Coughing Duck

[ambe0487]

For whatever reason, My drake likes to nip at my dogs jowls. After One such incident last week, I noticed my drake coughing as if he'd gotten a hair from my dog stuck in his throat. I made him drink water to clear his throat but I now notice he is coughing regularly. Eating, drinking, and mating like normal. I'm worried it's snowballed into something. I noticed his quack is almost more raspy... if that was possible. Suggestions? I've been doing garlic tablets in water as well as oregano oil in their water daily.

 

[SamSimone]

If it's just the hair you could try giving him a peace of bread, I know it's not good for them, but it will take the hair down with it.
My duck coughed for some days a few months ago and it turned out he had gapeworms.
If that's the case you need to go to the vet immediately because he could choke on them.

Does he yawn more then he did before?

 

[Amiga]

HMM, hair of the dog, eh?

SamGuus makes a good point - gapeworm can be quite serious. The timing could just be coincidental.

If you can get to a vet, that would be good. I know it is not always possible. You may want to look up gapeworm and keep an eye on the drake. I would not immediately start treating for gapeworm unless you see so many similarities between your drake's issue and the symptoms of gapeworm. Please be careful with selection of medicines and dosages if you decide you need to treat. I don't think all wormers take care of gapeworm…..

Some other things to help with a throat problem are a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of drinking water for several days. The water bucket needs to be something other than galvanized metal - it will leach with the ACV.

You also know to go easy on the oregano oil. I have burned my own mouth not diluting it enough.

 

[ambe0487]

Moe my drake is doing fine now. Only abnormal mouth opening is panting because of the weather right now. All my flock is doing well.

I do one drop per water container of oregano oil to be sure it isn't too concentrated.