Possible gape worm in duck?

[Lamaremybabies]

So I posted early this morning trying to find out what is causing my duck to have such awful trouble breathing and only one person responding saying she was probably choking and to massage her throat to dislodge whatever it is. This seemed logical and highly probable so that's what I did... three separate times today. It hasn't helped at all.

After further research I'm thinking she might have gapeworm. Her symptoms are; wheezing, labored breathing through the mouth, and she won't eat or drink.

I've never had health problems in my birds before so I'm not sure what I'm doing.

 

[gal5150]

Labored breathing could be a lot of things. You can treat for worms and parasites with ivermectin. Search the duck forum for Ivermectin dosage. I used Ivermecting 5mg per ml cattle pour on from Tractor Supply on my girls who weigh slightly under 3 lbs. Dosage was .25ml applied on the skin at the back base of the neck. Make sure to get straight on the skin by parting through the feathers.

Aspergillus can cause these symptoms. Any moldy feed or bedding?

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Labored breathing could be a lot of things. You can treat for worms and parasites with ivermectin. Search the duck forum for Ivermectin dosage. I used Ivermecting 5mg per ml cattle pour on from Tractor Supply on my girls who weigh slightly under 3 lbs. Dosage was .25ml applied on the skin at the back base of the neck. Make sure to get straight on the skin by parting through the feathers.

Aspergillus can cause these symptoms. Any moldy feed or bedding?

Okay thanks. I'm trying to decide if I want to treat for a respiratory infection or worms. It's difficult to decide because her symptoms are so generalized it's hard to pinpoint just one thing.

Also no they're bedding is very clean along with the food. I am a bit obsessive when it comes to cleaning the coops.

 

[gal5150]

Okay thanks. I'm trying to decide if I want to treat for a respiratory infection or worms. It's difficult to decide because her symptoms are so generalized it's hard to pinpoint just one thing.

Also no they're bedding is very clean along with the food. I am a bit obsessive when it comes to cleaning the coops.

It's a tough call bc the symptoms are generalized. Whichever you decide, as long as the duck is stable, try to stick it out for 48-72 hrs so you can either rule out what you are treating for or hopefully resolve it with the course you've chosen. Good luck, hope you figure it out soon!

 

[Lamaremybabies]

It's a tough call bc the symptoms are generalized. Whichever you decide, as long as the duck is stable, try to stick it out for 48-72 hrs so you can either rule out what you are treating for or hopefully resolve it with the course you've chosen. Good luck, hope you figure it out soon!

Thanks! It has been about 48 hours since I first noticed her labored breathing and this morning she seemed a lot better than yesterday so I'm going to wait until tomorrow to see if whatever it is clears up on its own because I prefer to not have to give my animals any sort of medication but I bought some vetrx just in case.

 

[gal5150]

Keep us posted!

 

[casportpony]

Ivermectin does not treat gapeworms. Can you take her to a vet?

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Ivermectin does not treat gapeworms. Can you take her to a vet?

If she isn't feeling better withing the next 2-3 days I most likely will but I don't want and un-needed vet bill. Especially because the local vet that will see poultry is quite expensive.

 

[casportpony]

If she isn't feeling better withing the next 2-3 days I most likely will but I don't want and un-needed vet bill. Especially because the local vet that will see poultry is quite expensive.

I understand. and

 

[Ravynscroft]

Okay thanks. I'm trying to decide if I want to treat for a respiratory infection or worms. It's difficult to decide because her symptoms are so generalized it's hard to pinpoint just one thing.

Also no they're bedding is very clean along with the food. I am a bit obsessive when it comes to cleaning the coops.

Treating for worms first is better than tossing an antibiotic at her to see if it sticks, IMO... and deworming for gapes will show major improvement in 24-48 hrs if that is what you're dealing with... with antibiotics you need to find out exactly what type of respiratory issue to determine which one will work...

I'm like you, I don't want to give my birds anything unless absolutely necessary, but I DO have gapes here, and my ducks are the most susceptible to them... your ducks symptoms sound just like mine when they get overloaded... and I can tell you from experience that swabbing their throats with a qtip DOES NOT show you the gapes...

My advice is to isolate her and start her on a good broad spectrum dewormer, for gapes I recommend Safeguard (fenbendazole 10%) liquid for goats... get a needleless syringe with a barrel small enough to give it directly to her... dosage is 0.23cc/mL per pound, for 5 consecutive days for gapes... cup your hand around the back of her head using your fingers to keep her bill open... insert syringe to the left side of her mouth angled to the side of her throat and let the tip slide down as far as you can get it, this will put the tip past her trachea so there isn't danger of her aspirating it... this sounds awful, but it's easier than it sounds... and you really want to make sure she gets the full dose...

If it is gapes, I strongly suggest trying the dewormer ASAP... once their breathing gets labored and they stop eating/drinking, time has become short... I understand about the vet bill, Safeguard is much cheaper... hope this helps...