Please help! Duck has a difficult time breathing through mouth, and is making wheezing and hiccuping sounds

[Maggielee]

Please help! For the past week or so, my Cayuga (7 months old) has been breathing through her mouth. She hasn't been lethargic, and she doesn't stray away from the other ducks like she would if she were sick, so we thought it would go away in time. Today, her wheezing has gotten worse, and she's started making hiccup noises on top of this. I felt her throat, and it doesn't feel like something big is lodged, I can see through her nostrils, and she's still active.
She hasn't wanted to eat, I gave her some peas in olive oil and had her drink water, but she's about the same.

Has anyone experienced this with their ducks? What exactly is going on? This is the first time this has happened to one of mine, and I'm not sure what to do because there are no vets in the area that would see a duck.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I moved this thread to our Ducks Forum for more help. I hope your bird will be ok!

 

[Maggielee]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I moved this thread to our Ducks Forum for more help. I hope your bird will be ok!

Thank you so much! I hope so too

 

[TwoCrows]

Let me tag couple members that may be able to help.

@New duck mommy 2021 @Miss Lydia

 

[Lauraduck]

Please help! For the past week or so, my Cayuga (7 months old) has been breathing through her mouth. She hasn't been lethargic, and she doesn't stray away from the other ducks like she would if she were sick, so we thought it would go away in time. Today, her wheezing has gotten worse, and she's started making hiccup noises on top of this. I felt her throat, and it doesn't feel like something big is lodged, I can see through her nostrils, and she's still active.
She hasn't wanted to eat, I gave her some peas in olive oil and had her drink water, but she's about the same.

Has anyone experienced this with their ducks? What exactly is going on? This is the first time this has happened to one of mine, and I'm not sure what to do because there are no vets in the area that would see a duck.

I've been through this several times with my runners. It's probably a respiratory infection and she will need antibiotics. You can order Baytril online. Your can also try putting her in the bathroom with the hot shower on so she can breathe in the warm steam- it helps with the wheezing and can help them clear the mucus form their lungs. If she's off her feed you can put NutriDrench in her water and that will help get some nutrients in her. Please don't delay care- once they start mouth breathing they're in trouble.

I hope this helps and I'm sending you good thoughts

 

[Jenbirdee]

hi
This may be helpful
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/diagnostic%20chart.htm&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi8hsL1482KAxV7D1kFHWPlC4wQFnoECBYQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2WIaG-EIwOB9FymH8G8ryL

I’m not sure the link’s going to work. It’s the majestic waterfowl sanctuary diagnostic chart.
I’ll try again to link it better in the meantime
It could be a respiratory infection that may respond well to an antibiotic however, if it is something like what a couple of my ducks have had, aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection, then the antibiotics make it worse.
I will try to find links to the threads regarding this and get back to you

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/diagnostic chart.htm

 

[Maggielee]

Let me tag couple members that may be able to help.

@New duck mommy 2021 @Miss Lydia

Thank you so much! I appreciate it

 

[Jenbirdee]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/runner-duck-cough-or-hiccups-aspergillosis.1606047/

So that’s all about what I went through with my runner duck.
Majestic waterfall sanctuary also recommends the oxine AH nebulizer treatments
If you click on aspergillosis in the diagnostic chart, it takes you to an article about how to use the oxine
Is there any way you can take your duck to a vet?
Another question is do you ever use straw and have you ever used any that Maybe smelled a little bit musty?

 

[Maggielee]

I've been through this several times with my runners. It's probably a respiratory infection and she will need antibiotics. You can order Baytril online. Your can also try putting her in the bathroom with the hot shower on so she can breathe in the warm steam- it helps with the wheezing and can help them clear the mucus form their lungs. If she's off her feed you can put NutriDrench in her water and that will help get some nutrients in her. Please don't delay care- once they start mouth breathing they're in trouble.

I hope this helps and I'm sending you good thoughts

Thank you! I wasn't sure if it was a smaller obstruction or an infection... I'm getting ready to go ahead and put her in the bathroom to see if the steam will help, and looking to get Baytril. I'll do this for the next couple of days and see if she starts improving. Thank you so much

 

[Maggielee]

hi
This may be helpful
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/diagnostic%20chart.htm&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwi8hsL1482KAxV7D1kFHWPlC4wQFnoECBYQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2WIaG-EIwOB9FymH8G8ryL

I’m not sure the link’s going to work. It’s the majestic waterfowl sanctuary diagnostic chart.
I’ll try again to link it better in the meantime
It could be a respiratory infection that may respond well to an antibiotic however, if it is something like what a couple of my ducks have had, aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection, then the antibiotics make it worse.
I will try to find links to the threads regarding this and get back to you

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/diagnostic chart.htm

Thank you! I haven't given her any antibiotics yet, but I have been running a hot shower for her to breath in the steam from. I'm really sorry that your ducks have had to go through this too. I really appreciate you trying to find the links for me! I'll do a little research into it as well