My pekin duck ate a ball

[PekinPrincess03]

It happened yesterday late in the afternoon it was either rubber or plastic. Do you think it would come out and is there anything I can give him to make the stool softer?

 

[chickenlver2013]

It happened yesterday late in the afternoon it was either rubber or plastic. Do you think it would come out and is there anything I can give him to make the stool softer?

How big was the ball? I don't think it would be easy coming out.

 

[PekinPrincess03]

I am not sure I saw it go down it was a little smaller than a ping pong ball. I felt his belly today and it is in his lower abdomen. I am more concerned on it coming out.

 

[StephieSky]

Ugh When I worked at the local shelter everyone absolutely hated superballs. A lot of strays will eat anything. And a lot of owners will dump a dog if there is a huge vet bill attached to it. So if a 40 to 100 lb dog can't pass a superball safely I don't see how a duck could either.

You don't want it to go any further than it already has. There's almost zero chance of it ever passing through the stomach to the gizzard and then to the intestine without causing a blockage that will lead to toxic shock.
You want it to come up the same way it went in. And even then there is a choking hazard. You might want to see a vet about having the ball forcibly brought back up.

 

[MercyMe03]

I agree with stephiesky, it's hard for bigger animals to pass these kind of things much less a duck. It may be best in this case to have a vet help out. I don't think any kind of stool softener would soften a ball up. I would make sure he stays hydrated in the meantime. Good luck and please keep us updated on his progress.

 

[PekinPrincess03]

But it is smaller than a egg it was a little bigger than a marble. Females lay eggs all the time given it is a male but I wouldn't think it would be that bad. It wasn't a super ball it was just a ordinary size rubber ball. I was wrong about ping pong ball sized because I remembered I gave them some to play with and they can't get it in their mouth. Their mouths are to small.

 

[MercyMe03]

I would watch him then and make sure he doesn't get any kind of blockage. Since he swallowed the ball it has to go through his entire digestive tract unlike when a female lays an egg. How is is doing now? And have you been checking his poop for any signs of the ball?

 

[StephieSky]

I'm sorry if I seemed a bit blunt before. Volunteering at the shelter was an eye opening experience for me. Not always a good day there though a lot of good things too

Eggs don't travel through the same internal organs that a swallowed object needs to be able to navigate.
It is possible if the object was small enough, and I'm estimating very small, it could pass through.
Another issue to be aware of, is that it was round. Round objects are more prone to resist being moved through muscular response. You would think it would be the opposite but its not. Dogs who swallow golf balls, superballs or any other solid round object invariably have problems.There really is nothing for the muscle to gain traction on and they often become further coated with a slickening substance as the body rejects their introduction into the animals system. When they migrate to a constricted area they tend to settle in, then inflamation further tightens the constriction until you get a full on blockage.
Hopefully it was a very small ball and your ducky will be able to pass it safely if you can't find a vet who will see him.
Let us know he is doing

 

[PekinPrincess03]

I gave him some mineral oil plus with the food he eats I was hoping it would push it out. There are no vets in my area that take ducks. He has been doing his regular activities but he seems to rest more. Everytime he poops I check it in hopes it has come out. He hasn't yet. He has been drinking pretty good. He hasn't eaten alot but he has been eating. I am not even completely sure it was a ball at all I got to him before I saw it. My brother lives with us and his 11 year old son and my brother said it could have been a rubber ball because he left some lying around. I thought it was a stick but as it went down it looked round. He has eaten acorns before but I am sure those would break down in his belly. Thanks for the help I will keep you posted. I did try to push it back up but the duck resisted me so bad it went down.

 

[casportpony]