Feeding a sick duck

[Stamper]

I have a sick duck... maybe the story is for another thread.

I'm giving her antibiotics and need to make sure she gets food with them. I have been syringing it down her throat and it seems to be working. To make it more comfortable for her, I got a flexible tube to put on the end of the syringe, so the whole syringe doesn't have to go in there. However, I am worried about getting it in her airway. I know that they have a anatomy that allows them to swallow gigantic slugs and still be able to breathe, and to be tube fed (for foie gras) but I don't know much besides that. When I search, all I can easily find is info about how cruel it is to tube feed because of foie gras.... not very helpful in this situation.

Any advice?


I've been sliding the syringe about .5 inches past the back of her tongue and can feel her actively swallowing while I plunge. I slide it in on the right hand side.


Thank you so much! I want to help her so much.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I have no idea about your exact situation, but here's a link I found. http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/body-systems/digestive-system/

Scroll down to read about the oesophagus & Proventriculus

 

[Amiga]

You are right to be concerned about her airway.

I learned from my vet that medical tube feeding is called gavage. Use that as a search term. I found, for example, this page (did not read it all, wanted to send this response to you as soon as possible).

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Man/VeterinaryTechniques/WfowlIndTech/BirdGavage-Tubing.htm

I cannot tell you that this is a good idea, but there is some technical information here that may be helpful to you.

Sorry she is having to go through this, I hope the antibiotics work well and quickly and thoroughly. Does she not eat on her own at this point?

Might wetting the food into a mush help her?

 

[Mini Moe]

I totally understand your concerns. My drake, Duey is on antibiotics, which we've been able to give to him by putting it on a piece of watermelon. We tried to administer via hose & syringe but I was such a basket case about getting the tube in the right place, without it going down his windpipe....we had to find another way.

Is your girl eating? My Duey stopped eating his normal food a few weeks ago and will only eat the dog food we feed our chihuahuas and a couple pieces of watermelon with his meds. My husband keeps telling me "atleast he's eating some". I get that but he's not getting the proper nutrients out of dog food, premium dog food at that. The vet just told my husband to give him his meds. What can i feed him, that would help put weight on him?

I didnt mean to hijack your post, but i figured since your going through something similar, that you may have some advise for me?

Heartbreaking in Sacramento,
Sandra Moe

 

[Miss Lydia]

I totally understand your concerns. My drake, Duey is on antibiotics, which we've been able to give to him by putting it on a piece of watermelon. We tried to administer via hose & syringe but I was such a basket case about getting the tube in the right place, without it going down his windpipe....we had to find another way.

Is your girl eating? My Duey stopped eating his normal food a few weeks ago and will only eat the dog food we feed our chihuahuas and a couple pieces of watermelon with his meds. My husband keeps telling me "atleast he's eating some". I get that but he's not getting the proper nutrients out of dog food, premium dog food at that. The vet just told my husband to give him his meds. What can i feed him, that would help put weight on him?

I didnt mean to hijack your post, but i figured since your going through something similar, that you may have some advise for me?

Heartbreaking in Sacramento,
Sandra Moe

Antibiotics make things taste off and could be one reason why he isn't eating his feed, try taking about 1/2 cup of feed and using some warm water with a small amount of ACV added to it mix this into the dry feed to make it moist even wet might be good to start with, add some of the dog food to it so he gets that taste also, as he begins to eat use less and less of the dog food till there is none left in it, Start out with small amounts of feed so your not wasting, and finding a good probiotic with vitamins in it after he's done with the antibiotic will benefit his gut since antibiotics kill off good and bad bacteria. And Unpasterized ACV also has some medicinal proprieties. I hope your duck pulls through and is back on the road to recovery. please let us know how he is doing.http://keeping-chickens.me.uk/what-to-keep-in-stock/apple-cider-vinegar
another good thing to have on hand after through with antibiotics.. http://www.bovidr.com/poultry.html
.