duck breathing through mouth and quack is high pitched

[Miss Lydia]

I think a vet is a good idea. May even be respiratory and a vet diagnosis would tell you right off and they will give appropriate meds.

 

[chickens really]

Normal if something is caught in her throat. Actually nothing to worry about. Give her time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And obstructing her airway! Not normal!

 

[caymusjordan]

We don't hear wheezing. Her "sister", Fish, is fine. Seems to have come on suddenly, but again, seems absolutely fine other than her quack and breathing through her mouth

 

[Miss Lydia]

She could have inhaled something I have no idea what though. I maybe wrong but @casportpony may know mouth breathing and odd quack would that be esophagus or breathing? Lungs? Usually if mine eat to fast or too much at once they kinda choke and move there heads around working on getting what ever it is down . Have you seen that? Kinda like a cough

 

[caymusjordan]

nope, haven't seen her doing that. They do eat fast when we bring out peas or mealworms. I'm wondering if it's a piece of the straw from their bedding? They do like to carry the pebbles from the ground into the pool. If she's still like this tomorrow, I'll call around to see if I can find a vet to look at her.

 

[Suedan]

How is Chips?

 

[KaleIAm]

I’m so sorry to hear that Chips isn't feeling well. I don't want to scare you but my duck, Gingersnap, had a similar situation last fall. She began open mouth breathing, stopped quacking and instead did a high pitched honking noise. Despite intensive veterinary care, including 3 times a day nebulizer treatments with antibiotics and antifungals, she passed away. Her vet performed a necropsy and told us that Gingersnap's left thorax was almost entirely filled with what they suspected to be walled off aspergillosis.

The thing that is different is that it with Ginger it came on slowly, and she usually shook her head after making the noise. Other than that the video you made looks very familiar to me.

I hope Chips has something else, something that is actually treatable, but thought you might like to know my experience. I also suggest going to an avian vet ASAP.

 

[caymusjordan]

Just brought Chips (and Fish b/c can't separate them) home from vet. She spent the day there - slowly medicating her so they could do x-rays and take blood. The vet didn't want to stress her too much. The x-rays look good - of course I don't remember anything she told/showed me other than everything looked good. Blood is being sent out. She did say she was anemic which worries her. Not sure what is causing the anemia and breathing - she did breathe much better while drugged-up which was interesting.

I expect a call from the vet tomorrow with results - praying it is treatable and that Fish doesn't also end up with whatever Chips has...My daughter would be devastated to lose one of her girls. I think we are going to start looking for a third duck to add (once we know what is causing this) just in case something does happen at some point to one of the girls - poor Fish was a mess every time they took Chips out. Fortunately my daughter and I were there for the last few hours so we could sit with Fish and keep her company so she wasn't too stressed.

@KaleIAm - is what your duck had contagious? Do you know what caused it?

 

[Suedan]

Chip is a trooper! I am happy to hear you were able to find a veterinarian to help. I will have you guys in my thoughts.