to check that I hadn't hit a vein, there was no initial draw of blood which was good!

She was a very calm and I think, relieved, patient. My assistant held a towel firmly around her and we set her on an two tubs stacked, which sort of made an impromptu table. I set a towel over the tubs and also lightly draped a microfiber cloth over her head to relax her. I checked her breathing and made sure she was ok throughout the process.

Whole thing maybe took about an hour to complete. After disinfecting and inserting the needle, I regretted not plucking feathers around the insertion area. They tended to get in the way of the drip and I was sure to swab them in alcohol and try my best to keep them away from the port.

I used a 18 gauge needle and a 12 ml syringe, the syringe was small, but it was the largest I had on hand so I had to do multiple extractions. After the first extraction, I removed the syringe from the port leaving the needle inside her. As mentioned in the above videos, I didn't want to have to reinsert a needle 100's of times and possibly introduce bacteria to the injection site. After removing the syringe the first time, a slow but steady drip can out which was convenient. I situated a solo plastic cup beneath the drip and it would continue in between the syringe pulls that I would slowly take. I deposited the syringe pulls into a 1quart plastic kefir bottle that I rinsed out for collection of fluids.

Leaving the needle in proved very helpful. I checked on little Mimi periodically to make sure she wasn't in shock or distressed but she was fine through the process. Even managed to poop on my assistant's shoe after removing the needle!

I noticed some air bubbles forming at one point and realized my connection between reattaching the syringe to the port wasn't entirely complete, so after that plunge I made sure the syringe was screwed in properly.

One benefit of the slightly smaller syringe was that I was able to hold the needle with my right hand and the syringe in my left alone in order to extract the fluid. If I had a larger syringe I may have needed both hands on the plunge to extract or to have had my assistant hold the needle (which in case anyone was interested, he HATES needles, doctors, medical procedures and blood, fluids, etc. So he performed like a champ in helping, but if I needed him to hold the needle, he may not have been up to it). Also, another benefit to the slightly smaller syringe was that I was able to take off smaller amounts of fluid at a time, I was able to better monitor her condition in-between extractions and monitor how closely I was to be long done.

The done point came when I would reinsert the syringe to extract but felt some resistance.
I would remove a partial syringe fill and notice that the drip either stopped or slowed. I reinserted the syringe to make sure I hadn't just not pulled firmly and gently enough, then remove, then the drip would continue. After the second time of noticing this resistance, I remove the syringe and there was again no drip. I gently palpated her lower area and noticed it was less firm and fluid filled. This gentle pressure also didn't not bring forth any additional drips, so I decided to remove the needle, apply a cotton ball with alcohol to the injection site and disinfect the surrounding area (some feathers as well).

Overall, it went well. I filled up 3/4 of the solo cup just with the drips (free flowing from the port) and with my syringe loads, a 1/4 or so of the 1 quart kefir bottle. I added the solo cup the the kefir bottle with a funnel to get a better visual of how much fluid came off. I'll attach a photo as well. The fluid was a yellow orange color indicative of the EYP mentioned above.

After changing the bedding and adding fresh straw to her coop and kennel area, I gave her more vitamin water and food. (Sidenote, upon finding her this morning, I noticed she ate all of her pellets and took a HUGE poop.)

She immediately started tail wagging and drinking, then dipping her head and splashing around in her water bucket. She seems so happy!! I treated her to some mealworms because she deserved them for being such a little champ!!

Thank you for all the help, I greatly appreciate it. And I know that this procedure isn't a save all, but rather more like bridge therapy, which is ok because I'd rather prolong her life and keep her happy and comfortable then see her suffer and die prematurely.

I can't help but blame myself for her condition. I know if could be other factors, but knowing that I could DO something to help her, really really helps me too!! I feel better that she feels better. Also, knowing more about this condition and procedure is priceless. Thank you again.

 

[Niche Flock]

Here is a before photo of her area, very swollen and enlarged.

 

[Niche Flock]

And here is an after photo, it is visibly smaller, she still has a little "belly" but it is not as firm or bulbous.

 

[Niche Flock]

I've attached some photos of the syringe and needle used, the color of the liquid at extraction and the consolidated 1 quart kefir bottle (emptied the solo cup into the kefir bottle)
I disposed of the fluid by flushing it down the toilet, I thought this the most responsible and hygienic way.

 

[Isaac 0]

You did an absolutely wonderful job @Niche Flock. Looking at the fluids you extracted, it's apparent she was suffering from ascites; EYP is caused by egg yolk matter accumulation in the coelomic cavity, so the fluids would have been egg yolk-like, and very thick.

As you know, this is rather a symptom, than a condition itself and indicates the decline of the cardiovascular system or hepatic system, causing non-inflammatory fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. Draining the fluids often, and offering supportive care can help improve, and extend life, but unfortunately, these birds tend to fair a grim prognosis. Once again, wonderful job.

 

[Niche Flock]

You did an absolutely wonderful job @Niche Flock. Looking at the fluids you extracted, it's apparent she was suffering from ascites; EYP is caused by egg yolk matter accumulation in the coelomic cavity, so the fluids would have been egg yolk-like, and very thick.

As you know, this is rather a symptom, than a condition itself and indicates the decline of the cardiovascular system or hepatic system, causing non-inflammatory fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. Draining the fluids often, and offering supportive care can help improve, and extend life, but unfortunately, these birds tend to fair a grim prognosis. Once again, wonderful job.

Thank you! I feel semi-accomplished but 100% confident that if I had to do this again, even relatively soon, I could! And I do not mind doing the procedure as long as it keeps her happy and comfortable.

Right now she is recovering and in her isolated space. I have a nanny can on her to check in when I'm not in there with her. I plan to keep her isolated for an additional week just to monitor her and see if she gets around ok. Before she had difficulty walking.

If she is able to walk, eat, drink normal, do you think that after a week I could return her to the flock to socialize? I will keep an eye on her symptoms and if she goes downhill I can always isolate and drain again. I worry that she will become depressed being away from her flock for so long. I have one other khaki Campbell (+ the 20 other ducks & 2 geese in the flock) so I will be able to pick her out of the bunch.

Today was an exceptionally mild day, it hit 40° so we have some mud puddles that everyone is enjoying! Would love to reintroduce her to the flock so that she can get safely reacquainted again to a more "normal-ish" life. Is this a possibility you think?

 

[Isaac 0]

Thank you! I feel semi-accomplished but 100% confident that if I had to do this again, even relatively soon, I could! And I do not mind doing the procedure as long as it keeps her happy and comfortable.

Right now she is recovering and in her isolated space. I have a nanny can on her to check in when I'm not in there with her. I plan to keep her isolated for an additional week just to monitor her and see if she gets around ok. Before she had difficulty walking.

If she is able to walk, eat, drink normal, do you think that after a week I could return her to the flock to socialize? I will keep an eye on her symptoms and if she goes downhill I can always isolate and drain again. I worry that she will become depressed being away from her flock for so long. I have one other khaki Campbell (+ the 20 other ducks & 2 geese in the flock) so I will be able to pick her out of the bunch.

Today was an exceptionally mild day, it hit 40° so we have some mud puddles that everyone is enjoying! Would love to reintroduce her to the flock so that she can get safely reacquainted again to a more "normal-ish" life. Is this a possibility you think?

If she appears to be acting well (eating, drinking, moving around) I would say you could bring her out today, although that is up to you. Ducks, like most fowl, enjoy company.

 

[Niche Flock]

My khaki Campbell passed away today I drained fluids from her a total of three times (most recently on the tenth) due to her continuing discomfort, and after each time she was drained she seemed ok. She had a good appetite, ate her pellets, enjoyed snacks like meal worms, tomatoes and cabbage and was drinking fine.
She was struggling with her movements, was having difficulty keeping up with the other ducks during the day and would usually rest with a few of her duck pals.
Today I came home and found her dead, I was anticipating another draining of fluid as she was beginning to have difficulty breathing. I realize that this was coming and was bracing for it, but finding an animal dead is always so sad. The ground here isn't frozen, so I dug her a deep grave and buried her in the field where some of my other ducks lay.

Before she passed I decided to not intervene and cull her. As long as she was eating drinking, not getting picked on, scooting around ok and acting like the happy duck she was, I thought she was ok. And she was. I wanted her passing to be on her terms and I would help with draining fluids to assist with keeping her comfortable. That bridge therapy was a helpful life skill that I'm thankful I learned (thanks to all of you!)

Still sad losing an animal.