How do give a pill to a duck?

[azhenhouse]

I know how to give pills to dogs, but how do you give them to ducks? The same way? Shove it down their throat?

 

[jennybvcr]

For my dogs we call it medi-cheese because we smoosh the pill into a piece of cheese. So it sounds like this could be medi-peas!

 

[azhenhouse]

Just thought I would let you know how I am getting the ducks to eat the pills. I cut the pills in half, then slide each halved pill into a pea. They eat the peas not knowing that there are pills inside it. Gotta love peas!

 

[RubyNala97]

For my dogs we call it medi-cheese because we smoosh the pill into a piece of cheese. So it sounds like this could be medi-peas!

I had to give my house duck antibiotic pills last year and it was hard. The pill would come flying and and I’d have to try a couple times. And she is very used to me holding & handling her. Yesterday it was a young duck and I didn’t want to stress him out anymore then he already was. I tried the pea trick and put a couple other peas in my hand and he gobbled them all up, no problem! I will ALWAYS do it this way now! I knew you guys would have a solution that’s why I checked BYC!

 

[Sean S.]

Someone is going to have to invent pea pockets!

 

[duckyfromoz]

I once had a young drake on antibiotics for 5 months- and let me tell you- there are many ...many ways to give a duck a pill.

Poking it straight down the throat with your finger- after a few days it becomes a two person job to help hold the duck.
Wrapping it in Bread
Wrapping it in lettuce... poking it in a piece of apple-
hiding it in the pellets and watching to make sure it gets shoveled up with the food.
Powdering it and sprinkling it on food.
Hiding it in some watermelon

One of the best ways though- was to get a little devise kind of like a syringe- it has a plunger that kind of pokes the pill into the mouth. It was actually given to me by the vet on about week 6. Designed for use with cats and dogs- I found it pretty handy- but again I did end up needing help with holding him still.

Just be careful however you do it- Keep them on a towel for a few minutes after and I bet you will often find the pill on the floor when you are positive it was swallowed.

 

[RubyNala97]

Just thought I would let you know how I am getting the ducks to eat the pills. I cut the pills in half, then slide each halved pill into a pea. They eat the peas not knowing that there are pills inside it. Gotta love peas!

This is AMAZING advice!! Worked like a charm!

 

[casportpony]

I just open their bill, insert the pill, then from the outside, massage it down to their crop.

 

[Amiga]

Mercy.

We haven't had to pill the ducks, but have given them liquid medicine.

Post #10 of this topic
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...has-a-calcium-deficiency-the-latest-good-news
has instructions for giving a duck liquid. Maybe it will be helpful.

I wonder if you could wrap it in something yummy and just hand it to the duck.

 

[Amiga]

Someone is going to have to invent pea pockets!

Now THAT is a brilliant idea!