First time Duckling Owner with some concerns about the baby...

[Amykins]

I'm so sorry, sweets...it sounds like you're doing all you can for her. Are you still syringe-feeding her? If so, have you tried putting a bit of sugar water and rushed up B-complex in it? Getting nutrition and a boost from the sugar may help her. It sounds like her infection was pretty severe, I hope the antibiotics are doing their job.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Thanks for the suggestion. I stopped syringe feeding her when it became evident that she was eating plenty on her own, but I can make a mash and syringe it to her for a boost a few times a day like before. I don't have any B-complex on hand, but I do have Durvet vitamins and electrolytes, which says it has Niacin, Thiamine, and B-12 in it. Would that do the trick?

I don't know if it's relevant, but I forgot to mention in my last post that she's been having green droppings. Well, today was brooder cleaning day, and all of her droppings thus far after changing out her bedding have not been greenish like they had been yesterday and the few days before. Not sure if that's a true symptom or just because she's eating more now? Her droppings look a bit bigger as well, so she does appear to have more food moving through her at least!

 

[Amykins]

I think that Durvet stuff sounds great, it'd help her regain some strength from being dehydrated from her bout of diarrhea. That's great news to hear her poops aren't green and runny anymore!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Wibbles was asleep last night by the time I got the coops closed up and was ready to dose her, so I let her sleep. This morning, she seems very, very weak and sometimes doesn't even have the strength to lift her head, and I think all her droppings through the night were stuck on her rear. Her peep is so quiet and she's not opening her eyes all the way. I wish I had at least gotten some vitamin/electrolyte water in her last night.

I mixed her up some sugar/vitamin/electrolyte water this morning, at the rate of 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar, and a pinch of vitamin/electrolyte powder. The dose for the powder is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon, so it was something like 1/32 teaspoon per cup, but I didn't bother measuring because I figure I'm giving her set doses of it and she isn't likely to get too much at this rate.

She was eating and actually pretty bright eyed by the time I got back to her with it, but was soon weak again as I was feeding it to her. I was only able to get about 1/2 mL in her before she started letting it run out the sides of her beak instead of drinking it. I'll check on her a little later and see if she's gotten any boost out of it, maybe try to get some more in her if I can. I have class today and tomorrow, if she can just pull through that far so I can focus more on her...

 

[DuckLover1029]

Go wibbles you can do it! You are a really good person to do this for her, I hope she pulls through.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

She was gone by the time I got home from school today. I'm crushed. She was 12 days old, but I feel like I'd known her much longer. Her sweet face when she looked up at me from under the EcoGlow, and that peep of her's whenever she heard my voice. 'Wibble, wibble wibble.' She made me smile so much in her short life. Less than a week ago, I thought I was just being overprotective of her, and now I feel like I should have done so much more.

My widdle Wibbles, the cutest li'l ducky ever... My heart is broken.

 

[freeducks]

I am soooo sorry to hear about Wibbles! :-( I just read this thread this afternoon, such a cute duckling. You really did do all you could do...you're a good person.

 

[DuckLover1029]

I'm so sorry. You are a great person to try to help her when other people would have just let her pass. It's good to know that there are people out there willing to do that for a animal.

 

[Amykins]

Not poor Wibbles...I'm so sorry, sweetie. I know how much Wibs meant to you. :/ You did everything right, and I mean that personally as well as professionally. I wish all my clients were as devoted to their pets as you were. I won't lie, I was really excited to learn Wobbles had a sort of "soul sister"! But I guess this just means that the spirit of Wibs can, in some small way, live on in Wobs.

PM me if you need any emotional support, ok? I'm here for you.

 

[willowbirdks]

I have been following along and pulling for you and Wibbles all along. I think you have taken such good care of her, and I'm very sorry for your loss.