Is this normal?

[NewAtThis8]

Any news?

So he’s stable and doing fine, he sent us home after taking chest x ray and a culture and I won’t have results for the culture for possibly a couple of weeks (and it was like $450!) X-ray is being reviewed by avian radiologist but he didn’t see anything super concerning. I changed out the bedding in their house a while - didn’t have anything else on hand so right now they’re just on a dog pee pad but it is warm out today and tonight so they should be ok until I get something better tomorrow. He suggested straw but since it’s getting warmer out I’m not sure if I could do that or something else like the other brand of hemp bedding they were using before. I will say he was breathing heavy still when I brought him home but a few hours before bed he seemed to be breathing normally. We are finishing the doxycycline as it was prescribed because it’s used for respiratory infections. The only thing that stinks about it all is that the culture for bacteria could be a false negative due to the doxy. But it’s also to check for anything fungal. He did say that his leg is still swollen and seems painful - as an aside. Possibly why he isn’t always the healthiest appetite. He said of the 3 things suggested (cosequin being one of them) he ranks the meloxicam as #1, tramadol as #2 and the cosequin as #3 in how effective it is- but we can try different meds, strengths, or combinations if he isn’t getting better. He also referred me to a specialist that worked on his own duck, so may be going that route. Might as well! We’ve already spent so much time and money and he’s just so loved.

 

[NewAtThis8]

I’m going to add the cosequin to his current regimen and then maybe try to taper some things off, starting with the tramadol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Straw molds pretty easily and is not absorbent at all. Many of us use pine shaving and they work great for me i use deep litter and clean out the wet places daily and add new as needed. I also spray Oxine ah over my bedding and roosts[chickens] daily it helps keep the dust down and also kills bacteria.

I hope all your doing gets your boy feeling better and pain-free. keep us updated on him, please.

 

[NewAtThis8]

Well, now we have this! His breathing got much better, I do still see some nasal discharge (it is clear) but today we are swimming and out pops this mid-swim! He’s trying to kill me.

 

[NewAtThis8]

*heimlich, my other drake, does go after his face/head often when in the pool. It’s getting to be “that time of year” so I separate them a lot. Can this happen because of injury too? Just seems too coincidental tho the sinus thing. I did call the vet, waiting for a call back. But it’s discouraging he’s been on doxycycline and it seems tm be getting worse if this is related. Can’t help but think his body is just systemically shutting down.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What are pops if it is supposed to show up on the picture I am having a problem seeing it.

 

[NewAtThis8]

What are pops if it is supposed to show up on the picture I am having a problem seeing it.

He has little bubbles in the lower left corner of his eye

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm sorry I see it I was thinking something to do with his nares. And speaking of nares it is pretty common to see clear liquid running out of their nares be from drinking water or playing in puddles. The bubbles could mean he isn't washing his face very well. You can make a saline rinse and rinse his eyes and see if that helps. If it keeps happening there is Terramycin eye ointment also.

 

[NewAtThis8]

I'm sorry I see it I was thinking something to do with his nares. And speaking of nares it is pretty common to see clear liquid running out of their nares be from drinking water or playing in puddles. The bubbles could mean he isn't washing his face very well. You can make a saline rinse and rinse his eyes and see if that helps. If it keeps happening there is Terramycin eye ointment also.

it seems better today; I haven’t seen the bubbles since yesterday but the vet said it’s related to whatever is going on with his sinuses. His air sacs / heart / lungs are good but the culture, while not ready, looks like it’s growing bacteria so I’m waiting to hear back tomorrow.

As an aside, his leg seems a lot better on this doxycycline… he walked about 50 feet from the middle of my yard back to his run after swimming today so I called the vet back to see if he wants to re evaluate the swelling and if not completely resolved at the end of the 10 day round, what he’d want to do since it seems to be effective for now. That was an exciting thing in the midst of this mess haha.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated!