Duck not acting right ... concerned

[Here come the ducks]

Oh my, a staple. I'm so glad you took her in and they found it. I think it must not be uncommon for ducks to ingest metal because my vet is frequently taking radiographs of my ducks to look for screws or similar items when they aren't feeling well. Even when we don't find something my vet will do a blood test for heavy metal poisoning just in case the metal item dissolved.

I'm constantly after my partner to be careful with his projects, not to drop nails or bolts... But of course mistakes happen. And ducks pick up and swallow things so quickly.

I know you are likely very scared of your cayuga having surgery after the way Samarra just passed away. Hopefully your cayuga would be having her surgery at a different clinic with more experience with waterfowl? My ducks have had anesthesia multiple times and always recovered without an issue. The clinic I use is very experienced with birds.

I completely understand how you feel. The emotional rollercoaster of having ducks has also been unreal for me. I adore and cherish them, and I am heartbroken as well. I have had to double my work hours to keep up with my ducks' medical bills. I'm sorry I can't offer anything besides that I relate and understand how you feel and what you are going through.

Also... I’m so sorry that you too have had much heartache with your babies and I’m sorry you lost three of them..

 

[KaleIAm]

Also... I’m so sorry that you too have had much heartache with your babies and I’m sorry you lost three of them..

Thank you. I have also had a lot of joy with them.

 

[Here come the ducks]

Thank you. I have also had a lot of joy with them.

Thank you. I have also had a lot of joy with them.

yes , they are truly a joy- so lovely, so so darling

 

[KaleIAm]

I really appreciate your comments ..yes the medical expenses are quoted outrageous. They told me to watch her ....I don’t understand why we wouldn’t do surgery now?
Like are we waiting for an issue ? Idk.. I tell you ... as a physician I have never felt so helpless in all these medical issues with these ducks .. I feel like my knowledge guides me to want something ( surgery now before she gets sick) but I’m told to wait .
That other place they did the surgery Ian supposed to be top notch with waterfowl. ( go figure)
But I so appreciate you telling me your ducks have had such procedures and have been fine .
We will see...

I often feel very helpless as well. I think birds are harder to treat, compared to mammals, because there aren't as many studies done on them. There are lots studies done on non human animals because it helps us understand humans better.

There are some poultry studies, but most of them are about overall flock health in the meat industry.

Just last week my vet was trying to find a study on pain relief in birds. She could only find 2. One in falcons and one in flamingos. So we are basing the maximum dosage of pain reliever my duck can have on what a flamingo tolerated - and hoping her kidneys hold out.

My point is, it seems like there is a lot of educated guessing among avian veterinarians.

I don't love the wait and see method either. But I try to trust my vet that she has experience and knowledge that I don't. I have thought my vet was bonkers before, done what she told me to do anyway, and it worked exactly like she said it would. I hope that is the case here. And you can always call and ask what they think is going to happen. Maybe your vet will tell you that they think the staple is small enough it will pass through.

 

[KaleIAm]

How is your cayuga feeling?