Duck choking gasps for breathes

[casportpony]

You can try getting some olive or coconut oil down her throat. That might help dislodge it.

Why not just plain water? I think it would be safer than oil.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Oil just makes more sense to me than water. It won't hurt her to give her some oil to see of it can lubricate her throat enough to possibly dislodge it.

 

[casportpony]

Oil just makes more sense to me than water. It won't hurt her to give her some oil to see of it can lubricate her throat enough to possibly dislodge it.

Giving oil orally is very risky because it they aspirate any it can cause lipoid pneumonia, which I don't think it treatable.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Giving oil orally is very risky because it they aspirate any it can cause lipoid pneumonia, which I don't think it treatable.

Wouldn't that be the same risk with water though? She can use a syringe and make sure she puts it down the right side of her throat.

 

[casportpony]

Wouldn't that be the same risk with water though? She can use a syringe and make sure she puts it down the right side of her throat.

Water would be risky too, but not in the same way oil is. They can tolerate a little water in their air sacs and lungs, but cannot do the same with oil.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Water would be risky too, but not in the same way oil is. They can tolerate a little water in their air sacs and lungs, but cannot do the same with oil.

I get that, but like I said If you can get a syringe down the right side into the throat it would help it dislodge better with oil.
She could always go the approach of David Holderread and stick a pencil down there, eraser first, but I would try the oil first.

 

[casportpony]

I get that, but like I said If you can get a syringe down the right side into the throat it would help it dislodge better with oil.

But what if the obstruction is at the top op the throat? Putting any liquid in it likely to come back up and spill into the trachea.

She could always go the approach of David Holderread and stick a pencil down there, eraser first, but I would try the oil first.

I like the pencil idea better.

I've only ever had to treat about 6 with an obstruction.

One swallowed a 1" ball and that ball made about six inches down. With that one I massaged the ball back up and out.

All of the others were food obstructions, some of those I cleared by massaging the food down, some by massaging it up and down, and some I cleared by using a urinary catheter, which was basically just pushing the food down.

 

[Cayuga momma]

But what if the obstruction is at the top op the throat? Putting any liquid in it likely to come back up and spill into the trachea.

I like the pencil idea better.

I've only ever had to treat about 6 with an obstruction.

One swallowed a 1" ball and that ball made about six inches down. With that one I massaged the ball back up and out.

All of the others were food obstructions, some of those I cleared by massaging the food down, some by massaging it up and down, and some I cleared by using a urinary catheter, which was basically just pushing the food down.

I guess we won't know until the OP comes back and lets us know the situation. I'm not saying that oil is the end all, be all solution. I'm just saying it is an option.
And since we aren't vets I think anything done at this point has some serious risks involved.

 

[casportpony]

And since we aren't vets I think anything done at this point has some serious risks involved.

You're right, we aren't vets, but I have treated a bunch of these, and gently palpating to bird to check for an obstruction has zero risks. If a prawn head is stuck, then IMO, only a vet should treat it due to the risk of it damaging the mouth, esophagus, or crop.

 

[Cayuga momma]

You're right, we aren't vets, but I have treated a bunch of these, and gently palpating to bird to check for an obstruction has zero risks. If a prawn head is stuck then IMO only a vet should treat it due to the risk of it damaging the esophagus.

I agree a vet should always be the first go to, even if it's just for advice. Sadly most don't have that option and that's why they come to the BYC.