My duck has Green Poop... should I go to the vet? (PICS)

[graypes]

@KaleIAm @Jlw0903 Shortly after I posted the last comment, I took the lil guy in! It took an hour to get there and since its an emergency hospital, they have a lot of patients to go through before they can get to him so its gonna be a 3-6 hour wait they said. So he’s in there flirting with all the vets and vet techs while I’m out here in the parking lot worrying!! lol

Ugh when I moved up here, I was so excited because I knew my old vet in the area was GREAT and CHEAP and saw the ducks on a moments notice. but she retired this year and every other avian specialist IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MICHIGAN is not taking new patients!!!!! ugh so i settled for the animal emergency hospital in the biggest city near by so hopefully they’ll be able to help the poor guy.

Ack I’ll update as soon as i hear back from them

 

[graypes]

Hmmmm... yesterday I did notice a grackle and a starling perched on their pool before I shooed them away... maybe these local birds are carrying something?
I empty their pools every 2 days, maybe thats not enough to prevent contamination? Idk im definitely worried my lil guy has like Pasturella or something I don’t know much about avian bacterial diseases or how they spread but maybe someone else on here does?

 

[KaleIAm]

Hmmmm... yesterday I did notice a grackle and a starling perched on their pool before I shooed them away... maybe these local birds are carrying something?
I empty their pools every 2 days, maybe thats not enough to prevent contamination? Idk im definitely worried my lil guy has like Pasturella or something I don’t know much about avian bacterial diseases or how they spread but maybe someone else on here does?

I'm not an expert in the subject of avian disease, but my own ducks have contracted diseases from wild birds. These were diagnosed by my avian vet via laboratory testing. I did a little research, and spoke with my vet, and my understanding is that our ducks can contact disease from ingesting wild bird's poop. Also saliva and poop can be dried and fine particles breathed in. One of my ducks also had avian malaria, a blood parasite from a mosquito or similar blood sucking insect. My ducks also contracted internal and external parasites from wild birds.

But aside from putting my birds in a sterile bubble and depriving them of anything resembling natural behaviors I'm not sure how to protect them. I don't take them to our pond anymore, which has wild ducks visiting. My avian vet recommended that to help with the parasites. But the song birds this year had an outbreak of salmonella - and they are flying all over, potentially pooping over my ducks' aviary.

I hope your little guy is doing ok. I know how it is, sitting in your car waiting for hours.

 

[Jlw0903]

Is your pool in a fenced off run? Maybe having smaller chicken wire to keep birds out if thats an option. Or a tarp over the pool area to keep bird poop out if they are on the fencing or in a tree above?

 

[graypes]

So, long day but i’ll keep it short:

Since the vets arent “exotic specialists” they said that it was prob something bacterial or viral and gave me some antibiotics. They also gave him an IV to help his dehydration, but even with that he was sooo bone dry when i got him home his beak was cracking. After giving antibiotics I used another disposable syringe to jet some electrolyte water down his throat. after that, i stayed with him an hour to keep him drinking by dunking his bill repeatedly in his big bucket.
It took awhile but now he’s drinking more.

I cannot, however, get him to eat. I’m supposed to keep it bland, but i tried to give him mealworms and grapes but he wont really touch them. I dont really know how to forcefeed (i dont have the right syringe +tube thing) does anyone have any tips and tricks?
He’s so sleepy which is understandable given how sick he is and he just keeps squirting out green watery stools.

Whatever he has, I think he gave to his sisters as theyre getting green stools too UGH

 

[KaleIAm]

So, long day but i’ll keep it short:

Since the vets arent “exotic specialists” they said that it was prob something bacterial or viral and gave me some antibiotics. They also gave him an IV to help his dehydration, but even with that he was sooo bone dry when i got him home his beak was cracking. After giving antibiotics I used another disposable syringe to jet some electrolyte water down his throat. after that, i stayed with him an hour to keep him drinking by dunking his bill repeatedly in his big bucket.
It took awhile but now he’s drinking more.

I cannot, however, get him to eat. I’m supposed to keep it bland, but i tried to give him mealworms and grapes but he wont really touch them. I dont really know how to forcefeed (i dont have the right syringe +tube thing) does anyone have any tips and tricks?
He’s so sleepy which is understandable given how sick he is and he just keeps squirting out green watery stools.

Whatever he has, I think he gave to his sisters as theyre getting green stools too UGH

When my ducks aren't well I usually have luck getting them to eat their favorite snacks, like mealworms or tomatoes. I float lettuce in their water, and even put handfuls of mealworms in their water. (I normally give them only a few a day) Sometimes I even go out and dig up worms. I've heard that people can tempt their ducks with fish cat food, but mine don't eat it. If mine don't eat for a day I start tube feeding under the guidance of my vet.

Can you get a catheter, 60ml syringes, and Kaytee baby bird food? Unfortunately, I don't know what size of catheter, my vet sold me the supplies for tube feeding, but I'm sure there is a tutorial on here.

Did they do any diagnostic testing?

 

[graypes]

@KaleIAm No diagnostic tests, they said they couldnt and wouldnt because they are not specialists, they couldnt recommend me any place either. still charged $300 though lol (i appreciate them seeing me im just salty)

So i just ran out to walgreens which is apl thats open as it is almost 10 here and they did not have any catheter or syringes. theres a farm and home near by that opens tomorrow morning but I’m kinda worried thay might be too long? He’s had maybe like 5 mealworms today thats all he’ll eat. I even offer his favorites and he turns up his bill.

Any tips while I wait for tomorrow morning? I think he needs food asap

 

[KaleIAm]

@KaleIAm No diagnostic tests, they said they couldnt and wouldnt because they are not specialists, they couldnt recommend me any place either. still charged $300 though lol (i appreciate them seeing me im just salty)

So i just ran out to walgreens which is apl thats open as it is almost 10 here and they did not have any catheter or syringes. theres a farm and home near by that opens tomorrow morning but I’m kinda worried thay might be too long? He’s had maybe like 5 mealworms today thats all he’ll eat. I even offer his favorites and he turns up his bill.

Any tips while I wait for tomorrow morning? I think he needs food asap

I have heard of people using fish airline tubing and melting the end so it is less blunt, instead of a catheter. I've never done it before. You should be able to get that and the Kaytee at a pet store like Petco.

I think medical supply stores might have the syringes. I feel like pharmacies might have them. Any regular vet should, too. I bought a box of 100 off Amazon.

The first time I tube fed my duck hadn't eaten for over 24 hours, as we couldn't get her into the vet. She was dehydrated, but with regular tube feeding she suffered no nutritional consequences.

@casportpony can you give tube feeding advice please? I'm over my head.

 

[graypes]

I have heard of people using fish airline tubing and melting the end so it is less blunt, instead of a catheter. I've never done it before. You should be able to get that and the Kaytee at a pet store like Petco.

I think medical supply stores might have the syringes. I feel like pharmacies might have them. Any regular vet should, too. I bought a box of 100 off Amazon.

The first time I tube fed my duck hadn't eaten for over 24 hours, as we couldn't get her into the vet. She was dehydrated, but with regular tube feeding she suffered no nutritional consequences.

@casportpony can you give tube feeding advice please? I'm over my head.

By tomorrow when i am able to get supplies he will be ~36hrs with no food... can ducks survive this? That might be a dumb question but I am so worried! I’ve tried every treat i can think of

 

[KaleIAm]

By tomorrow when i am able to get supplies he will be ~36hrs with no food... can ducks survive this? That might be a dumb question but I am so worried! I’ve tried every treat i can think of

I'm unaware of the exact amount of time a duck can go without food. But there have been a few threads here where a duck went 3+ days.

I believe one of the big risks of not eating in the first couple days is dehydration, and since your duck already got fluids he has an advantage.