- May 8, 2011
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Sorry, this a bit long because it's an odd case and I'm really stuck. I have a 10 year old muscovy, he's imprinted on me and a houseduck. He's got an abnormal throat. The vet says there's too much tissue in his throat. This was spotted 2 years ago when he had a bacterial and fungal throat infection. It's possible he was born with this abnormal throat (he was born with one eye too).
Anyway, last spring he also got what was apparently either a throat or respiratory infection (he had friends sick with a respiratory infection at the time). That time, the vet just wanted to try a 2 week course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory pills - they didn't test to see if it was possibly fungal too. They thought he'd need anti inflammatories for the rest of his life because of his throat, but he was fine after antibiotics. Last year, he still had a gasping episode 7 days into his course, but was fine after 14 days of antibiotics.
Now recently, he's having these gasping/choking episodes again (and again, his friends currently have a respiratory illness). But this time it's not just after he's eaten/drank, it happens randomly sometimes too. Like his friend flew down from her perch and it startled him i guess and triggered an episode.
It's really distressing, it looks like he's dying when it happens and he tends to have at least 1 episode a day. I have to make sure he doesn't hit anything as in the beginning of an episode he starts flapping around uncontrollably and shaking his head violently. I'm giving him leftover SMZ antibiotics that I had from another duck's vet visit. He's on day 10 of the course, but I think I'll run out before day 14.
2 years ago, he had a big chunk of what could only be a yeast plaque fly out of his throat during a gasping epsiode. It must've blocked his airway. So I'm thinking he possibly has yeast in his throat again, and that's why the antibiotics don't appear to be working. But it's just a guess.
The problem is, I'm pretty sure if I try to take him to the vet it'll trigger an episode and this time he'll die. But I'm afraid he's going to die either way. His episodes are worse today than before. He's also lost a lot of weight recently.
Does anyone have any idea of treatment options? Can I get fungal meds without a prescription? Would anti inflammatories help maybe? (last year, my vet said they'd give me refills when needed, so maybe they still will without bringing him back in). He's my baby and I feel like there's nothing I can do. I had really hoped the antibiotics would work
Anyway, last spring he also got what was apparently either a throat or respiratory infection (he had friends sick with a respiratory infection at the time). That time, the vet just wanted to try a 2 week course of antibiotics and anti inflammatory pills - they didn't test to see if it was possibly fungal too. They thought he'd need anti inflammatories for the rest of his life because of his throat, but he was fine after antibiotics. Last year, he still had a gasping episode 7 days into his course, but was fine after 14 days of antibiotics.
Now recently, he's having these gasping/choking episodes again (and again, his friends currently have a respiratory illness). But this time it's not just after he's eaten/drank, it happens randomly sometimes too. Like his friend flew down from her perch and it startled him i guess and triggered an episode.
It's really distressing, it looks like he's dying when it happens and he tends to have at least 1 episode a day. I have to make sure he doesn't hit anything as in the beginning of an episode he starts flapping around uncontrollably and shaking his head violently. I'm giving him leftover SMZ antibiotics that I had from another duck's vet visit. He's on day 10 of the course, but I think I'll run out before day 14.
2 years ago, he had a big chunk of what could only be a yeast plaque fly out of his throat during a gasping epsiode. It must've blocked his airway. So I'm thinking he possibly has yeast in his throat again, and that's why the antibiotics don't appear to be working. But it's just a guess.
The problem is, I'm pretty sure if I try to take him to the vet it'll trigger an episode and this time he'll die. But I'm afraid he's going to die either way. His episodes are worse today than before. He's also lost a lot of weight recently.
Does anyone have any idea of treatment options? Can I get fungal meds without a prescription? Would anti inflammatories help maybe? (last year, my vet said they'd give me refills when needed, so maybe they still will without bringing him back in). He's my baby and I feel like there's nothing I can do. I had really hoped the antibiotics would work
