Possible sinus infection? Duck has foamy eyes

[tstmard]

So I'm new to ducks this year and I noticed yesterday my female Ancona eyes had white foamy bubbles in them. They do have a small kiddie pool set up but rarely use it because they beg for the sprinkler instead which of course I turn on for them. I also have water buckets and a waterer that has a farely large and deep base they drink from. They do go under our shed to beat the heat which right now I can't block off since I have 3 broody hens under it. Just wondering if it's a sinus infection and how I should go about clearing it up. When I took the picture there wasn't the foam that there has been at times. Sometimes her eye is covered in it. Her nostrils are clear but she does sound congested a tiny bit.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I'm new to ducks this year and I noticed yesterday my female Ancona eyes had white foamy bubbles in them. They do have a small kiddie pool set up but rarely use it because they beg for the sprinkler instead which of course I turn on for them. I also have water buckets and a waterer that has a farely large and deep base they drink from. They do go under our shed to beat the heat which right now I can't block off since I have 3 broody hens under it.

Just wondering if it's a sinus infection and how I should go about clearing it up. When I took the picture there wasn't the foam that there has been at times. Sometimes her eye is covered in it. Her nostrils are clear but she does sound congested a tiny bit.

Why not try some Apple Cider vinegar in their drinking bucket first. she will dunk her head in it and also drink it it is a good antibacterial and a tonic. but if worried more than an eye issue is going on might want to try her on a round of antibiotics. I just don't like to put them on them right off because they kill both good and bad bacteria . Another thing you can try for her eyes is warm salt water just put some salt into some warm water and mix well then dribble this over her eyes or Veterycin spray[TSC} I use it in the eyes of my flock it's for infections and wounds.

Tylan Powder, 1-2 teas per gal for 5 days. if upper respiratory. Lower calls for Penicillin powder 1/2 to 1 teas per gal for 8-10 days. Tetracycline for Bacterial pneumonia 1 capsule daily for 5-7 days Only problem i see is deciding which one to use and what your treating. I'd try the ACV first. please keep us updated.

 

[Frank Phinster]

I seem to deal with the same problem, my pekin duck has foamy eye. Is this contagious? I recollect to have seen a little foam now and then on the eyes of both of my pekins and muscovy drake over the years, never on the runners or the muscovy ducks, but only the pekin duck shows it regulary lately. She also seems to have diminished eyesight, she bumps into obstacles and sometimes confuses the shadow of the bath tub with the actual tub. She still finds food and water, though.
They get a large bucket of fresh water every day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I seem to deal with the same problem, my pekin duck has foamy eye. Is this contagious? I recollect to have seen a little foam now and then on the eyes of both of my pekins and muscovy drake over the years, never on the runners or the muscovy ducks, but only the pekin duck shows it regulary lately. She also seems to have diminished eyesight, she bumps into obstacles and sometimes confuses the shadow of the bath tub with the actual tub. She still finds food and water, though.
They get a large bucket of fresh water every day.

Hi Frank good to see you, My Muscovy drake had foamy eye a couple weeks ago, i had never seen it in one of my Scovy's before this time, I don't know if he has something in it or scratched it, just not sure but I have a spray called Veterycin which is for wounds and infections, I sprayed his eye out real good with it 2 days straight when I put him up for the night and what ever was wrong went away and hasn't come back. I don't think foamy eye is infectious unless it's pink eye but Haven't heard of ducks getting it. Your duck may have have something else going on especially if she isn't seeing so good, how old is she? do the eyes look cloudy[cataracts]? I'd also try the ACV in her drinking water, I actually put in all buckets here and thats 5 buckets for drinking and head washing. 2 Tablespoons to 1 gallon of water do it that strength for a couple days and see if it helps then you can cut it back to 1 tab to 1 gal.

 

[Frank Phinster]

Hey Miss Lydia, good to see you either!

Thanks for your advice. I will see that I get ACV, but I actually not sure that I can get something like Vetricyn because I am not sure whether it is sold in Germany.

The duck is six years old now, I never had a duck this old so I am not sure whether signs of old age are starting to show. Her partner is of the same age and is totally fine while she is rather slow these days. Aside from the foam, her eyes don't look suspicious, I will have to take a closer look to be sure, though. If her eyesight problems get worse, I don't know what to do, most vets are no experts for birds, and I don't think that she could be kept in the run with the others, should she go blind.

Good to hear that this is usually not contagious, so I can leave her with the others and don't have to coop her up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey Miss Lydia, good to see you either!

Thanks for your advice. I will see that I get ACV, but I actually not sure that I can get something like Vetricyn because I am not sure whether it is sold in Germany.

The duck is six years old now, I never had a duck this old so I am not sure whether signs of old age are starting to show. Her partner is of the same age and is totally fine while she is rather slow these days. Aside from the foam, her eyes don't look suspicious, I will have to take a closer look to be sure, though. If her eyesight problems get worse, I don't know what to do, most vets are no experts for birds, and I don't think that she could be kept in the run with the others, should she go blind.

Good to hear that this is usually not contagious, so I can leave her with the others and don't have to coop her up.

I know things we can get here and you can't can be frustrating same for us there are meds you all can get we can't. If you can order from Amazon you might try there. But the ACV will work too, My gander punctured his bill last year and all I used was ACV in his drinking water and it healed up fine. You'd be surprised how well ducks[animals] can adapt especially if their surrounding are kept the same as before they went blind, and her partner may just stay right by her side and help her navigate around. So don't give up on her too soon. I have 3 Muscovy's that are 10 yrs old so they can live pretty long time, I'm not sure what the life span of a Pekin is. She maybe consider pretty old in the mallard derived breeds.Keep us updated. Found this http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/duck-life-span.aspx

 

[Frank Phinster]

I will try the vinegar first, and if that doesn't work, I will order the medicine from Amazon, might come in handy in other situations, too. Punctured bill sounds nasty, how well did it heal up? Is there still some kind of hole in the bill or did it completely close?

The drake spends a lot of time with her, but especially when freerangig in the backyard he often leaves her alone and teams up with the runners and muscovies, plus the duck already runs into the wall of the shed instead of going through the door at night, but would not be much of a task to carry her in if necessary, most important is that she finds food and water and she still eats and drinks well and is able to follow the other ducks. You are right, I should remain confident about her.

I have always read about life spans of ten years for domestic mallards, the the site to the link you posted suggests lifespans of 5 to 7 years for pekins. If that is correct, she really is old. The drake does not show any sign of aging, though, but I suppose drakes have it easier than ducks, no egg laying, not being forcefully mounted...

I will keep you updated.

 

[Going Quackers]

On occasion i have seen foamy eye here, i usually just keep an eye(no pun intended) if it doesn't go away i grab polysporin for eyes that usually knocks it gone.. usually if it's a sinus infection there will be massive discharge from the nares.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will try the vinegar first, and if that doesn't work, I will order the medicine from Amazon, might come in handy in other situations, too. Punctured bill sounds nasty, how well did it heal up? Is there still some kind of hole in the bill or did it completely close?

The drake spends a lot of time with her, but especially when freerangig in the backyard he often leaves her alone and teams up with the runners and muscovies, plus the duck already runs into the wall of the shed instead of going through the door at night, but would not be much of a task to carry her in if necessary, most important is that she finds food and water and she still eats and drinks well and is able to follow the other ducks. You are right, I should remain confident about her.

I have always read about life spans of ten years for domestic mallards, the the site to the link you posted suggests lifespans of 5 to 7 years for pekins. If that is correct, she really is old. The drake does not show any sign of aging, though, but I suppose drakes have it easier than ducks, no egg laying, not being forcefully mounted...

I will keep you updated.

My gander has punctured his bill a couple of times, have no idea on what. but it's amazing how well it heals, my gosling who is 8 weeks old punctured his last week not a big puncture but enough for me to see it, I thought at first it was mud. rubbed it off and it was a tiny puncture.They are forever sticking their bills in places they shouldn't.

I hope she gets over this Frank and hopefully she will, as for the eyesight problem I just don't know but I guess just like us humans when we get old things start going and usually one of the first is the eyes. I think your right about the aging part the females really have life a bit harder than the males. Please do keep us posted.

 

[tstmard]

After checking her over more and not really seeing any other signs of a sinus infection I ended up getting the Vetericyn ophthalmic gel and using it and within 2 days her eyes were cleared up. The spray is great stuff to have on hand if you can get it, I think the big difference between the spray and gel is the gel a bit stronger.