Duckling keeps flipping, now “gasping”.

[Arkhamqueen]

I have been treating him and his brother (3week old Pekins) with supplements. His brother has been acting great but legs are more bent than originally. Little Potato, for the past 4 days, has been depressed as can be. Didn’t care to swim or eat much at all or do anything. We have tried anything to keep up his will to fight. Last night it went very south.

Between midnight and 3am, he flipped over on his back and couldn’t get right. We flipped him back over and he promptly flipped back.I bathed him since he was caked in the nightly filth. I couldn’t let him go for a second or he would flip backwards. I had to struggle for 3 hours straight holding him in a towel onmy lap to stay upright.

I put him in a sling I made yesterday when he was calm enough. He nibbles on some food and had some drink. He seemed to perk up. Then started the “gasping”. It is very rhythmic opening and closing of his mouth. Slow and steady every 2 seconds. I checked to see if he was choking. I couldn’t see anything and his breathing is quiet. He has refused to eat anything at all: feed, bread, weeds, etc. He’s currently in a bigger sling I made, but no changes to breathing.
What is the breathing thing? Is he fixable at this point or should we just call it and end it? Should I keep fighting for him or is it beyond that?

 

[Arkhamqueen]

Here he is the sling. I offer him water and feed every few minutes and touch his bill to them but no interest or half nibbles at best.

 

[hayley3]

I did a google search and found this which sounds like your duckling:
https://www.shagbarkbantams.com/toxoplasmosis/

I hope some of the more experienced duck people will stop by soon.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@casportpony do you think this duckling could be infected with this?

 

[Isaac 0]

Do you have a video of him breathing?