Labored Duck Breathing

[brendalwelch]

Hi, I have just noticed a funny breathing pattern in one of my two 2-year-old Buff Orpington female ducks. It started yesterday and hasn’t stopped. She is panting (and it’s not that hot). She has chest retractions with her breathes and her tail bobs with each breathe. Her quack is raspy and quieter. I’ve looked up what the problem could be but I’m not sure. I’m nervous she might have a upper airway blockage, a respiratory infection or is egg bound. One of them laid an egg this morning one of them didn’t but not sure which one. She is eating and drinking normally. Can you help?

 

[Quatie]

It does sound like she may be having issues laying an egg. Sometimes you can feel the egg inside, but often you can't. To treat an egg bound duck, the best option is giving them 1ml of liquid calcium gluconate. You can get it at TSC and it is labeled as injectable, but you just administer it orally. You give it to her 2x a day until she stops having issues. It usually takes about 1-2 weeks. Calcium citrate can also work or even tums in a pinch. If it is not egg bound, it won't hurt her to have the extra calcium.

Also putting her in a bath will help her pass the egg as well. Letting her float in the bath as long as she can stand will help. I would do it at least 30 minutes, but over an hour is even better.

I also recommend bringing them inside or somewhere you can easily monitor if she lays an egg or not.

The fact that she is eating and drinking normally is a good sign.

 

[brendalwelch]

Thanks so much for your response. She laid a normal egg this morning so it’s not an egg bound issue. Now we’re looking at possible respiratory issues. I would love to try her on a course at Baytril but we don’t have any water fowl vets around here. Any thoughts?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here ya go many of us have ordered from here.
https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10

 

[brendalwelch]

Thank you so much! Just what I need. Order placed. Thanks again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated. I have 2 very special Buffs love these girls.

 

[Quatie]

Thanks so much for your response. She laid a normal egg this morning so it’s not an egg bound issue. Now we’re looking at possible respiratory issues. I would love to try her on a course at Baytril but we don’t have any water fowl vets around here. Any thoughts?

A video of her breathing would be helpful.

While I use baytril for most infections, in the past I have found it not as effective for respiratory infections. Doxycycline would be my go to drug for a respiratory infection. Doxycycline is also commonly used for respiratory infections for other animals as well. You can get doxycycline at the same website miss Lydia posted for baytril. You can definitely give baytril a try. Last time I used it for a respiratory infection it helped slightly, but once I got her on doxycycline, she improved much faster. You may have better luck than me.

I am also a big proponent of giving them like warm baths when they have these issues. It helps clean out their nares. If the duck is not cleaning as much as they should, this can help a lot on top of the antibiotics. My last girl who had a respiratory issue, wasn't bathing much for some reason, the baths helped her out. She loved her own personal baths.

 

[brendalwelch]

Keep us updated. I have 2 very special Buffs love these girls.

Now her voice is completely gone. Breathing is the same. While I’m waiting for Baytril to arrive in the mail, I’ve been doing some research and wondering if it’s gapeworm? Looks like you can treat it with ivermectin and/or some other anti-parasitic. Does anybody have any experience with this parasite and/or knew where to buy an anti-parasitic?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww poor girl. Here is some info on gapeworm and treating
https://runnerduck.net/worms.php
won't hurt to worm.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/where-can-you-buy-flubenvet-in-the-us.854910/

 

[brendalwelch]

Ok, gave her Safeguard (today is daily dose 2 out of 5). I also started her on Baytril 10% suspension, 10mg/kg which for her 8lb body is about .36 mL. Does anyone know if this dose is once a day or twice a day?
No change in her symptoms but thankfully she is no worse and still eating/drinking.