Anyone have any advice...sick muscovy duckling!!

[zeberman]

This is my 3rd post about this so sorry for that but I just know someobody has to have some input or experience like mine somewhere! I have 2 muscovy ducklings from the same hatch 2 weeks old. One looks normal. The other is very small. Not only that but she is puffed out. Not the feathers but the skin, like she is retaining fluid. You can push the skin around her neck and down her back and belly about 1/ 2" in. Feels like a blow up toy. Doesn't seem to bother her at all except she so round her little legs keep splaying out when she walks on any semi smooth surface. I know people with kidney failure retain water, does anyone think this is what could be happening? I would love to help her and treat her but feel very lost and confused. Can't find ANY info about anything even remotely close to this. ??? Anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is my 3rd post about this so sorry for that but I just know someobody has to have some input or experience like mine somewhere! I have 2 muscovy ducklings from the same hatch 2 weeks old. One looks normal. The other is very small. Not only that but she is puffed out. Not the feathers but the skin, like she is retaining fluid. You can push the skin around her neck and down her back and belly about 1/ 2" in. Feels like a blow up toy. Doesn't seem to bother her at all except she so round her little legs keep splaying out when she walks on any semi smooth surface. I know people with kidney failure retain water, does anyone think this is what could be happening? I would love to help her and treat her but feel very lost and confused. Can't find ANY info about anything even remotely close to this. ??? Anyone?

I'm sorry no one has replied to your post most likely because none of us have ever heard anything like this, Only thing I can recommend is a Vet. I wish I knew more to say and how to treat. Make sure to keep her on flooring where she can't slip. I'll ask around and see if anyone has heard of this before.

 

[casportpony]

Is it full of water or air? I suspect it's a ruptured air sac.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

AIR SAC RUPTURE

Birds have a series of air sacs located internally. These are in the neck area (cervical air sacs), the chest (thoracic air sacs) and in the belly (abdominal air sacs). These areas are part of a bird's breathing system and help the bird receive oxygen from the air in a highly efficient manner. They also help provide the lightness and buoyancy needed for flight. Occasionally, one of these air sacs may rupture (usually due to injury) and air will leak from the sac and accumulate under the bird's skin. This condition is known as subcutaneous emphysema. This accumulation must be removed, or the air sac may tear even further.

WHAT TO DO
Clean the skin over the swelling with a disinfectant on a cotton ball. Take a small scissors or a needle and make a tiny hole in the skin. This allows the air to escape. This may need to be done several times before the air is released. It has been shown that air sacs normally repair themselves within two weeks. However, if you see no improvement within a day or two, your avian veterinarian should see the bird. it is probably a good idea to have the bird seen anyway.

http://www.centerforavianrehab.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=19

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/828000/subcutaneous-emphysema-pictures-added






The red spot is from where I poked it with a needle


-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Some more pictures for you:
From: http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/birdrespiration.html



From: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2721





-Kathy

 

[zeberman]

Yes that is exactly what it feels like! I thought it would be impossible for it to be air but that's definitely it. Are there any specific areas to avoid or just small punctures over the main area? Thank you so much for the replies.

 

[casportpony]

Yes that is exactly what it feels like! I thought it would be impossible for it to be air but that's definitely it. Are there any specific areas to avoid or just small punctures over the main area? Thank you so much for the replies.

I just applied rubbing alcohol and looked for a spot without a vein.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

You should also read these that @Eggcessive found:

• http://ijasvm.com/ijasvmadmin/upload/IJASVM_5113cbc51d31b.pdf
• http://www.pjbs.org/ijps/fin1339.pdf

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

And this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/828000/subcutaneous-emphysema-pictures-added

-Kathy

 

[zeberman]

I punctured it and the air did come out. I used antibiotic spray and cleaned off an. 18 g needle. She squeaked so I know I did puncture through. The air deflated and I massaged her a bit and she looked totally normal again! That was great. About 10 min later I felt her again and there was already air under the skin again. So it seems as though she is maybe she is still leaking. But she's not so huge she can't walk or has breathing trouble so maybe I should just leave it? I really don't want to cause an infection she is only 2 weeks old and it's probably already traumatic enough. Do you think just leave it alone until its either an emergency or it heals up? Or just keep it sterile and release the air once a day? And THANK YOU for all your advice there really isn't much info on this subject and it's pretty unnerving if you don't know what you're dealing with!!!

-Danica