Daphne’s “push through ‘til winter” thread

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Hi all! I’m just making this thread as a way to track Daphne’s reproductive issues as we approach her least favorite season of all, molting season/autumn. For those who don’t know, Daphne is a 5 yr. old Rouen. She has chronic reproductive issues (soft shelled eggs, salphingitis, egg-binding) that flare up as the seasons change and during the hottest part of the summer. She lives a happy life at all other times. Really! However, fall time/molting season is the worst, and she always has at least one brush with death each year. Anyways, shes on her Veterinarian recommended diet (Mazuri Waterfowl, lots of supplemental Calcium), and I’m stocked up on oral “emergency” calcium (well, it’s on its way via Amazon). I’ve already had to give her one dose of her favorite mineral. I just needed a place to track her symptoms. Feel free to respond if you want, especially if you’ve had success treating a duck with chronic reproductive issues. Note: Daphne has a Vet that I contact when she really struggles.

Here‘s the little trouble maker!

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

1st dose of Calcium was given last night as Daphne had mild straining and limping (“bad eggs” press on a nerve). Daphne passed her soft-shelled egg overnight in her water bowl and is currently back to normal!

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Gotta give a dose before bed tonight. I’m going to use the Calsorb, as it was sent home with Daphne at her last visit, and the gel is easier to give than liquid. Also, it appears to store better than the giant bottle of liquid. Anyways, more mild symptoms, moving a bit slowly, stopping often enough to catch my notice, staring ahead thoughtfully, then giving a lil strain. There have been a small number of soft-shelled eggs found in the barn over the past couple of weeks. Daphne is the only suspect. Hopefully, she can make it through the season without a vet visit, as they, like all veterinary hospitals, are so over-scheduled and under-staffed that it would likely be impossible to get her in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope the Calsorb helps.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Soft-shelled egg passed successfully overnight and she was acting normally when I left the house this AM. Last year, Daphne’s Vet had me give Calsorb daily for a bit after her crisis. I think I may end up doing that as we are getting closer to her expected “crisis time” and it’s been a while since I’ve seen a confirmed solid egg from her.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

What I don’t know is the difference in how the Calsorb works vs. the calcium gluconate that I used to use. Calsorb is primarily marketed for dogs experiencing hypocalcemia post-whelping. Clearly, it’s working, which is good!

Here’s Daphne’s new favorite drug.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I hope the Calsorb helps.

Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is Daphne?

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

She’s doing great so far this morning, thank you! We are actually on a foraging walk right now. I tried to get a picture, but she’s moving too fast!

Edited to add: I found another soft shelled egg in the barn from this AM. I’ll definitely continue with the calcium, at least every couple of days.

Edited one more time to add a quick photo. Matilda is in the front, Daphne’s in the back, and the ‘Scovettes are still getting out of bed! Their walk was cut short by Matilda’s insistence that Something is out there (other than my cat) and that that Something is dangerous. Into the duckio they went!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They can know way before us. Found that out yesterday when a hawk came by.
Happy to hear she is doing great!