HELP!!!!! SICK DUCK! PLEASE

[Kmoreau]

My female pekin is acting really sick.

I came home from work this afternoon and she was not acting well.

I went out to feed them, and I couldnt find her. She is three years old. She was hiding under my cargo trailer. It is super hot here so I wasnt concerned, but She didnt come for food, and when I reached for her she didnt move which is abnormal.
When i picked her up she was listlis, weak, she felt very light, and she was shaking. Her vent is very dirty and stained light green. She wouldnt eat or drink. I opened her mouth to check her throat and she looked like she was drooling.
My husband put her in the kiddie pool to try and cool her off but she just sat there didnt drink or bath.
She isnt even quacking, and she is my loud mouth. My male is being super protective of her.
Her coup isnt full, she doesnt feel or look egg bound. Their food is fresh and always kept inside in a sealed container. Their water is kept pretty clean. She has been laying eggs regularly.

Has any seen this before? Should I seperate them (even though my male will be devastated)? Any idea what this could be? Any suggestions for treament?

 

[Amiga]

She may have gotten into something and have botulism or other poisoning.

I would do a flush - this is a serious treatment, be sure you want to but I hope she is still with you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal#post_9508213

You can also, and afterward, give her activated charcoal - the supplement, not briquettes. You can get it in a bottle of powder or capsules that you can open. Put a tablespoon in a pint of water for her to drink. It cannot hurt her.

If her mate will not disturb her, you might put them together, but she should be in a clean, quiet place with lots of fresh water. Talk to her and help her calm down if you can.

Another possibility is the end stage of egg yolk peritonitis, a condition that is very very difficult to diagnose early enough to treat it, if it is treatable. I do not want to cause you extra unfounded heartache, but this is a possibility. I have lost two ducks to e.y.p.

She may also be suffering from a virus or bacterial, even fungal infection. For a virus, we can only boost the immune system (fresh water, ACV, vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics), and offer TLC.

Bacterial infections can respond to antibiotics, and then there are some antifungal treatments, but you'd need some veterinary diagnosis to be sure.

 

[Kmoreau]

My only concern for doing the flush, is she isnt drinking at all, and is already so dehydrated. She is pale. I dipped her bill into some cool clean water and she didnt drink at all.

I was suspecting DVE, botulism, or a respitory infection.

There isnt anything over there for them to be able to get into. Unless my neighbor did something... but I highly doubt it cause my neighbors all love my ducks.

 

[Amiga]

So hard to decide.

Those are my thoughts. Go with your instincts. Let her know you care.

 

[Kmoreau]

Thank you Amiga. You always have excellent advice. I just went to check on her and she did drink a little bit. She walked around ok, she still seemed weak but she walked on her own. I am just hoping she can hang on til monday. I would gladly take her to the vet, but I can not afford the 250$ emergency visit right now. We are in the process of moving, so money is terrible thin

 

[Deleted member 94844]

Any seizures or strange muscle contractions? Can she walk? I'm so sorry. Double check the area for any pesticides, toxic plants, etc. just to be sure... we thought our female duck was suffering from dehydration at first and the vet gave her fluids, but she had been poisoned. I wished we had flushed and given charcoal even as a precaution, we might still have her.

 

[Amiga]

I know, and don't they wait to get sick on nights, weekends, holidays, and in the middle of other family urgencies?!?

Zehnie started limping this morning . . . glad I have received so much help from forum members so I know the drill, and if she's not on the mend by Monday, off we go. But this thread is not about Zehn....

Keep an eye on her, keep trying to get her to drink, drink, drink. Prayers.

And try some apple cider vinegar in her water.

 

[Kmoreau]

I just tried some ACV. Hoping that helps...
I know... Why does it always seem that everyone gets sick at the worst possible times... Imagine coming home from your very expensive wedding and honeymoon, only to find your dog almost on their death bed and lame. Then spending nearly 15,000 in surgeries only to find out cancer had severely set in. As newlyweds that just about killed us... it killed our wallet for sure. It feels like 3 years later we are still trying to recover.
I hope your duck feels better too.

CaptainQuack, she is walking now. It isnt like she is having seizures, she is just kind of shaking. Not violently but kind of like she is cold. I Know we havent used any chemicals in their area. We hardly ever do. If we do we move them to another part of the yard for a few days, and we almost always use organic products. They also have only a 2x5 patch of grass, everything else is concrete and rocks. They do have plenty of shade though. I also walked their yard to make sure nothing was thrown over the fence... I saw nothing.. but like I said all of my neighbors love the ducks. They are all older people. and they just think the ducks are great. They come over frequently to just watch them, and everyone wants to pet them.
My male is even a hit at the neighborhood bar up the street. (no smoking allowed, and he is never given a bar drink lol)

 

[Deleted member 94844]

I just tried some ACV. Hoping that helps...
I know... Why does it always seem that everyone gets sick at the worst possible times... Imagine coming home from your very expensive wedding and honeymoon, only to find your dog almost on their death bed and lame. Then spending nearly 15,000 in surgeries only to find out cancer had severely set in. As newlyweds that just about killed us... it killed our wallet for sure. It feels like 3 years later we are still trying to recover.
I hope your duck feels better too.

CaptainQuack, she is walking now. It isnt like she is having seizures, she is just kind of shaking. Not violently but kind of like she is cold. I Know we havent used any chemicals in their area. We hardly ever do. If we do we move them to another part of the yard for a few days, and we almost always use organic products. They also have only a 2x5 patch of grass, everything else is concrete and rocks. They do have plenty of shade though. I also walked their yard to make sure nothing was thrown over the fence... I saw nothing.. but like I said all of my neighbors love the ducks. They are all older people. and they just think the ducks are great. They come over frequently to just watch them, and everyone wants to pet them.
My male is even a hit at the neighborhood bar up the street. (no smoking allowed, and he is never given a bar drink lol)  

I sincerely hope she pulls through... our girl was acting really weird, with strange neck and wing spasms and could not walk straight. Maybe your girl was just dehydrated and stressed from the heat... I really hope so. If she starts having bizarre spasms or gets worse I would definitely treat for possible toxicity. Some vitamins and electrolytes sure won't hurt. Hugs to you and your duck...

 

[Deleted member 94844]

"So this duck walks into a bar..." Ha!!

You need to post a pic of that