Panting, Enlarged stomach, what gives?

[Urban Waddler]

I am looking for a duck expert. I have two Peking ducks, age 6 weeks. We lost one duck at ten days with the cause unknown. My ducks are always panting on and off. It’s seems wholly unrelated to heat. I have them indoors, air conditioning, and turn fans on them per vet recommendation. I built them a beautiful coop but am not ready to put them outside with it being summer and them panting. I am certain it’s not too hot. Their cage is an extra large dog crate and is completely ventilated. Today, one duck is panting a lot, leaning to a side when he lies down. I can actually feel what feels like an internal bulge in his upper belly, below the neck. I recently switched them to grower/finishing feed, mixed in with their starter crumbles. I offer them kale often. I always offer them grit. I have the starter size per packaging instructions. They have diarrhea and loose stool often. They are lively, love swimming, walking round the yard usually. I had them checked for worms after I lost the last duck. I sometimes give them watermelon. I give them probiotic once a week in a separate waterer. They like it. I clean their pool every day, religiously. I clean their entire cage out daily, and do regular clean up about three times a day (spot cleaning in between rinsing everything down). They always have plenty of fresh water, deep enough for full head submersion and they love to submerge their heads regularly. I have had them on hay, on pine, on aspen shavings, on Kleen Coop hay, on nesting hay, and towels. The panting continues. Today my one duck is worse it seems. The side leaning worries me, the panting worries me, and the bulge really worries me. He also does this low repeated quack with every breath it seems for a few minutes at a time, then stops (not constant). Please, I just need to know what to do. I am so scared I’m killing my ducks, and I have no idea what to change. I thought we were way past the scare of the last one dying, but the panting, leaning, and diarrhea cannot be normal.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Could the bulge be his crop?

Diarrhea is perfectly normal in ducks, depending on its colour. Is it mostly white, with slightly greenish-brown bits? The white is pee, and it's due to how much water the ducks drink.

Panting is weird, and possibly a symptom of an illness. No idea about the leaning. Can you post pictures/video?

@Miss Lydia ?

 

[Urban Waddler]

I will post video soon and pictures. The poop is all kinds of colors. Never black or anything like that. They have been panting since day one. But stopped for a awhile and I thought it was done. They seem determined to eat their bedding, at least a little. I can’t seem to stop them, and it is certainly not for want of food. When I brought them in just after two weeks (maybe 3), the vet ran X-rays, and said the only thing unusual was a large stomach, which she couldn’t figure out why since the poo test said no worms.

 

[harmonymw]

Is it possible they’re sensitive to a cleaning product you’re using?

 

[Urban Waddler]

I only use water and vinegar to clean their flooring, pool, food bowls, and waterers. I rinse them real well and make sure they are completely dry before reusing. So maybe the vinegar?

 

[Urban Waddler]

Not the best photo of it, and of course hes not panting right now.

 

[CayugaJana]

I don’t think that position is unusual. I’ve seen my ducks do this before. My Pekins almost always pant. I personally think it’s because they are huge. I have had my Pekin sit like that because she hurt her ankle. They aren’t limping right? It’s possible it’s completely normal.

My ducks never poop solid poops. It’s always a pool. The only times it’s solid is when they haven’t had much water.

 

[Urban Waddler]

Thank you. That’s good to hear. I am just so worried since we lost the one duck. I’m new to raising fowl of any kind, and I am trying so hard to do everything right. Not knowing what happened to the last one gives me so much anxiety. I’ve read so many people on here say to avoid pine and aspen shavings because it can engorge their stomachs when eaten. Then others say they’ve used it for years. Some say hay is bad because of dust and mold and other diseases. Others say ducklings at 6 weeks should be smart enough to know the difference from bedding and food, but I catch them eating whatever I put them on often, and that includes pulling strings out of towels and chewing on pee pads. I know that they had “enlarged stomachs” on the X-rays 3 week’s ago, and not to sound callous, but I’m loath to spend another 300 bucks at a vet, only to have her tell me it’s impossicle to know what’s wrong. I appreciate the responses and wisdom from those of you who have been raising ducks for years. It really means a lot. Thank you.

 

[Urban Waddler]

It’s not letting me post video. He is panting again. He also drips a little drool or water out of his mouth. Also, his poop smells terrible if that matters?

 

[Kiki]

It’s not letting me post video. He is panting again. He also drips a little drool or water out of his mouth. Also, his poop smells terrible if that matters?

You will need to upload the video to Youtube or Vimeo first, then link it here.