Poorly duckling - loss of appetite, lethargic

[ClairesCanvas]

Update?

Hi,

We have some positive news! Duckling has started eating and drinking again. No way near the amount it should be but I’m feeling optimistic. It tired very easily and is still very weak so we are putting it back to bed after a little feed and drink and then encouraging it again after 15-20 mins. My partner managed to get hold of some brewers yeast so we have added a little of that’s to it’s feed too.

the constant chirping has completely stopped. Fingers crossed ducking keeps on improving.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Hi,

We have some positive news! Duckling has started eating and drinking again. No way near the amount it should be but I’m feeling optimistic. It tired very easily and is still very weak so we are putting it back to bed after a little feed and drink and then encouraging it again after 15-20 mins. My partner managed to get hold of some brewers yeast so we have added a little of that’s to it’s feed too.

the constant chirping has completely stopped. Fingers crossed ducking keeps on improving. ❤

Yay!! Glad he/she's doing better! The brewers yeast should help. I bet after some food, rest, and TLC he/she'll be back to normal. Keep me updated

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Poop very watery but that’s to be expected, duckling went off her food before her water.

please excuse my switching from him to her, through out these messages - it’s so hard labelling duckling when you just don’t know the sex

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Yay!! Glad he/she's doing better! The brewers yeast should help. I bet after some food, rest, and TLC he/she'll be back to normal. Keep me updated

I really hope so, we have been such nervous wrecks all day. We told ourselves on day one that theirs a high risk with a rescue but she was doing so well up until today. I’ve been reading up on all the possibilities of what it could be and scaring myself too.

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Small amounts of eating and drinking last - more drinking when encouraged. But walking around, hunched and slow but looking like it was on the up. we even had a few normal looking stools.
Today we are back to lethargic and barely moving. It is taking water when brought over to it but other than that is not moving.

Last night It was making raspy chirps and clicking noises so now I fear it may have aspiration pneumonia. when we first rescued it it was raspy but I put It down to crying for so long for it’s mum and pure exhaustion, as after a good rest, food and water that had stopped.

I will get on google today to see what local vets have experience with waterfowl.

Excuse my jumper in the image, this is the only thing that seemed to settle him last night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You could look for a wild life rehabber they are experienced in waterfowl that are wild.

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Thanks Lydia. That was our first point of call when we found it on Friday. COVID19 has limited staff numbers on such places atm.. One advised I should leave the duckling - let Mother Nature take its course, and the next closest one didn’t answer any calls

I’ve found a vet that specialises in poultry, unfortunately it’s not that close but needs must. I just have to wait for my partner to get back from work at 2pm.

duckling keeps getting bursts of energy, I am encouraging it to drink when I see its woken up, it’s taking little bits but won’t eat at all

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully the vet can help. And how could anyone walk away from a helpless duckling or animal period and not help? You are a hero in my book!

 

[EverythingDucks]

Thanks Lydia. That was our first point of call when we found it on Friday. COVID19 has limited staff numbers on such places atm.. One advised I should leave the duckling - let Mother Nature take its course, and the next closest one didn’t answer any calls

I’ve found a vet that specialises in poultry, unfortunately it’s not that close but needs must. I just have to wait for my partner to get back from work at 2pm.

duckling keeps getting bursts of energy, I am encouraging it to drink when I see its woken up, it’s taking little bits but won’t eat at all

Like @Miss Lydia said, taking it to the vet will help. Have you tried giving him some scrambled eggs yet? That will really help in the meantime.

 

[ClairesCanvas]

Unfortunately the duckling passed away. The vet said she suspected it was Aspergillios - which it must have contracted before we rescued it as all the reasons it could pick it up in captivity didn't apply to us and Aspergillios takes 3-5 days for symptoms to come out.

If I had got it to a vet the day it first started getting poorly it would have stood a chance but would have been a very long course of meds. The Vet said the survival rate is very low and assured me I had done everything I could have done. Regardless I have been feeling very guilty, my partner keeps reminding me that if we hadn't rescued it Friday it would have died Friday. It had some extra time in a loving home. Its symptoms when I posted on here, could have been caused by a number of things. But its just so, so sad. You tell yourself this could happen everyday but you still are never quite prepared.

Thank you for everyone help and support. I really appreciated it.