I'm Attempting to Heal a Duck w/ Likely Aspergillosis

[MamaOfDewey]

Still no walking, but ate 11 live mealworms

 

[MamaOfDewey]

Documentation helps others down the road. Writing can also be cathartic. You've got a lot of emotions to deal with here and sharing your journey and thoughts, even if you feel that you're not receiving much feedback, can relieve some of the stress.

You obviously love your girl a ton. I know nothing about ducks, but it's very clear that you want the best for her. I hope she recovers for you!

Thank you so much for this. I am trying to document every movement, and you are so correct - it is cathartic and I think I am simply trying to connect with others because folks around here are of the mindset of 'it's a duck, feed her to others while she has meat'. But this is my girl, my friend. And I really do love her so much.

 

[MamaOfDewey]

Another 5 live mealworms. This seems to be the way to get her to eat. It took a few days to get her here, but YAY! I know it is said they are fatty and such; but honestly, this is what I want right now. We will be making the 1.5 hour trek to her vet tomorrow so I can properly learn crop feeding. But she is sustaining pretty well on the water+ solution, cuddles, and live mealworms. I did take the advice of a kind commenter and raised the temp in the house to 76F to make sure she is not shivering. Tons of love and pretty much constant skin to feather contact. (I've not worked in the last few days in order to do this, but cannot continue that for much longer.) I just looked at her bowls and saw that at some point she ate 1/5 cup of cat kibble with nutritional yeast sprinkles (for B vitamins)

We have done 2 bathroom/tub filled diffusing of the thieves oil blend today; two 30 minute times in the sunshine. She is still kept next to me on the couch, but is not walking more that her desire to come back inside and get back on the couch. Which was painfully slow. It may seem cruel, but I think it is important for her to get at least a bit of physical movement, so I coax her along. I have also been doing massages on her 'shoulders', if that makes sense, and massages on her crop, belly, and between the wings where they meet the body. She loves that part. lol

 

[MamaOfDewey]

Also, her fever seems to be gone. No warmth on her bill, vent, or legs.

 

[MamaOfDewey]

 

[MamaOfDewey]

 

[MamaOfDewey]

 

[MamaOfDewey]

She just 'asked' to get down to drink and did her nom noms on my toes. It could be that push before dying, but I am hopeful. AND got a small tail wag. High protein mealworms for the win!!

 

[MamaOfDewey]

OMG guys!!!!! She voraciously just ate and is still eating. Holy hell, Mary Mother of Jesus, she is EATING!!!!!!!!! I am crying right now. I couldn't say if it is the mealworms, the thieves oil, or the cuddles, but she just downed some food!!!! She even took two steps (the promptly laid down), but she took the two steps. I am going to put on her favorite song now and see how she reacts.

I have not felt this hopeful yet. This is awesome.

 

[MamaOfDewey]

It is silly, but she and I dance and she does have her favorite songs. When I hear her churtle to this again I know we will be in the clear; but she did do a lot of tail wags. This song is kind of a soundtrack of our life together; I was a begrudging duck mom, but couldn't imagine my life without her now. The best failed rescue ever; and this is our love song.

Sorry, I'm overwhelmed with emotion right now.