Help! Sick Duck!

[rlmitchell]

Well, we just got bumblefoot under control for one of our girls, and now we have another girl who is obviously sick. I'm feeling like an ignorant duck owner here!

Quacker started separating herself from the other 3 ducks a couple of weeks ago, but she was acting fine otherwise. Just didn't want to socialize. etc.)

Several days ago, she started acting very lethargic and slow moving. We brought her in the house, looked and felt her all over. Mind you, I don't KNOW what I'm feeling for, but I didn't find anything that felt strange (i.e. eggs lodged inside her, obvious cuts, swelling, etc.), but she was VERY skinny (bones were so prominent)

I read a bit online. We gave her a warm bath and got her to drink some water with electrolytes/vitamins. We separated her from the other ducks in a little house we built for them when they were babies.

No improvement today. After reading more online, we tried some brewer's yeast in her water (though she isn't drinking much right now), tried yogurt with honey in it (which she won't eat), gave her another warm bath, checked her over again.

She refuses to eat her usual lettuce and feed, but she will eat a few peas (one of her favorites) and she loves the mealworms. Other than that, not interested in eating at all. She will drink a little, but not nearly as much as she usually does.

I just put her back in her little house with a heat lamp for the night.

I'm lost I just don't know what else to try! There are no avian vets in my area (literally 6 hour drive away!) and my vet does not treat fowl.

Any advice anyone can give would be SO appreciative. We're ready to try anything, but I can't let her continue suffering.

Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

She could have peritonitis, and that is quite serious. It is a systemic infection. Antibiotics are needed.

Here is PetDuck's thread about Quackers, who had EYP. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/833809/urgent-soft-shelled-eggs-and-a-lethargic-duck

PetDuck was able to get help from two vets - one who knows ducks, and one willing to work with the other vet. Quackers was put on Baytril, and I believe had to be tube fed for a little while due to loss of appetite and being very underweight. She recovered fully after a bit.

This is all just a guess, by the way. But it is based on my own experience, having lost two ducks to EYP.

 

[rlmitchell]

Thank you, Amiga. I have ordered Baytril online. It should be here on Monday. In the meantime, I've seen that electolytes/vitamins, yogurt, baker's yeast, etc. has been helpful. It seems to be doing something. She's still very weak but she is walking around now and she was preening this afternoon, which she could not do at all yesterday. Hoping she will turn the corner.

 

[Amiga]

Prayers...