Pekin swallowed a latex gove! What do we do???

[iamava540]

Thanks for all the replies and well wishes.

Pete isn't interested in eating this morning - not even her favorite foods. She is still chatty but she didn't let out her usual morning honks and didn't come running fast and furious out of her pen.

As recommended, I made the molasses flush and we administered about a half cup via syringe. She accepted it well. I do have some questions. Sorry if they are kind of dumb. Maybe I am overthinking...

1. Does she need to have the whole 2 1/2 gal within 8 hours?
2. Should we offer it freely, or do we need to continue forcing via syringe?
3. Any ideas how long it takes for things to start moving?

Thanks again everyone! Will continue to keep you posted.

 

[suki'smom]

Best of luck! I hope everything turns out well

 

[iamava540]

The latest on Pete...

After working myself up over not seeing her eat, drink, (didn't want to drink or eat much of anything) or poop in her normal manner (she was evacuating primarily clear stuff), I called my vet. She wasn't working today, but her staff called her at home and she advised that we keep waiting to see what might happen - that hopefully Pete would pass the glove but that it could take some time.

Worried that the weekend is coming and that no one would be able to help us if Pete went into distress, I called another vet. Obviously we want Pete to survive, but if she were going to take a turn for the worst, we wanted to know that someone would be available to do the humane thing and euthanize her. We paid the other vet a visit who gave us the option of waiting to see what would happen or doing an x-ray that MIGHT indicate where the glove is and allow us to make a more informed decision about what to do - either wait it out, do surgery, or euthanize. He felt that that the glove might pass a little easier than something like a solid mass, but that there was no way of really knowing what would happen. Just to do the x-rays was going to be $400 and if surgery was the only way to remove the glove, that would have been an extra $1000. We are not in a position to afford that. The vet examined the poop and thought he saw what might be tiny shreds of glove. When we got home, I took a look at the poop as well and actually pulled on a piece of suspected glove (sorry for the grossness), and yes, it's definitely glove! Hopefully this is a sign that Pete's body can break it down and pass it. Hopefully no big pieces go into the intestines to cause an obstruction. The vet did say that, if she could pass the glove, it could actually take a few weeks to all come out.

I have been working on feeding her from my hand (which she accepts happily), I have given her some grit to hopefully further help her gut to break up the glove, and I mixed some probiotic water (which she likes to drink more than plain water). The vet said we can be encouraged as long as she takes something in (even if less than normal) and poops something out (even if not normal).

So, now we watch and wait. I won't feel completely good again until she is eating, drinking, and pooping normally. But, I do feel encouraged that the glove seems to be coming out - at least in part.

Will keep posted!

 

[downsm75]

This is good news!! I hope pete gets better soon!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is good news!! I hope pete gets better soon!!

X2

 

[veronicasmom]

Keeping my fingers crossed that Pete is ok! You are a great duck parent! Keep us posted!

 

[suki'smom]

That is so good to hear! Fingers crossed!

 

[veronicasmom]

WOW, $400 for xrays. I paid $90 for one of my ducks to be xrayed. Wow.
Anyway, looking for an update on Pete.

 

[cskotek]

Hope everything goes well!

My Bf's Mom grooms dogs and she was wearing gloves because it was cold out and she went into the building where a playful doggie stole and ate her glove! And she had to constantly walk the dog outside until the dog pooped it out. She got it back.. Lol!

And since small pieces are comming out she got one strong tummy! I would bet and say she must have had a tummy ache. ll seems to be doing pretty well with her

 

[iamava540]

Pete seems to be returning to her usual self. She was back to doing happy honks at 6:15 this morning and ran out of her pen flapping her wings like mad. Her appetite is just about normal again and she is drinking a lot. Everything coming out on the back end is starting to look normal again too (ducks must have some kind of strong stomach!). She enjoyed a game of diving for frozen peas in her pool, and chased one of our cats around the porch, so she is definitely on the mend. Thanks again for everyone's concerns and advise! We have learned a lot from this experience.