New here. Major animal death anxiety. Need help with my duck Violet.

[AnxiousCupcake]

I have looked through many of the sick duck forum and can’t find exactly what is going on with my duck. She was born April 24th and has been strong since about a week ago when we noticed her breathing strange. Not all of the time but a few times, now it’s worse.

She was just moved out to her coop and run. She has excess to clean, dry food and clean water all day. She also has excess to water to dip her head in and swim.

I showed the man working at tractor supply what she was doing and he recommended vetrx. She isn’t eating her hard food and is only eating peas in water sporadically. I have been giving her a warm bath and that seems to help her get some sleep. I have her inside with me in a warm blanket so I can watch her.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/953769764?h=da7be3a84c


Any advice is greatly appreciated. My sister was killed in 2015 and she loved ducks (why I wanted them) and I have major animal anxiety. I’m so worried about losing her.

 

[ruthhope]

I have looked through many of the sick duck forum and can’t find exactly what is going on with my duck. She was born April 24th and has been strong since about a week ago when we noticed her breathing strange. Not all of the time but a few times, now it’s worse.

She was just moved out to her coop and run. She has excess to clean, dry food and clean water all day. She also has excess to water to dip her head in and swim.

I showed the man working at tractor supply what she was doing and he recommended vetrx. She isn’t eating her hard food and is only eating peas in water sporadically. I have been giving her a warm bath and that seems to help her get some sleep. I have her inside with me in a warm blanket so I can watch her.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/953769764?h=da7be3a84c


Any advice is greatly appreciated. My sister was killed in 2015 and she loved ducks (why I wanted them) and I have major animal anxiety. I’m so worried about losing her.

I had a drake that started labored breathing like your duck, last year around April. He was older than yours, but his breathing was with his mouth open and with indrawing of his side muscles and he became lethargic. I was worried sick too! Anxieties about our duck's health is common, @AnxiousCupcake.

I didn't find signs of infection [ducks have quite a high normal temperature, and my duck's temperature taken under his wing next to his body was a normal 106F.] You might try taking your ducks temperature under the wing; unless it is over 108F, its normal!!

I separated my boy from my others, which he appreciated as the others started to bully him when he first started breathing heavily. I started him on a course of oral enrofloxacin [Baytril 10% for poultry] from All Bird Products on-line
https://allbirdproducts.com/pages/search-results-page?q=baytril 10%

After 4 days I stopped the Baytril as he hated being wrapped in a towel and the having a plastic syringe thrust down the side of his tongue, and it made not the slightest difference to his condition.

So, he remained separate from the others, sleeping in a dog crate in my rear porch, and having Rooster Booster Poultry Cell in his water for 2 months. Then he slowly started to get better. By 3 months he was over his heavy breathing, but then he had a molt and was again under the weather. By 5 months he had fully recovered and had beautiful new plumage. He got his moxie back and moved out into the back yard to rejoin my others.

If you can take your duck to a vet, that is best. But if you can't then try a course of Baytril:
10 mg enrofloxacin/kg bodyweight per day for 3-5 consecutive days. You will need to look up how to give oral medication through a long this plastic syringe [no needle] down the side of the duck's tongue to make sure it doesn't get into the duck's lungs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

If that doesn't lead to an improvement, it's probably not a bacterial infection causing the labored breathing. You can still offer supportive care [extra vitamins such as Rooster Booster] and protecting your duck from any bullying by your other ducks.

Do let us know how you get on. My boy is back to being the alpha male in my flock, this year

 

[AnxiousCupcake]

I had a drake that started labored breathing like your duck, last year around April. He was older than yours, but his breathing was with his mouth open and with indrawing of his side muscles and he became lethargic. I was worried sick too! Anxieties about our duck's health is common, @AnxiousCupcake.

I didn't find signs of infection [ducks have quite a high normal temperature, and my duck's temperature taken under his wing next to his body was a normal 106F.] You might try taking your ducks temperature under the wing; unless it is over 108F, its normal!!

I separated my boy from my others, which he appreciated as the others started to bully him when he first started breathing heavily. I started him on a course of oral enrofloxacin [Baytril 10% for poultry] from All Bird Products on-line
https://allbirdproducts.com/pages/search-results-page?q=baytril 10%

After 4 days I stopped the Baytril as he hated being wrapped in a towel and the having a plastic syringe thrust down the side of his tongue, and it made not the slightest difference to his condition.

So, he remained separate from the others, sleeping in a dog crate in my rear porch, and having Rooster Booster Poultry Cell in his water for 2 months. Then he slowly started to get better. By 3 months he was over his heavy breathing, but then he had a molt and was again under the weather. By 5 months he had fully recovered and had beautiful new plumage. He got his moxie back and moved out into the back yard to rejoin my others.

If you can take your duck to a vet, that is best. But if you can't then try a course of Baytril:
10 mg enrofloxacin/kg bodyweight per day for 3-5 consecutive days. You will need to look up how to give oral medication through a long this plastic syringe [no needle] down the side of the duck's tongue to make sure it doesn't get into the duck's lungs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

If that doesn't lead to an improvement, it's probably not a bacterial infection causing the labored breathing. You can still offer supportive care [extra vitamins such as Rooster Booster] and protecting your duck from any bullying by your other ducks.

Do let us know how you get on. My boy is back to being the alpha male in my flock, this year

Thank you. She didn’t make it through the night. I’m absolutely devastated.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Thank you. She didn’t make it through the night. I’m absolutely devastated.

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you. She didn’t make it through the night. I’m absolutely devastated.

I am so sorry

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you. She didn’t make it through the night. I’m absolutely devastated.

Very sad for you and your duck. She could have had a congenital heart problem or other malfunction. I am glad she didn't suffer for long

 

[My15Ducks]

I’m so sorry! I can tell you loved your duckling and gave her a great life

 

[AnxiousCupcake]

Very sad for you and your duck. She could have had a congenital heart problem or other malfunction. I am glad she didn't suffer for long

I’m thankful for that too. Wish I could have done more.

 

[AnxiousCupcake]

I’m so sorry! I can tell you loved your duckling and gave her a great life

I did love her very much. We didn’t have her very long but she made such a big impact on our lives, she left behind a huge hole. I miss her.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I am so very sorry for your loss. I know you will never be able to replace the one you loss but sometimes getting another one helps to ease the pain. I hope you feel better soon.