duck with vaguely strange behavior -- any thoughts?

[micaelasducks]

Home care vet is called and waiting to hear back about when she can come. Sweet duck is just inside sleeping while her friends are playing.

Edit: Hopefully she'll be seen tomorrow afternoon as long as the vet finishes a surgery on schedule. Just put duckies to bed and sick duck was standing and eating. So not totally written her off yet...

 

[Ravynscroft]

Home care vet is called and waiting to hear back about when she can come. Sweet duck is just inside sleeping while her friends are playing.

Edit: Hopefully she'll be seen tomorrow afternoon as long as the vet finishes a surgery on schedule. Just put duckies to bed and sick duck was standing and eating. So not totally written her off yet...

Worms can kill a duck, first thing I would have vet do is run a fecal float...

for her and you...

 

[micaelasducks]

Thank you!! Would it be unusual that only one duck is exhibiting symptoms?

At first we thought it was that she got into something she shouldn't have. This lil duck is wild. Watched her catch a frog mid jump once! Hoping we can treat whatever it is and get her back at it.

This morning she is walking around a bit and drinking water.

 

[micaelasducks]

Checked on her again. She is standing instead of sitting and her whole body is trembling a little. Took one grape from me but refused the others. Her eyes don't seem quite right, kind of fuzzy? Poor girl. I wish I knew what was wrong. I hope she can hold on.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope she can too. Is the vet coming today?
Could be botulism or worms maybe she has an over load more so than the rest. Hard to say that is why we suggest a vet since we don't want to keep guessing and you lose her.
Relieved to hear she is up drinking. It's important she get some nourishment. Maybe the vet can give you instructions on tube feeding.

I'd put her where she can regulate her body temp better maybe inside your house in a box or dog kennel with fresh water and feed. Shaking may mean she is running a fever and is chilling.

 

[micaelasducks]

I hope she can too. Is the vet coming today?
Could be botulism or worms maybe she has an over load more so than the rest. Hard to say that is why we suggest a vet since we don't want to keep guessing and you lose her.
Relieved to hear she is up drinking. It's important she get some nourishment. Maybe the vet can give you instructions on tube feeding.

I'd put her where she can regulate her body temp better maybe inside your house in a box or dog kennel with fresh water and feed. Shaking may mean she is running a fever and is chilling.

we are waiting to here back but as long as a surgery she has goes on plan, vet will be around this afternoon. So greatful for this vet. She also treated our poor 12 lb Pekin's foot issues and that duck is perfectly fine now.

Duck (her name is sunny) has been spending most of her time in a certain spot where she seems protected but has be coming out to be with friends every once in a while. I don't want to disturb her too much, but I am having her stay inside rather than free range. We have a security camera inside their coop (yes... really...) so I can keep an eye on her as unfortunately I have had to leave her to go to work. She seemed to be eating and drinking and fairly comfortable over night every time I checked.

Fever makes sense. Even if we can't save poor Sunny I hope we can identify what has happened in order to make sure the rest of the flock is safe. I have told myself that I have done everything I can and just have my fingers crossed for the future.

 

[micaelasducks]

Alright. Vet took X-rays -- NOT eggbound and nothing metal swallowed and nothing else visibly catostrophic. So that is at least good. Took a fecal sample and will call with results.

Unfortunately she thought her symptoms were not specific, probably some sort of nonspecific infection. We have antibiotics and pain medication for my sweet duck. Vet said that if the pain meds work it could help determine what is wrong. Hoping she has some relief. Vet agreed that she's very sick.

@Miss Lydia and @Ravynscroft thank you for following along with me here. Hoping with my heart that she has an infection that the antibiotics will wipe out.

 

[Ravynscroft]

She may have more than one issue, aggravating each other...

When mine get overloaded with worms, usually it's only a couple that show signs, but they all get them... some can handle worm loads better than others... hope the vet can narrow things down with the fecal...

 

[micaelasducks]

She may have more than one issue, aggravating each other...

When mine get overloaded with worms, usually it's only a couple that show signs, but they all get them... some can handle worm loads better than others... hope the vet can narrow things down with the fecal...

If it's worms it could make sense that it is just her. She is the most adventurous with her diet and is the smallest.

Vet is sending us the X-rays and I'll try to share just for anyone interested in what a duck X-ray looks like! Took one of the feet too. Vague bumblefoot (likely just blisters) but she said it seemed to small to cause such a large issue.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope so too, so glad she came and hope the meds take care of it all.
Please keep us updated.